Author: Staff (Page 83 of 157)

Hard Wired to Be Fat?

January 3, 2012 / Staff

Lasting brain injuries in a specific part of the hypothalamus may be responsible for making it difficult to lose weight and keep it off.

“To explain a biologically elevated body weight ‘set-point’, investigators in the field have speculated about the existence of fundamental changes to brain neurocircuits that control energy balance. Our findings are the first to offer direct evidence of such a structural change, and they include evidence in humans as well as in mice and rats.”

It may make the struggle to keep off the pounds more difficult, however, any effort to lead a more healthy lifestyle is beneficial.

Nutrition, Research

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Mental Depression Rises During Economic Recession

January 2, 2012 / Staff

This iconic photo speaks volumes and still resonates today.

Rates of depression on the rise during the current financial recession.

More Americans commit suicide each year than die in motor vehicle accidents. Every year, more than 500,000 people attempt to take their own lives in the US and 30,000 of those attempts are successful. Of course correlation and causation aren’t the same thing, but there seems to be strong evidence that those who are being most hurt in the current economic crisis are killing themselves in ever greater numbers.

There is free help and counseling for those struggling with depression.

Resources, Wellness

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A Little Vegan is a Good Thing

January 2, 2012 / Staff

No longer on the fringe, Vegan diet creeps into the mainstream.

Some of our favorite foods are already vegan; peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, rice and beans, chili, salads and more.

Many great dishes are great without the meat and cheese.

Mark Bittman has some great tips for improving your diet.

My point here is to make semi-veganism work for you. Once a week, let bean burgers stand in for hamburgers, leave the meat out of your pasta sauce, make a risotto the likes of which you’ve probably never had — and you may just find yourself eating “better.”

A little change in attitude toward some of your favorite recipes can lead to big changes in your health goals.

Nutrition, Quality Control

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No Jobs for Smokers

January 1, 2012 / Staff

Pennsylvania is one of 19 states which allow employers to screen job applicants for signs of smoking, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

Following the lead of the Cleveland Clinic in 2007 to create a smoke free campus the Geisinger Health System, a facility located in the eastern town of Danville, PA., will institute its no-nicotine policy on February 1, 2012.

Gary Burtless, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Brookings Institution, said the measures are commonly adopted to reduce future health-care costs.
He said “there is no denying” the subsequent drop in cost, pointing to a 2003 study that revealed a range of between $500-$2,200 in additional annual medical expenses for smokers when compared to non-smokers.
Dr. Steven Bernstein, a professor at Yale University, added that smokers are also likely to take breaks more often, reducing hours worked.

Health Care Policy, Hospitals, Quality Control

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Persevere to Lose Weight and Keep it Off

January 1, 2012 / Staff

Tenacity is the best way to keep off the weight.

With all the resolutions to lose weight being made this year it is easy to forget that reaching your goal involves a lot of changes.

And in making those changes there are bound to be a few slips along the way.

Well, it is not in the mistake but rather in the recovery where success is borne.

Behavior change is the cornerstone of healthy, successful weight loss and it takes about three months to establish a new behavior.
Only 20 percent of Americans who’ve tried to lose weight will keep the weight off after one year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bartfield offered the following tips to help reverse this trend and help people achieve and maintain their weight-loss goals.

Don’t forget to to give yourself some slack.

A few mistakes here and there is no reason to give up.

Research, Wellness

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