Study: Short burst of activity effective in shedding pounds

There's no short cut in a healthy weight loss however, a new study finds that short micro-bursts of activity throughout the day can make a big impact in losing weight.

The research was published on September 1 in the American Journal of Health Promotion, University of Utah researchers found that even brief episodes of physical activity of high intensity -- such as carrying a load of laundry or taking a flight of stairs -- worked just as well as longer 10-minute bouts.

"What we learned is that for preventing weight gain, the intensity of the activity matters more than duration," says researcher Jessie X. Fan, professor of family and consumer studies. "Knowing that even short bouts of 'brisk' activity can add up to a positive effect is an encouraging message for promoting better health."

Researchers used data from more than 4,500 men and women who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In the survey, participants wore accelerometers for seven days, which captured data on their physical activity. Researchers then compared measurements of physical activity based on length of time and intensity. Four categories were created: higher-intensity bouts (greater than 10 minutes exertion at greater than 2,020 counts per minutes, or CPM), higher-intensity short bouts (less than 10 minutes at greater than 2,020 CPM), lower-intensity long bouts (greater than 10 minutes and less than 2,019 CPM), and lower-intensity short bouts (less than 10 minutes and less than 2,019 CPM).

The study used body mass index, BMI, to measure weight status with results showing that for women, each daily minute spent in higher-intensity short bouts was related to a decrease of .07 BMI (A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered normal weight, whereas a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is overweight; and over 30 is obese.) Looking at it another way, each such minute offset the calorie equivalent of .41 pounds (.18 kilos). Men had similar results, the researchers said.

A separate study announced earlier this year found that short bursts of activity, such as pacing while chatting on the phone, provided they add up to 30 minutes a day, are just as effective as a gym session. In the study, researchers at Oregon State University analyzed data on physical activity and health markers such as cholesterol and blood pressure for more than 6,000 US adults.

Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/when-it-comes-to-weight-loss-every-movement-counts-study-1.1436944#ixzz2doNW0e9y

Man diagnosed with chronic tardiness disease

Jim Dunbar a Scottish man has been diagnosed by doctors with chronic lateness or chronic tardiness disease and this after he showed up for his appointment 20 minutes late, the Evening Telegraph reports. He has been late for everything his entire life from showing up to school at 5 years old to funerals, dinner parties and first dates.

Doctors say that his condition resembles ADHD and affects the part of the brain that measures how long things take. Dunbar hopes his diagnosis can help others who are also afflicted, and hopes to raise awareness about his condition.

“The reason I want it out in the open is that there has got to be other folk out there with it and they don’t realise that it’s not their fault,” he said.

Dunbar has a special clock that keeps perfect time, but it doesn’t help. He sets his watch fast, to no avail. He even gives himself an 11-hour head start to get to the movies on time, and still arrives 20 minutes late.

Guest post: Hannah Taylor of MyClaimSource.com

Filing a health insurance claim is no easy task. Just the amount of work - paperwork, going back and forth with different people, long frustrating hours on the phone - will just about send anyone running for the hills. So why purchase a plan at all? Here's one reason - if you have a medical emergency, your healthcare coverage will pay some of the medical costs. The financial burden an illness or injury brings can be devastating so any help at all paying the bills would mean a lot. Having health insurance will help you lead a healthier life as well. With physicals included in your plan, you will be able to get preventive care and avoid illnesses. Yes, health coverage can be costly but not having one could cost a lot more.

Getting a health plan shouldn't be as confusing and complicated as it needs to be. If you need help finding information, check out MyClaimSource.com. You can compare plans and get free resources on popular insurance providers, their contact information, tips and tricks, and even discounts. The site also aims to be an open forum to connect those looking to file claims with people who already have, and who may be able to offer tips and advice on claim filing with a given provider.

Superfood: Moringa Leaves

Leaves of moringa trees may be the world's most nutritious food since it contains more nutrients and natural remedies than other food. Moringa gives energy, immunity, and metabolism. Moringa fresh leaves has 4 times the calcium of milk and 7 times the vitamin C of oranges. It also contains more vitamin A than carrots, more iron than spinach, and more potassium than bananas.

The tree grows in southern Florida and California and taste a bit more like spinach. You can add the leaves to a salad mix or add it on soup.

Moringa is grown in home gardens and as living fences in Tamil Nadu, Southern India and Thailand, where it is commonly sold in local markets. In the Philippines, it is commonly grown for its leaves which are used in soup, they call it "Malunggay." Moringa is also actively cultivated by the World Vegetable Center in Taiwan, a center for vegetable research with a mission to reduce poverty and malnutrition in developing countries through improved production and consumption of vegetables. Tamil Nadu, Southern India has moringa in its folk stories and use in home gardens.

It is also widely cultivated in Africa, Cambodia, Pakistan, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Central and South America, and Sri Lanka.

Budweiser Is the Drink of Choice for People Who End Up in the ER

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health conducted a pilot study of ER patients who’d been consuming alcohol and they found out that the number one brand ER patients has been drinking was Budweiser.

Budweiser holds 9.1 percent of the national beer market in the U.S., but 15 percent of the questionably desirable demographic of people who drink and then end up in the emergency room. Also a top contender in the ER market is Steel Reserve, which only holds 0.8 percent of the U.S. beer market, but a whopping 14.7 percent of alcohol-inclined ER patients.

Bud Light, Bud Ice malt liquor and Colt 45 malt liquor also made strong showings in the hospital circuit.

The study is limited to a small Baltimore hospital where the 105 patient interviews took place.

Soda tied to behavior problems on kids

Children who drink soda tend to score slightly higher on scales that measure aggressive behavior than kids who don't drink the carbonated beverages, according to a new study.

The study's lead author cautioned, however, that the increase may not be noticeable for individual children and the researchers can't prove soda caused the bad behaviors.

"It's a little hard to interpret it. It's not quite clinically significant," Shakira Suglia, of Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health in New York, told Reuters Health.

Previous work by some of the study's authors had found connections between soda drinking and violent behavior, but the link had not been studied in young children.

For the new analysis, the researchers used an existing study of mothers and their 2,929 children from 20 large U.S. cities. The mothers and children were first recruited between 1998 and 2000 to be periodically interviewed and evaluated.

READ MORE

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/16/us-soda-drinking-idUSBRE97F03J20130816

Binge eating linked to breast cancer

London - Researcher said that high calorie intake may increase the risk of breast cancer.

Research based is on around 4,000 women has found that those who had the highest energy intake were 70 percent more likely to develop the cancer, irrespective of weight and rates of physical activity.

The study from the University of California examined 1,775 women diagnosed with breast cancer and 2,529 are not affected by the condition.

The results found that eating a large number of calories increased risk of the condition.

Just why is unclear, although other research has suggested that a diet high in fat and calories increases circulating estrogen in the blood, which may fuel cancer growth. - Daily Mail