Wine Drinkers Eat Healthier Foods Than Beer DrinkersDrinking wine is believed to provide greater health benefits than drinking beer. The additional benefits may be due, in part to an associated healthier diet, researchers theorize. Wine drinkers eat more olives, fresh fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy products, poultry, and lean cuts of meat, while beer drinkers eat more pre-cooked packaged foods, sugar, chips, soft-drinks, cold cuts, sausages,
Feeling Fat (or Thin) May Be a Trick of the MindWhether you feel fat, thin or something in between has little to do with the reality of the situation, suggests a new study. A person's self-image is an illusion constructed in the brain, the researchers say. The study results may shed some light on anorexia, an eating disorder, and body dysmorphic disorder, which may cause sufferers to worry over small or imagined defects, and to overestimate or
Intuitive Eating: An 'Anti-Diet' That WorksStop hating your body, stop counting calories and stop using food for purposes other than to satisfy hunger, and you'll be healthier and slimmer. That, in a nutshell, is the argument in favor of 'intuitive dieting,' or letting your body tell you when, what and how much to eat. Dieting doesn't result in long-term weight loss and contributes to food anxiety and unhealthy eating practices, and can ev
Mom's Job Stress May Spread to KidsLow job satisfaction in working mothers increases the stress levels of their children, but spending longer in childcare can help overcome these effects. Children whose mothers found their jobs emotionally exhausting or otherwise less rewarding had higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol than children whose mothers reported more enjoyment from their jobs in a recent study. More time in childca
One-Third of Cancer Deaths Could Be AvoidedOf the seven million worldwide cancer deaths reported in 2001, 35 percent were attributable to nine well-known behavioral and environmental risk factors. The nine risk factors are overweight and obesity; low fruit and vegetable intake; physical inactivity; smoking; alcohol use; unsafe sex; urban air pollution; indoor smoke from household use of coal; and contaminated injections in healthcare setti
Aspartame Causes Cancer in RatsRats given varying doses of aspartame -- the second most widely used artificial sweetener in the world -- experienced a statistically significant increase in the incidence of malignant tumors, lymphomas and leukemias in a recent study. The effects were observed at a daily dose of 20 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight -- which is less than the current acceptable daily intake for humans.
Spoonful of Sugar May Curb Stress, ObesitySweets -- those made with sugar, not substitutes -- may decrease production of glucocorticoid, a stress-related hormone that has been linked to obesity and decreased immune response. Glucocorticoids are produced when psychological or physical stressors activate the brain's 'stress axis.' These hormones help an individual survive and recover from stress, but they have been linked to increased abdom
Air Pollution Hikes Stroke RiskIschemic stroke, which results when a blood clot travels to the brain, is more likely to occur on days when the air contains a larger concentration of particulate matter. The air pollution in question includes particles smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter from car and truck exhaust, power plants and refineries. The final analysis demonstrated a 1.03 percent rise in ischemic stroke on the days
Viagra Is Good for the HeartViagra, which millions of men take for erectile dysfunction, reduces the effects of hormonal stress on the heart by half, according to a new study. These findings are believed to be the first confirmation in humans that Viagra has a direct effect on the heart. Related studies in mice suggest that Viagra also may prevent and reverse the long-term effects of chronic high blood pressure on the heart.
New Gene Tool May Unlock Root Causes of DiseaseGenetic researchers have made substantial advances in understanding the root causes of common diseases and the history of human evolution. An international consortium of more than 200 scientists has concluded that genetic variants located physically close to each other are inherited collectively as groups, called haplotypes. The comprehensive catalog of all of these blocks is known as the 'HapMap.
You Don't Have to Strain for Cardio Fitness GainsQuantity may beat quality when it comes to exercise and heart health. Adults who engage in mild exercise -- such as walking briskly for 12 miles or exercising moderately for 125-200 minutes over the course of a week -- can improve their aerobic fitness significantly and reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a new study.
Your ADHD Child May Just Be TiredChildren who have symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) actually may be sleep-deprived, research suggests, and doctors should consider that possibility before prescribing Ritalin and other ADHD drugs. Sleepy children might engage in excessive motor activity in order to stay alert. This could explain the effectiveness of stimulants that increase activity in the central nervous s
Exhausted Interns: Doctoring While ImpairedThe common practice of requiring physicians-in-training to work many double, and even triple, shifts results in performance reductions equivalent to the effects of drinking several ounces of alcohol. Thirty-four pediatric residents completed standardized tests following relatively light or heavy schedules, and their responses after putting in long hours were equivalent to their performance after c
Acupuncture Eases Tension Headache PainThe ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture has proven to be an effective treatment for tension headache. It not only relieves pain, but also cuts rates of recurrence by almost half, a recent study indicates.
Placebo Effect Is Not Just PsychologicalPatients who believe in the effectiveness of their pain medication will experience greater relief, finds a new study. Previous research has shown that the brain responds physically during the placebo effect, but this study is the first to pinpoint a specific mechanism that triggers the physical response. 'This deals another serious blow to the idea that the placebo effect is a purely psychological
Yoga Helps Fight Mid-Life BulgeYoga practice helps middle-aged people lose weight and keep it off, suggest new studies. The subjects who were of normal weight at the age of 45 and did not practice yoga consistently gained about 10 pounds over the next 10 years, while those who performed regular yoga routines lost 3 pounds during that same 10-year period -- a difference of 13 pounds.
Docs Giving Wrong Rx to Kids with Sore ThroatsFor years, there has been concern that antibiotics are
overprescribed, and with good cause. Despite clear
guidelines calling for prior testing, physicians prescribed
antibiotics in 53 percent of sore throat cases in children,
researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and
Children's Hospital Boston found in a recent study.
