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A Canadian kinesiologist says there are effective ways to prevent the muscular and skeletal pain felt by 10 percent of office workers who overuse certain muscles. In a recent experiment, Julie Côté’s research team had participants perform a 90-minute typing task – either walking on a treadmill or sitting – while muscle activity was measured in their necks, shoulders, forearms, wrists, and lower backs. They found that there was lower, but more variable, neck and shoulder activity – and thus less discomfort – when participants walked. She concluded that treadmill workstations could help reduce muscle pain associated with computer work. But the basic advice is fairly simple: to avoid pain and discomfort, office workers should make minor movements and adjustments of position every few minutes.
"Taking the pain out of office work", News release, McGill University, July 07, 2015
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A U.S. study has found that the seeds of the muscadine grape, normally discarded as waste in the production of wine and juice, are rich in a type of vitamin E that seems to help retard fat cell production. Oil from the seed supplies tocotrienol, an unsaturated form of the vitamin, as well as other mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Scientists have known for some time that red palm and rice bran oil are rich in tocotrienol, which has been shown to reduce cholesterol. The researchers said their findings suggest that muscadine grape seed oil might be an even better source of tocotrienol, “Consuming foods made with muscadine grape seed oil" -- e.g., salad dressing -- "could curtail weight gain and reduce obesity,” one of the researchers said.
"Muscadine grape seed oil as a novel source of tocotrienols to reduce adipogenesis and adipocyte inflammation. ", Food & Function, July 06, 2015
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Scientists at Australia’s national research organization (CSIRO) have discovered a gene in oats that can be inserted in wheat to boost a cholesterol-reducing soluble fiber known as betaglucan. Barley and oats are rich in betaglucan, but wheat is not. The researchers discovered very small differences in the enzyme that makes betaglucan in wheat and oats, but those differences – involving a single amino acid – can change the structure and make it more soluble. They are now growing wheat crops that include the gene that gives oats their cholesterol-lowering qualities. They will test the flour made from the modified wheat to see if the bread is acceptable – and can lower cholesterol.
"CSIRO developing wheat with cholesterol lowering qualities", ABC (Australia), July 05, 2015
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A European study finds that though marriage is generally good for a couple’s health – the so-called “marriage bonus” – it can lead to an obesity problem. Married couples tend to eat better than unmarried people, but they exercise less and tend to weigh more. The study looked at health data gathered from face-to-face interviews with 10,226 adults in nine countries. Couples, both men and women, tended to have a higher body mass index than singles, even though they ate more healthful foods. The key factor contributing to weight gain seems to be reduced participation by men in sports.
"Higher body mass index, less exercise, but healthier eating in married adults: Nine representative surveys across Europe. ", Social Science & Medicine, June 29, 2015
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People who snack compulsively when they’re not hungry can gain as much weight as when they consume large meals or calorie-rich foods, according to Australian researchers. Study participants were found to be susceptible to compulsive snacking, even after finishing a similar snack. In fact, 75 percent of participants ate a second chocolate snack after eating as much as they wanted of a first. The findings suggest that those people – who had a higher BMI – were more impulsive, and more responsive to food reward, even though they weren’t really hungry. The researchers concluded that repeated snacking in the absence of hunger is a risk factor for weight gain.
"Psychological predictors of opportunistic snacking in the absence of hunger
", Eating Behaviors, June 25, 2015
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