Archive for February 2010
carrot cooking
Put down your kitchen knife: researchers have found that carrots cooked whole contain 25% more of a potential cancer-fighting compound than those cooked after being sliced or diced. Chopping carrots increases the amount of the veggie’s surface area, which apparently causes more of its nutrients to leach out into the cooking water. (The same goes for packaged, already-cut carrots.)
Read Moreflu fighters
Try fighting the seasonal flu with food this year. Here’s a look at some foods that are rich in antioxidants, which help fortify the immune system:
Read Morecheap tricks: go Groupons™
Want to save money while sitting at your computer? Click and print out cost-cutting Groupons, online coupons offered daily from a group collective that uses the power of group buying to pass along drastic savings to consumers. Each day, the site (www.groupon.com) features different products and services at unbelievable prices—providing enough people log on to take advantage of the group deal.
Read Morethe benefits of brussels sprouts
They may have placed number 8 on the list of most-hated foods (see “Top 10 Most-Hated Foods”), but Brussels sprouts really get
a bum rap. That’s probably because most cooks tend to drastically overcook the sprouts, which releases smelly sulfur compounds
that don’t exactly whet one’s appetite. Cooked properly, Brussels sprouts can be a revelation in taste; their nutty and sweet flavor can convert even the biggest balkers.
how local stores affect kids’ snacking
Childhood obesity in America is higher among ethnic minorities. One reason may be their limited access to affordable, healthy food options, according to researchers who reported their findings in the November issue of the journal Pediatrics.
The purpose of the study under review was to document the nature of children’s food purchases in “corner stores” located near their
elementary schools. This observational trial looked at kids in grades 4 through 6 who lived and attended school in low-income, high-minority neighborhoods.
sweet nothings
Increased consumption of sweetened beverages has been linked to higher energy intake and weight gain in children. Now a new study
has shown that a girl’s beverage intake at age 5 can predict her fat
composition and weight status in later childhood and adolescence.
mediterranean diet reduces depression
People who follow a conventional Mediterranean diet have reason to cheer: they are less likely to develop clinical depression, according to a report in
the October issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, which is published by the American Medical Association. The lifetime prevalence of mental disorders
is lower in the Mediterranean region compared with Northern Europe, presumably due at least in part to the diet now considered to be protective against
depression.
your brain on a high-Protein diet
Eating a high-protein diet may make the brain lighter, which can ultimately make you more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to a
recent animal study.
USDA invests in organic research
According to estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA),
organic food sales in America have
quadrupled since 1997, growing like weeds from $3.6 billion to $24.6 billion in annual sales. The agency projects that the organic sector will continue to grow at a steady yearly rate of 19% until 2013.
The Franklin Method®: A Revolutionary Approach to Movement
Illustration: From Beautiful Body, Beautiful Mind: The Power of Positive Imagery by Eric Franklin. Copyright © 2007 and 2009 by Eric Franklin. Used with permission.
Read MoreFitBus Provides Healthy Living Education
La Donna Hendricks, MD, of Pure
Joy Pediatrics in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, grew tired of witnessing
the decline of children’s health. She
realized this was largely the result of inadequate education and lack of
exposure to healthy options. To fight the problem, she worked with Aurora Engineering to build the “FitBus,” a “mobile health unit focused on educating our youth using nutrition,
exercise and life lessons all intended
to combat childhood obesity and
promote healthy living in urban
communities.”
Cybex Pink Treadmills a Success
In the January issue, it was reported that fitness equipment manufacturer CYBEX® had developed special pink treadmills to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research.
For each mile logged on the treadmills in October (National Breast Cancer Awareness Month), the organization would donate money
to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The program was a
success: 250,000 miles were logged, resulting in a $50,000 donation.
Neck Pain Solutions for Women Office Workers
The Mayo Clinic website states that most people will experience neck pain at least once during their lives. Oftentimes a result of prolonged static seated positions and poor posture, neck pain can negatively affect quality of life and is often responsible for missed workdays. A study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology (2009; 107, 1413–19) has found that specific strength training exercises may help women office workers reduce perceived neck pain.
Read MoreFit Boys Are Smarter, Says Study
Boys interested in improving report card scores may want to take up running or bicycling. A study of 1.2 million men born between 1950 and 1976 determined a link between cardiovascular fitness and “intelligence.” Researchers from the Institute of Medicine at the University of Gothenburg, in Sweden, analyzed the physical capacity, brain power and socioeconomic status of men when they reported for military duty at age 18.
Read MorePeople Help Power University
Have you ever looked at an elliptical machine and wondered if there was a way to use the energy generated by the exerciser to power your facility? You’re not alone. Using specialized technology called ReCardio, Oregon State University (OSU) and private firm ReRev.com have been able to capture this energy and send it back to the power grid. The energy generated from 22 retrofitted elliptical machines was estimated at about 3,500 kilowatt hours per year.
Read MorePelvic-Floor Dysfunction Not Just for Women
A study presented at the annual meeting of the North American Menopause Society in San Diego suggests that pelvic-floor muscle exercises can help women manage urinary incontinence. But is pelvic-floor dysfunction an issue that plagues only women? Not so, says Rich Colosi, PT, DPT, physical therapist and facility manager at the Accelerated Rehabilitation Center in Evanston, Illinois.
Read MoreBenefits of Declining Smoking Rates to Be Trumped by Obesity
Once considered a great danger to health and mortality, smoking will likely pale in comparison to the threat of obesity, according to an article published in The New England Journal of Medicine (2009; 361 [23], 2252–60). The article suggests that, if the current obesity trend continues, its disadvantages will “increasingly outweigh the positive effects gained from declining smoking rates.”
Read MoreIDEA Member Helps Fight Inactivity on College Campuses
The “Freshman 15” has a new enemy. Karen Jashinsky, IDEA member and founder and CEO of O2Max Fitness in Santa Monica, California, now offers college students a program to help them stay healthy and fit
despite their busy schedules. “Max U was
developed by college students to provide them with an affordable, comprehensive, mobile fitness program that is just as easy
to use in a dorm as it is at the local or campus gym,” says Whitney Sholl, college fitness manager for O2Max.
Keep Quality Employees
Many business owners and managers might agree with the statement “Good help is hard to find.” The interview, hiring and training processes can also be expensive and time-consuming. But once you’ve found and groomed a star employee, how do you make sure he or she remains on board? Behavior strategist and performance management coach Joe Takash offers the following tips for retaining top talent:
Read MoreRunner’s Knee and Faulty Biomechanics
“Runner’s knee” is a term that describes a painful and sometimes debilitating ailment of the knee present in a quarter of active people. The condition is often associated with runners, but anyone who participates in activities requiring knee bending can become affected. The exact cause of runner’s knee—otherwise known as patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS)—has remained a mystery. According to research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, that mystery may now be solved.
Read More