ScienceDaily: Staying Healthy News

Addiction to unhealthy foods could help explain the global obesity epidemic, research suggests

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:58:58 EDT

New research shows that high-fructose corn syrup can cause behavioral reactions in rats similar to those produced by drugs of abuse such as cocaine. These results suggest food addiction could explain, at least partly, the current global obesity epidemic.

Dietary advice on added sugar is damaging our health, warns heart expert

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:41:41 EDT

Dietary advice on added sugar is damaging our health, warns a cardiologist. He believes that "not only has this advice been manipulated by the food industry for profit but it is actually a risk factor for obesity and diet related disease."

Genetic risk for obesity found in many Mexican young adults

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:26:26 EDT

As many as 35 percent of Mexican young adults may have a genetic predisposition for obesity, said a University of Illinois scientist who conducted a study at the Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosw.

Women who smoke during pregnancy increase the risk of both obesity and gestational diabetes in their daughters

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:54:54 EDT

Women who smoke during pregnancy increase the risk of both obesity and gestational diabetes, in their daughters.

Individuals who drink heavily and smoke may show 'early aging' of the brain

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:34:34 EDT

Alcohol treatment interventions work best when patients understand and are actively involved in the process. A first-of-its-kind study looks at the interactive effects of smoking status and age on neurocognition in one-month-abstinent alcohol dependent (AD) individuals in treatment. Results show that AD individuals who currently smoke have more problems with memory, ability to think quickly and efficiently, and problem-solving skills than those who do not smoke, effects which seem to become greater with increasing age.

Body mass index of low income African-Americans linked to proximity of fast food restaurants

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:17:17 EDT

African-American adults living closer to a fast food restaurant had a higher body mass index than those who lived further away from fast food, according to researchers, and this association was particularly strong among those with a lower income.

Non-smoking hotel rooms still expose occupants to tobacco smoke

Mon, 13 May 2013 20:24:24 EDT

Non-smoking rooms in hotels operating a partial smoking ban don't protect their occupants from tobacco smoke, reveals new research.

Heart disease: Healthy lifestyle offsets work-related stress, study suggests

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:33:33 EDT

People with job stress and an unhealthy lifestyle are at higher risk of coronary artery disease than people who have job stress but lead healthy lifestyles, found a new study.

Parental addictions linked to adult children's depression

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:33:33 EDT

The offspring of parents who were addicted to drugs or alcohol are more likely to be depressed in adulthood, according to a new study. Investigators have examined the association between parental addictions and adult depression in a representative sample of 6,268 adults, drawn from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey.

For adolescents, Subway food may not be much healthier than McDonald's, study finds

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:54:54 EDT

Subway may promote itself as the "healthy" fast food restaurant, but it may not be much healthier than McDonald's for adolescents, according to a new study. Subway meals had nearly as many calories as McDonald's, and both are likely to contribute toward overeating and obesity, researchers found.

Children's 'healthy' foods marketed at children are higher in fat, sugar and salt

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:44:44 EDT

Foods being marketed to children in UK supermarkets are less healthy than those marketed to the general population according to researchers who question whether more guidelines may be needed in regulating food marketed to children.

Magnesium may be as important to kids' bone health as calcium

Sun, 05 May 2013 07:37:37 EDT

Parents are advised to make sure their children drink milk and eat other calcium-rich foods to build strong bones. Soon, they also may be urged to make sure their kids eat salmon, almonds and other foods high in magnesium -- another nutrient that may play an important role in bone health, according to a new study.

Dieting youth show greater brain reward activity in response to food

Thu, 02 May 2013 14:26:26 EDT

Research results imply that dieting characterized by meal skipping and fasting would be less successful than weight loss efforts characterized by intake of low energy dense healthy foods.

Diet, 'anti-aging' supplements may help reverse blood vessel abnormality

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:31:31 EDT

A diet low in grains, beans and certain vegetables -- combined with "anti-aging" supplements -- improved blood vessel function, in a new study.

Secondhand smoke presents greater threat to teen girls than boys

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:14:14 EDT

When teenage girls are exposed to secondhand smoke at home, they tend to have lower levels of the "good" form of cholesterol that reduces heart disease risk, according to a recent study.

What triggers those late-night snack cravings?

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:03:03 EDT

The circadian system increases hunger and cravings for sweet, starchy and salty foods in the evenings, according to new research. Eating higher-calorie foods in the evening can be counterproductive if weight loss is a goal since the human body handles nutrients differently depending on the time of day.

Mediterranean diet linked to preserving memory

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:46:46 EDT

A new study suggests that the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes consuming foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, chicken and salad dressing, and avoiding saturated fats, meat and dairy foods, may be linked to preserving memory and thinking abilities.

Contact killing of Salmonella by human fecal bacteria

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:08:08 EDT

Researchers have recently found a novel mode of interaction between Salmonella, a foodborne pathogen, and the bacteria that live in our guts. Fecal bacteria collected from healthy donors effectively inactivated Salmonella, when they were allowed close contact. Mathematical modelling of this interaction is now being used to find new ways of controlling Salmonella.

Workplace stress poses risk to health

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:09:09 EDT

Stressful situations at work can have a negative impact on the cardiovascular system and the metabolism. Stress, which is transmitted by direct and indirect signaling pathways, leads to an inflammatory response in the body, which can trigger cardiovascular diseases, amongst others.

Change diet, exercise habits at same time for best results, study says

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:13:13 EDT

Researchers have discovered that focusing on changing exercise and diet at the same time gives a bigger boost than tackling them sequentially. They also found that focusing on changing diet first -- an approach that many weight-loss programs advocate -- may actually interfere with establishing a consistent exercise routine.

Community gardens may produce more than vegetables

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:21:21 EDT

People who participate in community gardening have a significantly lower BMIs —- as well as lower odds of being overweight or obese -— than do their non-gardening neighbors, according to a new study.

Teenage smoking behavior influenced by friends' and parents' smoking habits

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:24:24 EDT

The company you keep in junior high school may have more influence on your smoking behavior than your high school friends, according to newly published research.

Exercise or make dinner? Study finds adults trade one healthy act for another

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:22:22 EDT

American adults who prepare their own meals and exercise on the same day are likely spending more time on one of those activities at the expense of the other, a new study suggests.

Reducing infant exposure to smoke

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:16:16 EDT

A study to investigate whether a hospital-initiated behavioral therapy program conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit can reduce secondhand smoke in homes with infants at risk for pulmonary problems has been launched by UTHealth researchers.

Stress during gestation causes a predisposition to the development of pathologies in adulthood

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:59:59 EDT

The intrauterine environment plays an important role in the health of the offspring. Now, experts from the affirm that the mother's stress, due to socio-economic or psycho-social causes, is associated with the development of pathologies related with obesity.

'Well-being risks' contribute to decreased productivity

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:09:09 EDT

In addition to health-related risk factors, some non-traditional "well-being risks" can have a significant impact on workers' productivity.

College athletes twice as likely to have depression than retired collegiate athletes

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:01:01 EDT

A survey of current and former college athletes finds depression levels significantly higher in current athletes, a result that upended the researchers' hypothesis.

Organic labels bias consumers perceptions through the 'health halo effect'

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:15:15 EDT

In a new study, researchers show that an organic label can influence much more than health views: perceptions of taste, calories and value can be significantly altered when a food is labeled "organic". Certain people also appear to be more susceptible to this 'health halo' effect than others.

Adolescents' poor health behaviors raise risk of heart disease as adults

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 07:52:52 EDT

U.S. adolescents' lack of heart-healthy behaviors may increase their chances of heart disease as adults, according to a new study. More than 80 percent of them had a poor diet and many were not physically active. Improving risk factors or preventing risk factors from developing during adolescence is the key to preventing cardiovascular disease as adults.

Prebiotics: Do supplements in baby formula help prevent allergies?

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 07:57:57 EDT

Prebiotic supplements in infant formula may help to prevent eczema, according to a systematic review. However, the review highlights a lack of high quality evidence for the effects of prebiotics in preventing allergies.

Cancer biologists find DNA-damaging toxins in common plant-based foods

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:33:33 EDT

In a laboratory study pairing food chemistry and cancer biology, scientists tested the potentially harmful effect of foods and flavorings on the DNA of cells. They found that liquid smoke flavoring, black and green teas and coffee activated the highest levels of a well-known, cancer-linked gene called p53.

Hot flashes? Active days bring better nights

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:35:35 EDT

Getting a good night's sleep isn't always easy for women at menopause. Exercise may help, but women can have a tough time carving out leisure time for it. The good news from a new study is that higher levels of routine daily physical activity may be the more important key to a better night's sleep for many women who have hot flashes or night sweats.

Better-educated parents feed children fewer fats and less sugar

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 09:27:27 EDT

Almost 15,000 children aged between two and nine years old took part in the study. The level of education of parents has an influence on the frequency with which their children eat foods linked to obesity. The children of parents with low and medium levels of education eat fewer vegetables and fruit and more processed products and sweet drinks.

Protein-rich breakfasts prevent unhealthy snacking in the evening, study finds

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:11:11 EDT

Eating a breakfast rich in protein significantly improves appetite control and reduces unhealthy snacking on high-fat or high-sugar foods in the evening, which could help improve the diets of more than 25 million overweight or obese young adults in the U.S., new research finds.

Vitamin D may lower diabetes risk in obese children and adolescents

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:17:17 EDT

Being obese puts individuals at greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes, a disease in which individuals have too much sugar in their blood. Now researchers found vitamin D supplements can help obese children and teens control their blood-sugar levels, which may help them stave off the disease.

Modest changes in military dining facilities promoted healthier eating

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:53:53 EDT

The prevalence of obesity within the military is currently 13 percent. This rising epidemic, also rampant throughout the general population, could result in military career setbacks, negatively impact operational readiness, and jeopardize Department of Defense operations. To combat the epidemic, a team of researchers chose the military cafeteria as the venue to observe and evaluate eating behavior and the positive impact of modest changes to promote healthy eating and food selection.

Serious mental illness no barrier to weight loss success

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:48:48 EDT

Through a program that teaches simple nutrition messages and involves both counseling and regular exercise classes, people with serious mental illness can make healthy behavioral changes and achieve significant weight loss.

Genes may be reason some kids are picky about food

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:29:29 EDT

Parents may plead, cajole or entice their children to try new foods, but some kids just won't budge. Now, new research reveals that the reason these kids fear new foods has less to do with what's on their plate and more to do with their genes.

Financial benefits of plant-based, Mediterranean diet

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:53:53 EDT

People who followed a six-week cooking program and followed simple, plant-based recipes decreased their total food spending, purchased healthier food items and improved their food security.

Short and poor sleepers have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:51:51 EDT

People who sleep poorly or not long enough have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This does not apply to people who sleep less than 6 hours, but wake up feeling fit and rested.

Caffeine 'can significantly protect against crash risk' for long distance heavy vehicle drivers

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:23:23 EDT

Long distance commercial drivers who consume caffeinated substances such as coffee or energy drinks, to stay awake while driving, are significantly less likely to crash than those who do not, even though they drive longer distances and sleep less, finds a new study.

Real time secondhand smoke sensor invented

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:44:44 EDT

Making headway against a major public health threat, researchers have invented the first ever secondhand tobacco smoke sensor that records data in real time, a new study shows.

Heart-healthy lifestyle also reduces cancer risk

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:04:04 EDT

Following the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 steps for a healthy heart also reduces cancer risk. Meeting six or seven of the health factors can cut cancer risk in half. The benefits are cumulative, with cancer risk decreasing for each additional factor met.

Alcohol, fibromyalgia, and quality of life

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 07:46:46 EDT

Low and moderate drinkers of alcohol reported lower severity of symptoms of fibromyalgia than teetotallers, finds a study. Too much alcohol reversed this effect. The chronic pain of fibromyalgia is thought to affect one in 20 people worldwide but there is no known cause or cure. It often goes hand in hand with fatigue and sleep problems, headaches, depression and irritable bowel and bladder problems. Treatment is based around pain management and lifestyle changes.

College kids who don't drink milk could face serious consequences

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:11:11 EDT

College-age kids who don't consume at least three servings of dairy daily are three times more likely to develop metabolic syndrome than those who do, said a new study. "That alarming finding means that three-fourths of the 18- to 25-year-old college applicants surveyed are at risk for metabolic syndrome ," said a professor of food science and human nutrition.

Job burnout can severely compromise heart health

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:49:49 EDT

Dr. Sharon Toker of Tel Aviv University has found a link between job burnout and coronary heart disease (CHD), the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries that leads to angina and heart attacks. She says that her findings were more extreme than she expected and make burnout a stronger predictor of CHD than many other risk factors.

Green food labels make nutrition-poor food seem healthy

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:44:44 EDT

Green calorie labels may lead people to see nutrition-poor foods in a healthier light. A researcher says consumers are more likely to perceive a candy bar as more healthful when it has a green calorie label compared with when it had a red one – even though the number of calories are the same.

Kid's consumption of sugared beverages linked to higher caloric intake of food

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:25:25 EDT

A new study reports that sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are primarily responsible for higher caloric intakes of children that consume SSBs as compared to children that do not (on a given day). In addition, SSB consumption is also associated with higher intake of unhealthy foods.

Mandating fruits and vegetables in school meals makes a difference, study finds

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:22:22 EDT

State laws that require minimum levels of fruits and vegetables in school meals may give a small boost to the amount of these foods in adolescents' diets, according to a new study.

Less sleep leads to more eating and more weight gain, according to new study

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:11:11 EDT

Sleeping just five hours a night over a workweek and having unlimited access to food caused participants in a new study to gain nearly two pounds of weight.

Coffee and tea during pregnancy affect fetal growth

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 10:16:16 EDT

Drinking just two cups of coffee a day is associated with the risk of low birth weight, according to a study on 59,000 women.

Industrial chemicals found in food samples

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:47:47 EST

Researchers have discovered phthalates, industrial chemicals, in common foods purchased in the United States. Phthalates can be found in a variety of products and food packaging material, child-care articles and medical devices.

School-based kitchen gardens are getting an A+: New study highlights benefits of for both children and parents

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 09:25:25 EST

Grow it, try it, and you just might like it is a motto many schools are embracing to encourage children to eat more fruits and vegetables. Through community-based kitchen garden programs, particularly those with dedicated cooking components, schools are successfully introducing students to healthier foods. In a new study, researchers found that growing and then cooking the foods that kids grew increased their willingness to try new foods.

Gene identified that causes obesity in mice: Deleting gene eliminates obesity, could work for humans

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:13:13 EST

Researchers have discovered that deleting a gene in mice prevents them from becoming obese even on a high fat diet, a finding they believe could be replicated in humans.

Grape seed and skin extract: A weapon in the fight against kidney disease caused by high-fat diets

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:46:46 EST

New insight into grape seed extract as a therapeutic and preventative measure to fight obesity-induced kidney damage is presented in a new study. Grape seed and skin extract (GSSE) is known to contain powerful antioxidants. This study is the first to make a link between GSSEs and high-fat-diet-induced renal disease.

Eating junk food while pregnant may make your child a junk food addict

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 10:34:34 EST

A healthy diet during pregnancy is critical to the future health of your children. New research suggests that pregnant mothers who consume junk food cause developmental changes of the opioid signaling pathway in the brains of their unborn children. Consequently, these children are less sensitive to opioids released upon consumption of foods high in fat and sugar, and need to eat more to achieve a "feel good" response.

Too much vitamin D during pregnancy can cause food allergies, research suggests

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:58:58 EST

Pregnant women should avoid taking vitamin D supplements, new research suggests. Substitution appears to raise the risk of children developing a food allergy after birth.

Libertarian paternalism and school lunches: Guiding healthier behavior while preserving choices

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:25:25 EST

New US Department of Agriculture regulations have altered what foods schools offer for lunch, but schools cannot require students to eat specific foods. Researchers have now implemented an intervention using the behavioral science principle known as "libertarian paternalism" which led junior-senior high school students to eat more fruits and vegetables by making these foods more convenient, attractive, and normative.

Babies born by C-section at risk of developing allergies

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 09:19:19 EST

For expectant moms who may contemplate the pros and cons of natural child birth or Caesarian section, a new study suggests that C-section babies are susceptible to developing allergies by age two. Researchers found that babies born by C-section are five times more likely to develop allergies than babies born naturally when exposed to high levels of common allergens in the home such as those from dogs, cats and dust mites.

Race linked to childhood food allergies, not environmental allergies

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 11:15:15 EST

Researchers have shown that race and possibly genetics play a role in children's sensitivity to developing allergies. Researchers found: African-American children were sensitized to at least one food allergen three times more often than Caucasian children. African-American children with one allergic parent were sensitized to an environmental allergen twice as often as African-American children without an allergic parent.