Love Doctor: How Sex Improves Every Aspect of Your Health

 

You may think sexual health is linked to emotional wellbeing, but in actual fact just about every aspect of your health is improved by a passion session between the sheets. Let’s take a look at how making love can benefit your wellness:

 

1. Boosts Intelligence: Wellness writer Dominic Midgley details, ‘Sex-mad people are getting brighter not madder, according to a new survey. Psychologists at the University of Maryland have discovered that love-making greatly increases the production of neurons in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for long-term memory. Their research conducted on mice showed that when the randy rodents were denied sexual partners it led to a fall-off in their intelligence.’ The researchers commented, ‘We discovered that even though there had been the production of new neurons the cognitive abilities acquired during the experiment decreased once the mice were subjected to long periods without sexual activity.’ Sex can also prevent dementia. According to Midgley, ‘The process of neuron creation outlined above is known as neurogenesis and is also thought to restore brain function lost through ageing.’

 

2. Reduces Pain: ‘A feigned headache is one of the most common excuses given by women to avoid sex,’ Midgley points out. ‘But the fact is that sexual intercourse is actually good for relieving pain whether it be a headache or a bad back. A study conducted by Southern Illinois University’s headache clinic found that one in two female migraine sufferers reported relief after climaxing. This is attributed to the fact that endorphins released during an orgasm closely resemble morphine. Others point to the fact that orgasms are associated with an upsurge of blood flow from the brain, another possible source of pain relief.’

 

3. Burns Calories: Midgley notes, ‘Half an hour of love-making can burn more calories than walking on a treadmill, according to a Canadian study. Twenty-one couples aged between 18 and 35 were fitted with armbands that monitored how many calories they burned during sex and the intensity of the activity. The results showed that in a typical session lasting 25 minutes the men burned an average of 100 calories and the women 69. Women came top when measuring the intensity of the activity, however. Measured in METs (the metabolic equivalent of a task) the average reading for men was six METs while for women it was 6.6. The findings endorse a previous study by the British Heart Foundation that found that 30 minutes of sexercise a day is as good for you as walking the dog.’

 

4. Improves Sleep: ‘Men are notorious for rolling over and nodding off as soon as the deed is done – and with good reason,’ says Midgley. ‘Brain scans have shown that the pre-frontal cortex, the area of the brain associated with consciousness, alertness and mental activity, “switches off” after orgasm. One study said the tension-relieving effects of climaxing were the equivalent of taking 2mg of the sedative diazepam. The cocktail of hormones released during orgasm – including melatonin, oxytocin, vasopressin and prolactin – also aid sleep. Contrary to myth this applies to both sexes.’

 

5. Relieves Stress: Midgley outlines, ‘People who have sex at least once every two weeks are better at handling stressful situations such as public speaking, according to a report from the University of the West of Scotland. It attributes this to the endorphins and oxytocin released during the sexual act. These feel-good hormones activate pleasure centres in the brain that stave off anxiety and depression and create feelings of intimacy and relaxation.’

 

6. Cuts Male Cancer Risk: ‘A study of 29,000 men in the US found that those who had the most orgasms reduced by a third their chances of contracting prostate cancer, the most common form of cancer among British men,’ Midgley explains. ‘This research by the National Cancer Institute was later supported by a NottinghamUniversity survey. After asking 840 men in their 50s about their sexual histories the Nottingham team found that those who engaged in regular sex – defined as more than 10 times a month – reduced their chances of prostate cancer.’

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Categories: Brain, midgley, nbsp, prostate cancer, sex improves, sexual, study

Love Doctor: How Sex Improves Every Aspect of Your Health

 

You may think sexual health is linked to emotional wellbeing, but in actual fact just about every aspect of your health is improved by a passion session between the sheets. Let’s take a look at how making love can benefit your wellness:

 

1. Boosts Intelligence: Wellness writer Dominic Midgley details, ‘Sex-mad people are getting brighter not madder, according to a new survey. Psychologists at the University of Maryland have discovered that love-making greatly increases the production of neurons in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for long-term memory. Their research conducted on mice showed that when the randy rodents were denied sexual partners it led to a fall-off in their intelligence.’ The researchers commented, ‘We discovered that even though there had been the production of new neurons the cognitive abilities acquired during the experiment decreased once the mice were subjected to long periods without sexual activity.’ Sex can also prevent dementia. According to Midgley, ‘The process of neuron creation outlined above is known as neurogenesis and is also thought to restore brain function lost through ageing.’

 

2. Reduces Pain: ‘A feigned headache is one of the most common excuses given by women to avoid sex,’ Midgley points out. ‘But the fact is that sexual intercourse is actually good for relieving pain whether it be a headache or a bad back. A study conducted by Southern Illinois University’s headache clinic found that one in two female migraine sufferers reported relief after climaxing. This is attributed to the fact that endorphins released during an orgasm closely resemble morphine. Others point to the fact that orgasms are associated with an upsurge of blood flow from the brain, another possible source of pain relief.’

 

3. Burns Calories: Midgley notes, ‘Half an hour of love-making can burn more calories than walking on a treadmill, according to a Canadian study. Twenty-one couples aged between 18 and 35 were fitted with armbands that monitored how many calories they burned during sex and the intensity of the activity. The results showed that in a typical session lasting 25 minutes the men burned an average of 100 calories and the women 69. Women came top when measuring the intensity of the activity, however. Measured in METs (the metabolic equivalent of a task) the average reading for men was six METs while for women it was 6.6. The findings endorse a previous study by the British Heart Foundation that found that 30 minutes of sexercise a day is as good for you as walking the dog.’

 

4. Improves Sleep: ‘Men are notorious for rolling over and nodding off as soon as the deed is done – and with good reason,’ says Midgley. ‘Brain scans have shown that the pre-frontal cortex, the area of the brain associated with consciousness, alertness and mental activity, “switches off” after orgasm. One study said the tension-relieving effects of climaxing were the equivalent of taking 2mg of the sedative diazepam. The cocktail of hormones released during orgasm – including melatonin, oxytocin, vasopressin and prolactin – also aid sleep. Contrary to myth this applies to both sexes.’

 

5. Relieves Stress: Midgley outlines, ‘People who have sex at least once every two weeks are better at handling stressful situations such as public speaking, according to a report from the University of the West of Scotland. It attributes this to the endorphins and oxytocin released during the sexual act. These feel-good hormones activate pleasure centres in the brain that stave off anxiety and depression and create feelings of intimacy and relaxation.’

 

6. Cuts Male Cancer Risk: ‘A study of 29,000 men in the US found that those who had the most orgasms reduced by a third their chances of contracting prostate cancer, the most common form of cancer among British men,’ Midgley explains. ‘This research by the National Cancer Institute was later supported by a NottinghamUniversity survey. After asking 840 men in their 50s about their sexual histories the Nottingham team found that those who engaged in regular sex – defined as more than 10 times a month – reduced their chances of prostate cancer.’

The post Love Doctor: How Sex Improves Every Aspect of Your Health appeared first on .

Categories: Brain, midgley, nbsp, prostate cancer, sex improves, sexual, study

Better Health and Better Sex: Date a Vegetarian

There are lots of good reasons to date a vegetarian, but did you know that your sexual wellness and wellbeing could benefit from this choice too?

 

A recent survey showed that 30 percent of omnivores would not consider dating a vegetarian, but there are actually lots of great reasons to date a herbivore, including a better sex life, better health and better moods.

 

Vegetarians are great in bed. A study recently published in the journal Hormones and Behaviour has shown that there is a link between a vegetarian diet and increased sexual activity. It is thought that this is because certain plants produce so-called sex hormones called phytoestrogens, which could have an influence on the sex lives of humans.

 

The same study also proved that vegetarians are more likely to give oral sex than non vegetarians. The survey was done on both men and women, and showed that 9:1 liked giving oral sex, as opposed to 7:1 non vegetarians.

 

The vegetarian diet has also been linked with virility.

 

Vegetarians are also far less likely to develop various health problems such as cancer, heart disease and cognitive decline. A magazine also shows that a meat-free diet is far more healthy than a meat-based diet. Vegetarians consume no animal fat and less cholesterol and tend to consume more antioxidant-rich produce and fibre.

 

Another study showed that vegetarians tend to be healthier than those who eat meat. Eating more fruit and veg has been shown to improve people’s mood. A clinical trial carried out on 300 people showed that increasing their intake of any kind of plant-based produce led to a far greater feeling of happiness and calm.

 

Another study also showed that omnivores improved their mood when they restricted their intake of meat and increased their intake of fruit and veg.

Categories: health, meat, nbsp, nbsp vegetarians, oral sex, Sex, study, Vegetarian, vegetarian diet, Vegetarians

Teens Who Text About Sex More Likely to Have Safe Sex

A study has found that teenagers who are not embarrassed about sending sexual texts are far more likely to protect their sexual wellness and wellbeing. Researchers said that using technology is a great way to get teenagers talking about potentially embarrassing topics, such as their sexual health. Teenagers who sent text messages about condoms were around four times more likely to have protected sex than those who did not, according to the study.

 

In addition, the study found that students who used technology to talk about sexual limits or pregnancy were doubly likely to use a condom when they had sex. This also applied when high school students talk about another form of birth control rather than condoms.

 

The study’s lead author uses the data to point out that not all use of technology is harmful. Most of the media attention points towards the risks and harms associated with technology use (for example, sexting) but in this case students who used their electronic tools to discuss sexual health were actually better prepared for real life scenarios.

 

Researchers think that it may be that technology allows teenagers to talk about subjects that would be embarrassing or awkward face to face.

 

The study was carried out on a group of 176 high school teenagers. Of the group 64 claimed to be sexually active, with more than half of them admitting that they consistently failed to use a condom.

 

These numbers, whilst shocking, are actually in line with statistics from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which reports that 47 percent of U.S. high school students are having sex, and 40 percent are not using condoms.

 

Unsurprisingly, this leads to a very high teen pregnancy rate. If talking about condom use via text or IM on their mobile phones helps teens to take better precautions, then it is something to be celebrated.

Categories: condoms nbsp, high school, nbsp, Safe, school students, Sex, sexual, sexual health, study, technology, Teenagers, text

Could Pine Bark Aid Your Fitness And Recovery?

Are you struggling to stick to your weight loss and fitness regime? You know that you have to stick with it for the sake of your wellness and wellbeing, but getting into the right mindset and finding the motivation can be incredibly difficult. Could the bark from pine trees change all that and help you to stay on track?

 

A scientific study into the use of the extract has shown that pine bark can be very effective when it comes to reducing the soreness of muscles and the post-workout cramps. It can also improve your endurance and performance during your workout.

 

The study into this extract has recently been published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. The clinical trial for pine bark analysed the results of 147 recreational athletes.

 

The group was divided in two: one half of the group supplemented their normal diet with extract of pine bark (known in the supplements world as Pycnogenol) and the other half of the group had no extra extracts. The trial lasted for eight weeks.

 

At the end of the eight weeks, those participants who took extract of pine bark were able to do a two-mile run two minutes faster than they were when they first started the trial. They also were able to improve their endurance by 25 percent when doing a push up test, and they increased their sit up two-minute challenge by 15 percent.

 

The researchers also did the same kind of study on a group of 54 male triathletes and found that those who took extract of pine bark improved their 100 minute triathlon times by around 10 minutes by the end of a four-week period.

 

This study seems to prove conclusively that taking pine bark extract every day helps to increase physical performance and to reduce the pain and muscular ache normally associated with the post-workout period.

Categories: bark, extract, fitness, nbsp, pine, pine bark, Post-Workout, study

Can Yoghurt Be Connected To Lower Diabetes Risk?

The media is always claiming that certain ingredients can help us to maintain a healthy lifestyle and improve our wellbeing. The latest headlines state that yoghurt is key to beating diabetes; a claim based on a study which associates dairy with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The study found that the risk of diabetes was significantly lowered by as much as 28 per cent in people who ate large amounts of low-fat yoghurt, compared to people who ate none at all. The results were similar in people who ate more of all low-fat fermented products, including cottage cheese and fromage frais. The study was based on people using food diaries to report their dairy intake around the time of eating, which is one of the best ways to gauge the success of a trial rather than asking people to recall what they’ve eaten throughout the day – it tends to be more accurate. The diaries were only used over a seven-day period (which isn’t a long enough to provide an accurate assessment of whether yoghurt can help with diabetes risks). It’s not currently clear whether fermented low-fat dairy products can help to prevent diabetes, but it is a theory researchers are keen to investigate. There are a number of steps you can take to lower your risk of developing diabetes though, such as regular exercise, eating a balanced healthy diet, quitting smoking and lowering your alcohol intake. It’s also important to note the sugar levels in the foods you eat, as these can contribute towards developing not just diabetes but also obesity. If you’re concerned about your diet or weight, it’s important to seek advice as this can contribute to a number of health concerns, in addition to diabetes, such as heart problems and certain cancers.

 

The study was carried out by the University of Cambridge, as part of a larger study funded by the Medical Research Council and Cancer Research UK. Researchers discovered that people who ate the most low-fat fermented products were 24 per cent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who ate the least. The total dairy, high fat dairy, milk and cheese were not associated to the development of diabetes, nor was low-fat dairy. There are several limitations to this study which have led researchers to question whether or not yoghurt can actually help lower the risk of diabetes. Firstly, people’s reported dairy intake was only collected once, at baseline, over a seven-day period, so it’s possible that people’s diets didn’t stay the same during the 11 year follow-up period. Furthermore, the information was self-reported which could affect the reliability. Lastly, researchers didn’t take into account the dairy products included in cooking composite dishes. While there were attempts to take account of other factors, it is always possible that measured and unmeasured factors had an influence on the results. Further studies need to take place in order to know for certain whether fermented products can help to lower the risk of diabetes. The results do suggest that switching sugary snacks and meals for low-fat dairy products could help your overall health, as well as improving your diabetes prospects. Just be sure to choose low sugar varieties and to balance your diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, grains and lean protein to ensure your body is getting all the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.

Categories: Dairy, dairy intake, dairy products, day period, Diabetes, fermented products, new study, people, products, study, yoghurt

Study: Should Endurance Athletes Avoid Vitamins C and E?

While the jury is still out on whether or not you should take supplements for your general, overall wellbeing, a lot of people hail the benefits of taking such pills for fitness and athletic performance. Whether you take little gels with you on your long runs, or pump up with a protein shake after long strength-training workouts, fitness experts and enthusiasts believe in the wellness benefits of supplementation – which may make a new study quite a hard pill to swallow. Researchers in Norway have suggested that, if you are an endurance athlete, taking some types of vitamin supplement may make it harder to train for big events like marathons.

 

The findings of the study, which were published in The Journal of Physiology, led the researchers to conclude that you should use vitamins C and E with caution as they may “blunt” the way your muscles respond to exercise. That said, other leading experts have questioned the research, as the 11-week trial results revealed that actual athletic performance was not affected. The team of researchers at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences in Oslo argued vitamin supplements were readily taken and available, but they did admit they were unsure if they affected athletic ability.

 

The trial went on for 11 weeks and, during this time, the 54 participants were given either 1,000mg of vitamin C plus 235mg vitamin E or a sugar pill and trained up to four times per week. The participants were given a beep test – in which you run faster and faster between two points 20m apart – but there was no difference in their performance during this test. The blood samples and tissue biopsies, on the other hand, suggested there were differences developing inside the muscle. Your muscle cells gain energy from lots of internal tiny mitochondria, and taking the supplements seemed to cause the participants to produce fewer extra mitochondria to cope with the increasing demands placed on the muscle.

 

Researcher Dr Goran Paulsen commented, ‘Our results show that vitamin C and E supplements blunted the endurance-training-induced increase of mitochondrial proteins, which are needed to improve muscular endurance. Our results indicate that high dosages of vitamin C and E, as commonly found in supplements, should be used with caution, especially if you are undertaking endurance training.’ However, Mike Gleeson, a professor of exercise biochemistry at Loughborough University, was less than convinced by the study results. According to Gleeson, the biggest factor in performance is actually how fast your heart and lungs can get oxygen to your muscles, not mitochondria. He added that the lack of a difference in athletic performance ‘makes it difficult to interpret,’ noting ‘The bottom line is studies show changes in the ability to adapt to exercise could be impaired by high-dose vitamins, but until there are studies showing them affecting athletic performance people shouldn’t be worried.’

 

Dr Emma Derbyshire, from the industry-backed Health Supplements Information Service, commented that some studies had shown a benefit. ‘In a four-week randomised controlled trial evaluating vitamin C and E supplementation among female athletes, supplementation reduced markers of oxidative stress compared with a placebo tablet and reduced muscle damage markers associated with aerobic exercise,’ she said. ‘This latest study is essentially preliminary and the research findings would need to be re-assessed in further work. Eating as healthy a diet as possible is very important for sports people and athletes. However, if they have a hectic training schedule, particularly for those doing endurance training who are not able to eat as well as they should, a multivitamin and mineral supplement provides a method of ensuring that the intakes of these essential nutrients, including vitamin C and E, follow recommended guidelines.’

Categories: athletic performance, endurance, Endurance Athletes, endurance training, performance, Research, study, Supplements, vitamin

The Health Benefits of Sex: 6 Doctor-Recommended Reasons

Having sex isn’t just good for your relationship or sexual health; it also has vast benefits for your wellbeing. According to Dr. Oz, the cardiothoracic surgeon and author who hosts The Dr. Oz Show, ‘When it comes to the topic of sex, I’ve been known to put it all out there. As a matter of fact, on the very first episode of The Dr. Oz Show, I jumped right in—to the point of telling the audience personal stories about my sex life with my wife, Lisa…I’m still passionate about this issue because taking care of yourself isn’t just about eating right and exercising. Being in a healthy, fulfilling sexual relationship can do wonders for your overall wellness.’ So what can having sex do for your wellness?

 

1. Heart Health: Dr. Oz notes, ‘We already know that sex can be a decent cardio workout (one 30-minute session can burn 70 calories); now research indicates it may protect your heart in other ways. A study in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy found that people who had sex an average of 12 times per month had greater heart rate variability (HRV)—a measure of how well the heart responds to subtle changes throughout the day (like standing versus sitting). Higher HRV is a good thing; it may lower your risk of developing heart disease, the leading cause of death for women.’

 

2. Anti-Ageing Wellness: ‘Have sex at least three times a week,’ Dr. Oz advises. ‘In a study at Scotland’s Royal Edinburgh Hospital, people in their 40s who reported having an average of 50 percent more sex than the typical person were judged by a panel of strangers to be about seven to 13 years younger than their actual age. Researchers believe the youthful glow comes in part from the release of the DHEA hormone during sex. DHEA, which is produced by your adrenal glands, has anti-ageing properties that can increase the production of collagen and may reduce wrinkles.’

 

3. Better Sleep: Dr. Oz explains, ‘Levels of the hormone oxytocin surge after sex, and its stress-reducing qualities may help you nod off more quickly. (The relationship between shut-eye and intimacy works the other way, too: One study found that women ages 42 to 52 who reported restless sleep patterns were less likely to get physical pleasure from sex than women who regularly got a good night’s rest.)’

 

4. Fewer Headaches: ‘Ever pass on sex because your head is pounding?,’ asks Dr. Oz. ‘You may be missing out on the very thing that could bring relief. A small study conducted at Southern Illinois University found that nearly half of female migraine sufferers felt better after orgasm. As endorphins flood the body, they may have an effect similar to morphine, muting your body’s pain response and increasing your threshold for discomfort.’

 

5. Fewer Colds: Dr. Oz details, ‘A study from Wilkes University in Pennsylvania found that people who had sex once or twice a week enjoyed a boost in their immune system, thanks to a 30% increase in immunoglobulin A, the infection-fighting antibody found in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. One caveat: Subjects who had sex more than three times a week actually had lower levels of the antibody than those who had less sex. Researchers believe that in moderation, the release of chemicals during orgasm may enhance your immune function, while too much of these chemicals may suppress it.’

 

6. Living Longer: ‘For women, quality trumps quantity when it comes to the lifesaving effects of sex,’ says Dr. Oz. ‘Simply having positive memories about your sexual past may add roughly four years to your life, according to research at the Duke Centre for the Study of Ageing and Human Development. Researchers found that these fond memories may encourage you to continue leading a happier, healthier life.’

 

Categories: anti ageing, health, Health Benefits, heart, heart health, nbsp, sleep, study, Women

About.com Yoga

People with glaucoma, a serious eye disease that affects about three million Americans, are advised to approach some yoga poses with caution. Studies have shown that inversions like headstand can elevate pressure in the eyes to levels dangerous for glaucoma patients. Now, a new study examines the effects of four milder inversions on eye pressure. Here are the results of the study, including some updated safety recommendations.

Categories: glaucoma, inversions, pressure, study, yoga

New Study SPARX Interest in Video Games for Mental Health

If your teenager spends all his time playing video games on his computer, you may be concerned for his mental wellness, but a bit of fantasy gaming could be just what the doctor ordered. This is according to a new study, published online in British Medical Journal, which has found that, for adolescents whose wellbeing has been affected by depression, specialised fantasy computer therapy is just as effective as face-to-face counselling with a clinician.

 

Created by researchers from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, the novel computerised cognitive behavioural therapy SPARX is based on an interactive 3D fantasy game containing seven modules. Your teenager completes the game over a period of four to seven weeks, during which time he or she is required to restore balance in a virtual world that has become overrun by GNATS (Gloomy Negative Automatic Thoughts), by undergoing a series of challenges.

 

For the study, the researchers undertook a randomised controlled trial with a three-month follow-up. The study participants – which was composed of 187 teenagers aged 12 to 19 years with mild to moderate depression in 24 primary healthcare sites across New Zealand – were split into two groups. The first group completed one-to-one counselling with a trained clinician, while the other played SPARX over a four to seven week period. The researchers then assessed the teens using several commonly used mental health and quality of life scales.

 

The results of the study revealed that the SPARX game was just as effective as standard treatment, as it reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety by at least a third. Of the 69 participants who completed at least four homework modules in the SPARX group, 44% or 31 teenagers completely recovered, whereas only 26% (19/83) of the group assigned to standard treatment did likewise. Both of the groups reported high satisfaction with their treatments, but in the SPARX groups 76 out of the 80 participants (95%) said that the programme would appeal to other teenagers and 81% (64) would recommend it to friends.

 

According to the study authors, SPARX is an ‘effective resource for help seeking adolescents with depression at primary healthcare sites. Use of the programme resulted in a clinically significant reduction in depression, anxiety, and hopelessness and an improvement in quality of life.’ They added that as your teenager can play SPARX at home, the computer game-based treatment could be cost effective, increase access to treatment, and serves as a potential choice for adolescents who are hesitant to seek conventional therapy.

Categories: depression, effective, healthcare sites, Mental Health, primary healthcare, Research, sparx, standard treatment, study, Video Games

8 Expert Tips and Scientific Facts to Help You Burn Fat Fast

Weight loss is all about burning fat, but how do you do that in a way that doesn’t harm your wellbeing? We’ve rounded up the best expert tips and scientifically proven facts to help you burn fat faster and look after your wellness in the process.

 

1. Drink Green Tea: Wellness expert Hallie Levine details, ‘Green tea isn’t known only for its cancer-fighting benefits: It may help boost your metabolism, too. People who took green-tea extract three times a day saw their metabolic rate increase by about 4%, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.’ Joy Bauer, a New York City nutritionist and author of Cooking with Joy, comments that because green tea contains catechins, it increases your brain’s levels of the metabolism-speeding chemical norepinephrine.

 

2. Pump Iron: ‘A pound of muscle burns up to nine times the calories of a pound of fat,’ notes Richard Cotton, MA, chief exercise physiologist for myexerciseplan.com. Levine explains, ‘Weight training increases your resting metabolic rate, which is the number of calories you burn while sitting on your butt. What’s more, it gives your metabolism an added boost after you exercise: It remains in overdrive for up to two hours after the last bench press, according to a study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.’

 

3. Eat Iron: Samantha Heller, RD, a nutritionist at the New York University Medical Centre, warns, ‘If you don’t have enough of this mineral, your body can’t get enough oxygen to your cells, which slows down your metabolism.’ Good sources of iron include lean red meat, chicken, fortified cereal and soy nuts.

 

4. Drink Plenty of Water: ‘A new German study found that when you drink 17 ounces of water (about two glasses) within a certain time frame, your metabolic rate shoots up by about 30%,’ says Levine. ‘Using these results, they estimate that by increasing your current water intake by 1.5 litres a day, a person would burn an extra 17,400 calories a year, resulting in about a five-pound weight loss.’

 

5. Get Your Thyroid Checked: Pamela Peeke, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Maryland and author of Fight Fat After Forty, points out, ‘The thyroid gland controls your body’s metabolism, so one of the first signs that it may be off is an inability to lose weight.’

 

6. Avoid Alcohol: While everyone likes a glass of wine with dinner, drinking water instead can help keep your favourite meals from going straight to your hips. ‘Alcohol slows your metabolism by depressing the central nervous system,’ Levine states. ‘A British study found that when alcohol was added to a high-fat, high-calorie meal, less dietary fat was burned off and more was stored as body fat.’

 

7. Start Interval Training: Researchers at Laval University in Quebec have shown that high-intensity interval training burns more fat than regular, consistent aerobic exercise. Glenn Gaesser, PhD, director of the Kinesiology Programme at the University of Virginia and author of The Spark, recommends, ‘Even if you just have 10 minutes for a quick workout, you can walk at a normal pace and then add in a 30-second bout of speed-walking every three minutes.’

 

8. Consume More Calcium: A study published in the journal Obesity Research found that if you eat low-fat dairy products, such as non-fat yoghurt and low-fat cheese, three to four times a day, you can lose 70% more fat than low-dairy dieters. Study author Michael Zemel, MD, director of the Nutrition Institute at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, explains, ‘Calcium serves as a switch that tells your body to burn excess fat faster.’

Categories: expert tips, fat-burning, green tea, Interval Training, iron, metabolic rate, Metabolism, nbsp, study, study published, Weight Loss

New Year New You? The Best Reasons to Get Into Shape

Besides looking your best, what are the main reasons to lose weight and increase your fitness? There are lot of reasons that go above and beyond what you see in the mirror, and they are related to your wellness and wellbeing.

 

First of all, a brisk workout is great for your mood. Working out is like a bad mood repellent; it boosts the production of chemicals in your brain that help to reduce anxiety and stress and make you feel relaxed and happy. Research shows that even if you find it hard to drag yourself down to the gym, you will still reap the rewards and walk out feeling like you are on cloud nine.

 

Working out is also a great way to ensure that you get a good night’s sleep. A recent study by the National Sleep Foundation found out that around 67 percent of those who got regular exercise say that they enjoy a full and pleasant night’s sleep. This stays the case no matter when you take your exercise, be it in the morning or at night.

 

If you have a big exam coming up or a speech or presentation to give in front of an audience, exercise could be your friend. A new study has just been carried out which has proved that doing just one session of aerobic exercise  can result in a much higher level of the hormones that are associated with having a strong memory. This means that if you work out you are much more likely to be able to do well in a task that requires memory skills.

 

There’s a strong link between exercise and creativity too. Another study showed that those who did regular exercise fared better on creative tests than those who did not do regular exercise.

Categories: exercise, fitness, memory, nbsp, regular, regular exercise, sleep, study

No Diet Required: How to Feel Full while the Pounds Melt

Does the sound of the word “diet” make you cringe? I mean, sure, you want to lose a few pounds, but does that really mean you have to crunch on celery sticks for dinner and sweat it out at the gym? Absolutely not. Using the power of mental wellbeing, the timing of your daily calendar, and smarter decision-making, you can enhance your weight loss to feel full while the pounds melt away – no diet required. Just take a look at a few tips that have come out of scientific research and expert experience:

 

1. Take an Earlier Lunch: Wellness writer Cathy Garrard details, ‘New research from TuftsUniversity found that people who ate lunch after 3pm lost significantly less weight than those who ate their midday meal earlier. Researchers also found that the late eaters consumed fewer calories during breakfast, and they were more likely skip a morning meal altogether — furthering the case that a breakfast truly is the meal of weight loss-champions.’ Laura Cipullo, RD, adds, ‘I tell all my clients to eat breakfast. Once you start eating, your metabolism clicks on, and it stays revved throughout the day.’

 

2. Pile Your Plate with Protein: ‘Protein is very important for its satiety,’ says Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD. ‘Plus, if you eat more of it, your body has to work harder to burn the calories because it takes more work to digest the amino acids.’ In fact, a new study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behaviour found that women who chose to eat more of this muscle-building nutrient were more successful at losing weight than those who didn’t consciously pile on the protein.

 

3. Picture a Hearty Meal: ‘If the thought of having a mere salad for lunch only makes your stomach grumble more, let your mind drift to something a little more delicious — and substantial,’ suggests Garrard. ‘A study from the University of Bristol found that people who think about eating a large portion of food feel fuller later than those who mentally conjure up a skimpy, unsatisfying meal. Researchers showed volunteers either a small or large serving of soup just before lunch, and two or three hours later, those who’d seen a bigger bowl reported significantly less hunger than those who had seen a smaller one.’ Cipullo explains, ‘It’s about feeling psychologically satisfied. If you believe you got the meal you really wanted, you don’t feel deprived.’

 

4. Ditch the Distractions: Cipullo points out, ‘Mindful eating is a big nutritional trend right now. You will feel more satisfied with your food if you are paying close attention to the meal.’ This was the finding of a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The researchers found that if you out the TV and other gizmos and pay closer attention to what you’re eating — including the taste, texture and aroma – as well as chewing more slowly, you won’t consume extra calories unnecessarily.

 

5. Use Olive Oil: According to Garrard, ‘In a recent study, Austrian researchers examined the satisfaction level of different types of edible fats: lard, butter, grapeseed oil, and olive oil. Over the course of three months, study participants ate 500 daily grams of low-fat yogurt enriched with one of those four oils. Olive oil was the most satiating, as reflected by high levels of the hormone serotonin in the blood of those who ate the variety. Surprisingly, researchers found that it was the aromatic compounds in olive oil that gave the healthy cooking staple its competitive edge, and that Italian-made varieties contain larger amounts of them.’

Categories: diet, diet required, feel, Lose weight, meal, nbsp, olive oil, pounds, pounds melt, Researchers, study, Weight Loss

Can You Tell If You"ll Outgrow Your Asthma Condition?

A new study has discovered a way of using genetic testing to determine whether patients with asthma are likely to outgrow the condition, or if they will continue to experience symptoms as they grow older. The report, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, analysed data from a study spanning 40 years. Researchers discovered that children with asthma and higher risk scored including a number of genetic variants associated with asthma were more than 36 percent more likely to develop a life-long condition, whereas those with a lower genetic risk were not. Nearly half of all children with asthma will grow out of it by the time they reach adulthood. There are currently no tests to predict which children will do so, however. This new report could change that and identify those who will suffer with the chronic lung disease for life.

 

Recent genetic studies have found that several variants, including single nucleotide polymorphisms and SNPs, carry a small increased risk of asthma. In this study, researchers wanted to see whether these genetic risks are associated with the onset or severity of asthma, as well as the disruptions to daily life. The findings of the study showed that those with a higher genetic risk score were also more likely to develop atopic, or allergic, asthma, as well as impaired lung function – this is known as airway hyper-responsiveness, or incompletely reversible airflow obstruction. These individuals are more likely to miss school or work, and have an increased risk of hospitalisation due to asthma than those with a lower genetic risk. Researchers are keen to stress that this predictive value of the genotype score was independent of family history. Those with symptoms of asthma are urged to seek medical advice in order to determine if they have the condition.

Categories: Asthma, Children, condition, genetic, genetic risk, increased risk, new study, risk, study

Ready Meals Healthier than Celeb Chef Recipes, Study Finds

Wellness experts are always talking about how eating out is more damaging to your health. Studies show that takeaways and restaurant meals are higher in calories and lower in micronutrients such as iron, calcium, and vitamin C, so – by that logic – it must be healthier to cook at home, right? Not according to new research, which has found that it may be time to shelve your favourite cookbook, or you could develop serious health concerns.

For the study, the researchers looked into how “home-cooked” meals created by celebrity chefs compared to prepared meals sold in local supermarkets in terms of having an impact on your wellbeing. 100 supermarket meals (randomly chosen store-brands from the three biggest supermarket chains in the UK) were compared with 100 main meal recipes (with items from two or more food groups) created by UK-based TV chefs. The lucky cookbooks chosen were Jamie Oliver’s 30 Minute Meals and Ministry of Food, Lorraine Pascale’s Baking Made Easy, Nigella Lawson’s Kitchen, and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage Everyday.

The researchers aimed to answer the question “Is one type of meal or the other healthier?” by looking at the nutritional content of the recipes and meals. This included an analysis of the total calories, protein, carbohydrates, sugar, sodium, fat, saturated fat, and fibre found in each dish, using the World Health Organization’s (WHO) dietary guidelines and the British Food Standards Agency (FSA) guidelines as nutritional standards for comparison. Although there are a few differences in the two sets of guidelines, they both give the breakdown of calorie percentages that should come from fat, protein, and carbohydrates, and set daily limits on salt, cholesterol, and saturated fat.

While you’d think that at least one dish would make the cut, not a single ready meal or recipe met all of the WHO guidelines. However, the more surprising result was that the chef-created recipes appeared to be less healthy than the store-bought meals. Typically, the recipes were higher in calories and lower in fibre, albeit meeting the FSA guideline of less than 0.6 grams of sodium per 100 grams of food, which the ready meals did not accomplish. Still, it’s important to bear in mind the researchers’ point that WHO standards are based on average intake over time rather than individual meals, and they only used these standards because of the lack of other international criteria on which to base their study.

So why does it matter? Wellness experts assert that celebrity chefs have a massive influence on the foods we eat, and are arguably contributing to the British obesity epidemic. Obesity can increase your risk of all kinds of chronic health concerns, such as heart disease and diabetes, to name a few. Does this mean you need to stock up on ready meals to ensure your wellbeing? Perish the thought! It’s important to take these study results with a grain of salt – but no more than that or you’ll go over the FSA guidelines! While the top TV chefs and their cookbooks may tend towards the unhealthy, this isn’t the case for all recipes and cookbooks.

Plus, ready meals are no nutritional superstars even if they appear to be healthier in some respects. The study researchers did not consider vitamins, minerals and additives in their evaluation, so the nutritional picture presented isn’t so complete. And, no, the answer isn’t to go out for dinner every night either, as another recent study has shown that eating away from home is linked with a higher calorie and fat intake, and lower micronutrient consumption. Just think about your meals, be they microwaved or created out of a recipe book, and make healthy choices.

Categories: Celebrity Chefs, fsa guidelines, health concerns, meals, ready meals, Recipes, Research, study, tv chefs, wellness experts

Is Your Child’s Reaction to Pain Worse than the Pain Itself?

No child reacts perfectly when their wellness is affected by stomach pain, but if your child dwells on or ‘catastrophises’ this health concern, they may have a lower quality of life than kids with a more positive attitude. This is according to German researchers, who add that, as parents, you can help your child learn to cope more effectively, and improve their outlook.

The surprising outcome of the study is that young patients with chronic stomach pain reported lower quality of life than kids who deal with chronic asthma, skin rashes and even obesity. Study co-author Claudia Calvano of the University of Potsdam in Germany explained, ‘If the children think, “My pain will not stop,” then this can lead to further impairment and increase psychological strain.’ Between 8% and 25% of all youth deal with chronic stomach pain, which can affect their wellbeing as they progress into adulthood.

Stomach pain is a complicated issue. There is organic pain, or the type in which the doctors can identify a medical cause, and then you have another type with no clear source, known as functional pain. This may occur due to stress, diet, exercise or psychological challenges, or a mixture of these factors, and so pinning down the root of the problem becomes more difficult. For the study, the researchers looked at both types of pain, examining data on 170 young people aged eight to 18. Instead of finding gender, economic status, or type of abdominal pain to be the cause of lower quality of life scores, poor coping skills was deemed the culprit.

According to Calvano, ‘The way parents react is very important.’ As parents, you need to acknowledge your child’s pain and not fob it off, but then introduce your child to healthy coping strategies. Frequently staying home from school, for example, may not help your child in the long run. Calvano notes, ‘Stress can increase the pain,’ especially in the case of stomach pain, as the connection between the mind’s stress and the abdomen is very sensitive in children. A better way to help your child handle the pain is through cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Calvano says, ‘Parents should be involved in the therapy and know which strategies the children learn so they can help them.’

Dr. Joel Rosh, a paediatric gastroenterologist at Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, New Jersey, who was not involved in the new study, comments, ‘Recognizing that fear and anxiety can be major causes of pain is very important.’ It’s a good idea to pay close attention to your child’s different descriptions of the pain. If your child complains of a one-day stomach-ache, he or she faces a very different problem than a child who has dealt with pain for three months. Ask your child questions, such as what does the pain feel like? Does it interfere with activities in the day? Is something new going on? What did you eat today?

Still, while Rosh supports the study results, paediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Ritu Verma of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia was less impressed. ‘I was a little disappointed because [the study] only confirmed things that researchers have talked about before,’ says Verma, albeit adding that affirming previous research still has value. ‘From a gastroenterologist perspective, we may not read a lot of literature that deals with the psychology of abdominal pain, and that’s important. ‘There is a misperception that girls or women tend to have more issues with pain and quality of life. But here it confirmed that the gender of the patient did not make a difference.’

Categories: abdominal pain, attitude, Child, Children, chronic stomach, paediatric gastroenterologist, Pain, Research, stomach, stomach pain, study

One for the Boys: Men who Eat Chocolate Reduce Stroke Risk

Although it’s no friend to your waistline, chocolate always seems like a friend to your emotional wellness. However, now men may be able to use the cocoa-y, sugary goodness to prevent a major health concern. This is according to a new large study from Sweden, which has found that simply eating one chocolate bar per week may help men to reduce their risk of having a stroke by about one-sixth.

This appetising conclusion was published this week in the journal Neurology by researchers at Stockholm’s Karolinska Institute. For the study, which was the first in a long line of recent studies on the potential heart and vascular benefits of chocolate to look specifically at men, the team spent 10 years following more than 37,000 men between the ages of 45 and 79. The results of the study revealed that men who at the most chocolate a week – roughly 2.2 ounces – were 17% less likely to have a stroke than the participants who ate little or no chocolate during than time span.

The researchers then pooled their data with that from four previous studies – including a near-identical 2011 study they conducted in women – in order to bolster their findings. The combined data, when re-analysed, came out with a similar result: men and women who ate the most chocolate had a 19% lower risk of stroke compared to those who ate the least. Jonathan Friedman, MD, a neurosurgeon at the Texas A&M Health Science Centre College of Medicine, in Bryan–College Station, who was not involved in the research, commented, ‘This was a meaningful reduction in stroke risk, and the results seem to be valid given the high number of patients.’

This study, which was funded by a Swedish research council, adds to a growing body of evidence that shows chocolate, or rather cocoa, to have some heart-healthy properties. In cocoa there are compounds known as flavonoids, which have been proven to lower your blood pressure, increase your levels of “good” HDL cholesterol, and improve the function of your arteries. Being a type of antioxidant, flavonoids can also prevent major health concerns, and may thin your blood and prevent it from clotting. This can help to stave off heart attacks and strokes.

However, the study authors are quick to point out that there are other substances in chocolate – or certain traits associated with chocolate lovers, which is more likely — that could just as easily explain the findings. In the chocolate lovers group, participants tended to be better educated and healthier overall than their peers, being less likely to smoke, have high blood pressure or have the heart-rate abnormality known as atrial fibrillation, which is a major risk factor for stroke. The researchers carefully controlled for these and other health measures, but Pierre Fayad, MD, a professor of neurological sciences at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha, notes that the link between chocolate consumption and strokes can possibly be explained by health or lifestyle differences that went undetected.  ‘This association could also be due to the fact that [chocolate eaters] are healthier people,’ he adds.

While the new study adds to a wealth of research that hails the health benefits of chocolate, don’t go thinking that your doctor is going to start giving you different advice about your cardiovascular health. Fayad comments that following a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and treating known risk factors such as high blood pressure will all have a bigger impact on stroke risk than how much chocolate you consume. Plus, Friedman concludes, ‘Eating five chocolate bars a week might be worse for you in terms of obesity than it is good for you in terms of stroke risk.’

Categories: blood pressure, chocolate, chocolate lovers, high blood, major health, Research, risk, stroke, stroke risk, study

Could the Desire to Cough be a Reflex We"ve Imagined?

A recent study has claimed that the desire to cough can be reduced psychologically, as the irritation may not be just a reflex action. The study, carried out by researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia, made all of the participants in the study breathe in a small amount of capsaicin, which is a throat irritant. They were previously given some inert gas which didn’t impact their need to cough. However, some of the participants were told that the gas wouldn’t be able to help them when it came to coughing, and others were told that they were given liodcaine – a local anesthetic. The results of the study showed that people who were told they had consumed a local anesthetic had a 45 percent lower urge to cough, compared to the other participants. This study shows that the urge to cough can be controlled with psychological willpower, by certain thought centres in the brain.

 

Professor Omer Van den Bergh, from the University of Leuven in Belgium, explained that it is as though the brain has some occasion to control when it needs to cough, and when not to. Other studies show that the brain does respond to placebos, with people suffering from depression or even urinary problems reacting positively to placebo treatments. Sometimes, the effect of counselling or anti-depressant medicines can influence the effect as well. Lead researcher Stuart Mazzone exclaimed that the team were surprised by the effect of placebos in this study – a placebo is generally effecting around 25 to 30 percent where pain reduction is concerned.

 

The study confirms that placebos can be as effective in reducing coughing as some anti-cough medicines can be. While this is the case, researchers are unsure why it is that we respond so well to the placebos when we feel the need to cough. It’s thought that the cough reflex in people is less hard-wired than the pain reflex, as the latter is more necessary for survival. Researchers are keen to analyse this subject further in order to see whether the brain can be made to believe that a substance can soothe a cough.

Categories: Brain, cough, local anesthetic, new study, placebo, placebos, reflex, study

Does Plastic Surgery Actually Make You More Attractive?

Is anti-ageing wellness the same as looking attractive? Not according to a new study, as researchers have found that even though facial plastic surgery may turn back the hands of time, it may not, alas, also boost your attractiveness.

 

For the study, which only involved 50 participants, the researchers showed the volunteers photos of 49 patients either before or after facial plastic surgery. The participants were asked to guess the age of each patient, as well as subjectively ranking their attractiveness. The results of the study revealed that while surgical intervention did indeed manage to shave a few years off the patients’ perceived ages, it did nothing to boost anyone’s overall level of attractiveness. According to study lead author Dr. Joshua Zimm, an attending surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital and Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Institute of North Shore-LIJ Health System in New York City, the issue here is that patients’ expectations don’t match up with how the surgery will actually affect their wellbeing.

 

‘When we’re doing this kind of surgery I’m telling patients that they’ll look fresher, more energetic and less tired, and we have some data in the literature that indicates you will look younger, as we found,’ Zimm notes. ‘But clearly I cannot say that they will look more attractive.’ However, Zimm is quick to point out that the findings are based on the work of just one surgeon – maybe the 49 patients should have gone to someone else! – and there are also limitations to the design of the study. ‘This is not the final word on the subject,’ Zimm assures. ‘But certainly I think you can take away from this that if you’re looking to have aesthetic facial surgery to look younger, we’ve shown that you will. Beyond that … it is not clear that everyone will definitely look more attractive.’

 

For the study, which was published in the online edition of the journal JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery, the team of researchers focused on certain clients at a Toronto private-practice facility. Between 2006 and 2010, all of the clients had either had a face lift, neck lift, upper or lower eyelid lift, or brow-lift, and they were all between the ages of 42 and 73 years old. The researchers took facial photos – in which makeup and jewellery were forbidden – both before and six-months after the surgery. The patients were also banned from having additional cosmetic procedures (such as Botox injections or laser skin resurfacing) between the before-and-after photo sessions. The raters only ever saw a pre-surgery or a post-surgery photo of a particular patient – never both.

 

Zimm asserts that the findings do not accurately portray how your friends and relatives might react to any surgery you might have, as they will have a very clear frame of reference for assessing both age and beauty. He adds that the researchers may have created a ‘kind of subconscious attractiveness bias’ by asking the raters to assess age and attractiveness at the same time. However, he comments, ‘At the end of the day the goal is to make people happy, so we have to know what’s possible in order to determine if any particular patient is someone I can help.’

 

However, Dr. Laurie Casas, a senior clinician educator at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study, argues, ‘Certainly when I see a new patient I have to decide if what the patient is after is achievable or even realistic. And it’s a very complex process because the perception of beauty has to be evaluated by both the surgeon and the patient. The end game is that they want to look more attractive, but this study doesn’t get me anywhere with that process because it’s impossible to make any sense out of the data. It’s totally subjective, so the results have no meaning.’

Categories: Attractiveness, facial plastic, patient, Patients, plastic surgery, Research, study, surgery

Circumcision Provides Better AIDS Reduction Than Expected

Back in 2002, three separate sexual health studies began with the aim of assessing the link between circumcision and a lower risk of getting AIDS. The first set of results came in 2005 from a study conducted in Orange Farm township, South Africa, and the research revealed an amazing 63% decrease HIV infection in circumcised, heterosexual men compared to uncircumcised, heterosexual men. According to the French and South African scientists heading up the study, the research had to end on ethical reasons; they were so convinced by their results that they stopped the study in order to offer circumcision procedures to the men in the uncircumcised group.

 

In Africa, about 70% of men are circumcised either when they’re born or during puberty, although the rates of circumcision will vary drastically between regions due to differing cultures. The medical procedure involves the removal of the foreskin of your penis, be it due to religious or wellness reasons. However, the wide range of circumcision rates in Africa is what first tipped researchers off to the possible protective effect to your wellbeing that circumcision has, as rates of AIDS were much lower in regions with much higher circumcision rates. Although the results of the Orange Farm findings were exciting to the medical community, scientists still awaited the results of the other two trials before getting all worked up.

 

In the Orange Farm study, 3273 men had taken part, and all scientific controls were observed tightly, making this the first large-scale trial to report its findings. The second study, undertaken in Kenya, had 3000 subjects while the third, Ugandan trial had 5,000. In this latter research, the researchers found a 48% reduction in AIDS infection in the circumcised group, while that reduction was 53% in the Kenyan findings. Following on from these results, the researchers ended their studies early to offer the men in the control group the opportunity to get circumcised, just like the Orange Farm study. This is because the results were even more positive than the researchers had anticipated, as AIDS vaccine investigators typically aim for a 30% decrease in risk of infection from intercourse with an infected partner.

 

So why does circumcision offer such protection against AIDS? Your foreskin is delicate and very susceptible to tears during sex, providing an easy access point for the AIDS virus to creep in through the torn blood vessels. Moreover, in your foreskin there is a high concentration of a type of white blood cell known as the Langerhans cell, or the “sentinel cell” of the immune system. These cells, which are located in the skin (and on the underside of the foreskin in particular) are some of the first to detect and pick up an antigen or foreign substance for processing.

 

Because there are so many Langerhans cells in the foreskin, and because these particular cells seem to be excellent at binding to HIV antigens, these blood cells are very likely to contact and bind to the virus. Usually, Langerhans cells trigger your body’s antibody response to fight off viruses, but once HIV gets into your system, your body can’t seem to fight it off effectively. Therefore, by removing the foreskin in which these Langerhans cells reside, men lose that increased risk of blood exposure and the higher concentration of HIV-receptors in that blood. This is why researchers believe that encouraging circumcision and offering the procedure for little or no cost could put a serious dent in the spread rate of HIV and AIDS. Thankfully, following the success of the Kenyan and Ugandan studies the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief – the two largest AIDS-fighting organizations in the world – have agreed to begin funding circumcision procedures in Africa.

Categories: aids, circumcision, circumcision procedures, circumcision rates, farm study, heterosexual men, langerhans cells, orange farm, Research, study