Several Factors – Not Just Willpower – Account For Lapses When Dieting

A small, week-long study among dieters has found that late night cravings, alcohol use and friends contribute significantly to a drop in willpower and self-control. For the study, 80 people who were dieting were given mobile phones to use as an electronic diary. Researchers found that participants gave in to food temptations just over 50 percent of the time, and were especially vulnerable at night. They were more likely to give in to alcoholic temptations than to eat a sugary snack or to overindulge. And they were often influenced by the presence of others, regardless of whether a dietary temptation was unexpected or whether the dieter went looking for something to eat.

"An Ecological Momentary Assessment of Lapse Occurrences in Dieters. ", Annals of Behavioral Medicine, February 24, 2014

Vigorous Activity At Work Can Be Fatal

Workplaces where employees are involved in vigorous physical activity should prepare for the possibility of heart attacks and strokes on the job and should screen for high-risk workers carefully, a U.S. study finds. Researchers gathered data on on-duty deaths of firefighters that had been forwarded to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention between 1998 to 2012  There were 199 fatal cardiovascular events while firefighters – average age 49 – were on duty, including 167 were heart attacks, 12 from irregular heartbeat, three from stroke, and  the rest from other cardiovascular causes. A total of 148 of the events occurred after vigorous activity lasting an average of 33 minutes.

"Heart attacks, stroke at work often follow vigorous physical activity, study finds", News release, presentation at the upcoming American Academy of Neurology annual meeting, February 24, 2014

Selenium And Vitamin E Prove A Dangerous Combination For Men

Data derived from a seven-year, multicenter, 35,000-men clinical trial show that selenium and vitamin E not only do not protect against prostate cancer, they actually increase the risk. At the start of the trial in 2001, U.S. researchers measured the concentration of selenium in participants to see whether selenium supplements would benefit men with low levels. They instead found  that taking selenium increased the risk of high-grade cancer by 91 percent among men with high selenium status at baseline. In addition, taking vitamin E increased cancer risk in men with low selenium at the beginning by 63 percent and increased the risk of high-grade cancer by 111 percent.

"Baseline Selenium Status and Effects of Selenium and Vitamin E Supplementation on Prostate Cancer Risk", Journal of the National Cancer Institute, February 21, 2014

Teens Exchange Water For Sugary Sodas In Successful Test Project

A 30-day test program that encouraged high schoolers in the Appalachian foothills of Ohio to drink fewer sugary drinks and more water has succeeded, according to the program’s developer.  Dubbed “Sodabriety”, the program was presented as a challenge to teens in the region, where the  average number of sugared drinks was 2.5 servings a day over an average of four days a week. The teens – who had no idea about the high calorie content of sugared beverages – were particularly fond of oversized drinks. But during the program, which was monitored by teens themselves, rather than teachers or other adults, the average daily number of sugary drinks dropped  to 1.3, and the number of days dropped to two a week. Water consumption increased nearly 30 percent.

"Piloting “Sodabriety”: A School-Based Intervention to Impact Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption in Rural Appalachian High Schools", Journal of School Health, February 20, 2014

Women Who Maintain A Healthy Weight Increase Their Chance Of Survival To Old Age

U.S. researchers who looked at data on body mass index, disease, disability and mortality from nearly 37,000 post-menopausal women (aged 66 to 81 years) found that obese, overweight and underweight women had the least chance of living to age 85. Women with a healthy body weight had a much better chance of reaching that age. The researchers also found that overweight and obese women had higher risks of developing chronic diseases and mobility disabilities that required the use of a cane, walker or wheelchair. In fact, they noted, “disability risks were striking” among overweight and obese women.  The main conclusion: “The heavier you are, the worse your chances of healthy survival.”

"Obesity and Late-Age Survival Without Major Disease or Disability in Older Women", JAMA Internal Medicine, February 19, 2014

Risk Of Disability Soars For Elderly Who Are Sedentary

A U.S. study finds that every hour after 12 hours that an elderly person spends sitting doubles the risk of becoming disabled, no matter how much time is spent exercising. The study focused on 2,286 adults aged 60 and older, comparing those in similar health with the same amount of moderate vigorous activity (e.g., walking briskly). Being sedentary turned out to be almost as strong a risk factor for disability as lack of moderate vigorous activity. More than 56 million Americans are considered disabled because they have limited ability to do basic activities such as eating, dressing or bathing oneself. Overall, hospitalization of disabled persons accounts for 25 percent of the national cost of health care.

"Sedentary Time in U.S. Older Adults Associated With Disability in Activities of Daily Living Independent of Physical Activity", Journal of Physical Activity and Health, February 19, 2014

New Whole Food Nutraceutical Drink Promises To Fortify Body’s Stem Cells

FTN Believe has introduced a nutraceutical whole food drink in the U.K. that promises to support stem cells in the body and enhance the natural ability to repair and renew cells. FTN contains five whole food ingredients – green tea extract, wild blueberry extract, vitamin D, organic blue-green micro-algae with protein, and  organic fruit juice – in addition to vitamins, amino acids and other nutrients. The drink contains no artificial chemicals or stimulants, and is available in citrus and super berry flavors.

"New Wholefood Drink Launches In The UK", Food & Drink Innovation Network, February 18, 2014

Obese Patients Who Feel Judged Negatively By Physicians Have A Harder Time Losing Weight

The perception by obese patients that their primary care physician had passed judgment on their size led to less effective weight loss efforts, a Johns Hopkins University study has found. The study involved a national Internet-based survey of 600 obese adults who regularly saw their primary care doctors. Asked if their doctor ever judged them because of their weight, 21 percent believed they had. Ninety-six percent of those who felt judged said they tried to lose weight, compared to 84 percent who did not. Fourteen percent of those who felt judged lost 10 percent or more of their body weight, though 20 percent of those who did not feel judged lost a similar amount.

"Perceived judgment about weight can negatively influence weight loss: A cross-sectional study of overweight and obese patients", Preventive Medicine, February 18, 2014

Magnesium Added To Drinking Water Could Reduce Incidence Of Hip Fractures

A study conducted in Norway found that drinking water containing high levels of magnesium correlated with a lower incidence of hip fractures in both men and women. The same correlation was not found in water high in calcium. Given these findings, the researchers suggested that, in Norway at least, water utility companies should use dolomite with, or instead of, the lime (calcium carbonate) that is added to reduce water acidity. Dolomite contains both magnesium and calcium, while lime contains only calcium. A major public health problem in Norway, hip fractures affect 9,000 people a year. 

"Nationwide data on municipal drinking water and hip fracture: Could calcium and magnesium be protective? ", Bone, February 18, 2014

Vitamin D3 Helps Reduces Symptoms Of Hives When Combined With Allergy Meds

The chronic allergic skin condition known as hives – characterized by red, itchy welts and swelling that can last for months – has no cure and few treatment options. But U.S. researchers report that after just one week of supplemental treatment with low and high levels of vitamin D3 and other drugs, the severity of patients’ symptoms decreased by a third. For the study, 38 participants took three allergy medicines every day for 12 weeks. Half of the group took 600 IUs of D3, the other half took 4,000 IUs. At the end of the study, the group taking the higher dose of D3 had a further 40 percent reduction in symptom severity.

"Beneficial role for supplemental vitamin D3 treatment in chronic urticaria: a randomized study", Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, February 17, 2014

Deadly Form Of Stroke Is Linked To Deficiency In Vitamin C

A French study of 65 stroke victims found that, compared to healthy people, forty-one percent had normal levels of vitamin C in their blood and the rest –  59 percent – had either depleted or deficient levels. The researchers said vitamin C deficiency should be considered a risk factor for the severe, often deadly, type of stroke known as hemorrhagic, where a blood vessel in the brain ruptures. Other risk factors included overweight, high blood pressure and drinking alcohol. Vitamin C is found in many fruits and vegetables: oranges, papaya, peppers, broccoli, strawberries, etc.

"Can citrus ward off your risk of stroke?", Presentation, American Academy of Neurology's upcoming annual meeting, February 14, 2014

Healthful Habits Acquired Early In Adulthood Pay Big Dividends Later In Life

A study that followed 495 German men and women over 18 years concluded that acquiring healthful habits early in adulthood is a major determinant of how healthy one is later in life. The researchers randomly selected the group, average age of 45, beginning in 1992. They were then monitored every five years until 2002, then finally in 2010.  The analysis of the data collected over these intervals revealed that stress management strategies, as well as nutrition and physical exercise habits, influenced physical fitness and health in 1992. And those initial nutrition and physical exercise habits affected the fitness of participants over the following 18 years.

"Does initial behavior predict our physical fitness and health 18 years later? ", Psychology of Sport and Exercise, February 12, 2014

Even Moderate Weight Loss Can Improve, Even Cure, Sleep Apnea

A study conducted in Finland finds evidence that a modest weight reduction – five percent – can lead to significant  improvements in – even curing of – obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and metabolism in overweight patients. The researchers also found that the positive changes can be sustained even four years after the end of an active intervention. OSA – a chronic, progressive disease – is tightly linked with metabolic abnormalities, particularly type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

"The impact of weight reduction in the prevention of the progression of obstructive sleep apnea: an explanatory analysis of a 5-year observational follow-up trial", Sleep Medicine, February 11, 2014

Oregano Compound Proves Potentially Useful In Destroying Norovirus

A compound found in oregano oil has been found effective in breaking down the norovirus responsible for a condition known as ”winter vomiting disease” that affected more than 600 people on a recent cruise. Norovirus, a common cause of foodborne illnesses, is a serious problem in nursing homes, hospitals, cruise ships and schools. In the U.S. study, conducted using the mouse version of norovirus, carvacrol acted directly on the virus’s tough surrounding layer of proteins, causing it to break down. The researchers said that allows another antimicrobial to enter the internal part of the virus and kill it. The suggested that carvacrol could someday be used as a food sanitizer or a surface sanitizer with other antimicrobials.

"Antiviral efficacy and mechanisms of action of oregano essential oil and its primary component carvacrol against murine norovirus", Journal of Applied Microbiology, February 11, 2014

Tired Consumers Are More Likely To Choose Healthful, Or Safety-Related, Products

A study by Dutch and American researchers finds that physical exhaustion can lead to better health care decision making. Five experiments were conducted during which consumers were tested in ways that would determine how they use what is called “self-protective motivation” when avoiding danger. They were also asked their preference regarding products that emphasize  safety. In one example, participants were surveyed before or after working out. Then as a reward they were offered a choice of two gifts. Those who were tired from working out were much more likely to pick sun block than moisturizing lotion. The conclusion: "Consumers value products that emphasize safety features more when they are feeling depleted.”

"The Bright Side of Impulse: Depletion Heightens Self - Protective Behavior in the Face of Danger", Journal of Consumer Research, February 11, 2014