Body Weekly - November 2013 Archives

Consistent bed time and wake time linked to healthier weight (11/30/2013)

Prior research has shown not getting enough sleep can impact your weight, but new BYU research finds the consistency of your bed time and wake time can also influence body fat. Exercise science professor Bruce Bailey studied more than 300 women from two major Western US universities over the course of several weeks and found that those with the best sleeping habits had healthier weights. ...> Full Article

Cranberries have health-promoting properties, new expert review reveals (11/30/2013)

Cranberries are more than a holiday favorite, given their remarkable nutritional and health benefits. A new research review published in the international journal Advances of Nutrition provides reasons why these tiny berries can be front and center and not just a side dish. The review authors conclude that cranberries provide unique bioactive compounds that may help reduce the incidence of certain infections, improve heart health and temper inflammation. ...> Full Article

People order a less unhealthy meal when the menu has nutritional labeling (11/30/2013)

An evaluation team led by the Drexel University School of Public Health has published a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine demonstrating that customers of full-service restaurants use nutritional labeling on menus to make healthier food choices. Customers who reported they used labels purchased 400 fewer calories (representing a relative difference of 20 percent). ...> Full Article

Protein quality: It matters (11/29/2013)

As science continues to support the role of protein in building and maintaining lean muscle, maintaining weight and aging healthy, consumers are embracing the important role of protein in the diet. But not all proteins are created equal and it turns out that protein quality really does matter. The latest on the topic of protein quality will be presented today at SupplySide West, the leading destination for the exploration, discovery, innovation and market strategy that fuels the healthier marketplace. ...> Full Article

Late afternoon and early evening caffeine can disrupt sleep at night (11/29/2013)

A new study shows that caffeine consumption even six hours before bedtime can have significant, disruptive effects on sleep. ...> Full Article

Does obesity reshape our sense of taste? (11/28/2013)

Obesity may alter the way we taste at the most fundamental level: by changing how our tongues react to different foods. In a Nov. 13 study in the journal PLOS ONE, University at Buffalo biologists report that being severely overweight impaired the ability of mice to detect sweets. ...> Full Article

Protein-rich breakfast helps to curb appetite throughout the morning, scientists find (11/28/2013)

New research presented today at The Obesity Society's annual scientific meeting in Atlanta shows that eating high protein sausage and egg-based breakfasts curbed hunger throughout the morning, compared with a low-protein breakfast (pancakes and syrup) or skipping breakfast, in 18-55-year-old women. ...> Full Article

Buffaloberry may be next 'super fruit' (11/27/2013)

New research has uncovered an underutilized berry that could be the new super fruit, the buffaloberry. A new study in the Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute of Food Technologists, found that buffaloberries contain large amounts of lycopene and a related acidic compound, methyl-lycopenoate, which are important antioxidants and nutrients beneficial for human health. ...> Full Article

Don't hold the anchovies: Study shows Peruvian fish worth more as food than as feed (11/26/2013)

The true potential of Peruvian anchovy lies not in fishmeal but as food for people and as part of the ocean food web, according to Canadian and Peruvian researchers. ...> Full Article

Probiotics may add functionality to fruit juices (11/26/2013)

A new study in the Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute of Food Technologists, found that fruit juices could potentially be good carriers for two different kinds of probiotics. ...> Full Article

Add bone deterioration to diabetes complications (11/25/2013)

The list of complications from type 2 diabetes is long: Vascular and heart disease, eye problems, nerve damage, kidney disease, hearing problems and Alzheimer's disease. Physicians have long thought of osteoporosis as another outcome. Based on a Mayo Clinic study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, that's confirmed: You can definitely add skeletal problems to that list. ...> Full Article

Our relationship with food: What drives us to eat and new insights into eating disorders (11/25/2013)

A growing body of evidence shows the impact of diet on brain function, and identifies patterns of brain activity associated with eating disorders such as binge eating and purging. The findings were presented at Neuroscience 2013, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health. ...> Full Article

Some 'healthy' vegetable oils may actually increase risk of heart disease (11/24/2013)

Some vegetable oils that claim to be healthy may actually increase the risk of heart disease, and Health Canada should reconsider cholesterol-lowering claims on food labelling, states an analysis in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal): Replacing saturated animal fats with polyunsaturated vegetable oils has become common practice because they can reduce serum cholesterol levels and help prevent heart disease. ...> Full Article

Allergic to gummy bears? Be cautious getting the flu shot (11/23/2013)

Do marshmallows make your tongue swell? Gummy bears make you itchy? If you've answered yes and are allergic to gelatin, you will want to take some precautions when getting the flu shot. ...> Full Article

Women have greater shortness of breath than men when exercising (11/23/2013)

The reason women find it harder to breathe than men during exercise is due to greater electrical activation of their breathing muscles, shows a new study published today [8 November] in the journal Experimental Physiology. ...> Full Article

The Tao of pee (11/22/2013)

Although we don't often think about it, fluid dynamics touches almost every aspect of our lives, from a billowing breeze that buffets a flag, to swirling river currents that shape canyons to the surging blood that sustains our lives. One of the basest of bodily functions -- urination -- is governed primarily by the equations of fluid motion. ...> Full Article

Bisphenol A is affecting us at much lower doses than previously thought (11/22/2013)

A group of scientists that study endocrine disruption worked together to update and refine a 2007 review of the low dose effects of BPA. The group not only added hundreds of more recent studies, but they also used an integrative biological approach to scrutinize low dose effects of BPA at multiple levels of biological organization: on cells, animals and human populations. ...> Full Article

Brain may play key role in blood sugar metabolism and development of diabetes (11/21/2013)

The development of diabetes Type 2, the authors argue, requires a failure of both the islet-cell system in the pancreas and a brain-centered system for regulating blood sugar levels. Boosting insulin levels alone will lower glucose levels, but only addresses half the problem. To restore normal glucose regulation requires addressing the failures of the brain-centered system as well. Approaches that target both systems may not only achieve better blood glucose control, but could actually cause diabetes to go into remission. ...> Full Article

New research shows tea may help promote weight loss, improve heart health and slow progression of prostate cancer (11/21/2013)

The December 2013 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition features 12 new articles about the relationship between tea and human health. Each paper is based on presentations from world-renowned scientists who participated in the Fifth International Scientific Symposium on Tea and Human Health, held at USDA in September 2012. ...> Full Article

Effects of chronic stress can be traced to your genes (11/20/2013)

New study suggests "that if you're working for a really bad boss over a long period of time, that experience may play out at the level of gene expression in your immune system," lead researcher says. ...> Full Article

Study links intestinal bacteria to rheumatoid arthritis (11/20/2013)

Researchers have linked a species of intestinal bacteria known as Prevotella copri to the onset of rheumatoid arthritis, the first demonstration in humans that the chronic inflammatory joint disease may be mediated in part by specific intestinal bacteria. The new findings by laboratory scientists and clinical researchers in rheumatology at NYU School of Medicine add to the growing evidence that the trillions of microbes in our body play an important role in regulating our health. ...> Full Article

Earlier onset of puberty in girls linked to obesity (11/19/2013)

New research in Pediatrics shows obesity is the largest predictor of earlier onset puberty in girls, which is affecting white girls much sooner than previously reported. Published online Nov. 4, the multi-institutional study strengthens a growing body of research documenting the earlier onset of puberty in girls of all races. ...> Full Article

A better way to track your every move (11/18/2013)

Physical activity tracking apps on smartphones are a potentially important tool for doctors who want to collect data and create treatment or intervention plans to improve the health of patients who struggle with activity and movement -- such as those with Parkinson's disease. ...> Full Article

Brushing your teeth could prevent heart disease (11/17/2013)

Taking care of your gums by brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits could help hold heart disease at bay. Researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health have shown for the first time that as gum health improves, progression of atherosclerosis slows to a clinically significant degree. Findings appear online in the Journal of the American Heart Association. ...> Full Article

Treating gum disease by bringing needed immune cells to inflamed tissue (11/17/2013)

The red, swollen and painful gums and bone destruction of periodontal disease could be treated by beckoning the right kind of immune system cells to the inflamed tissues, according to a new animal study conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh. Their findings, published in the online version of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, offer a new therapeutic paradigm for a condition that afflicts 78 million people in the US alone. ...> Full Article

Scientists modify Botox for the treatment of pain (11/16/2013)

Scientists have manufactured a new bio-therapeutic molecule that could be used to treat neurological disorders such as chronic pain and epilepsy. ...> Full Article

Can putting your child before yourself make you a happier person? (11/16/2013)

While popular media often depicts highly-involved parents negatively as "helicopter parents" or "tiger moms, how does placing one's children at the center of family life really affect parental well-being? New research published in Social Psychological and Personality Science finds that parents who prioritize their children's well-being over their own are not only happier, but also derive more meaning in life from their child-rearing responsibilities. ...> Full Article

Do food blogs serve as a source of nutritionally balanced recipes? (11/16/2013)

More people are cooking at home, and more people are finding their recipes online via food blogs. The photos of dishes posted on the blogs, however, may attract potential cooks more than the nutritional value of the recipes. In addition, many food companies sponsor these sites, so the recipes become advertisements for their products. This has the potential to change the healthfulness of the recipes. ...> Full Article

Defining allergy fact from fiction (11/15/2013)

From gluten allergy and hypoallergenic pets, to avoiding the flu shot because of an egg allergy, there are a lot of common myths and misconceptions about allergies. Many might be shocking due to a great deal of false information in the media and on the Internet. And some of the misconceptions can be damaging to your health. ...> Full Article

Stress eaters may compensate by eating less when times are good (11/15/2013)

When faced with stress, some people seem to lose their appetite while others reach for the nearest sweet, salty, or fatty snack. Conventional wisdom tells us that stress eaters are the ones who need to regulate their bad habits, but new research suggests that stress eaters show a dynamic pattern of eating behavior that could have benefits in non-stressful situations. ...> Full Article

A high protein diet and meal replacements can reduce rebound weight gain (11/15/2013)

New research shows that there are several effective strategies available to people wanting to avoid regaining weight after a successful diet. Anti-obesity drugs, meal replacements and a high protein diet can help weight loss maintenance, according to a meta-analysis published in the scientific periodical The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. ...> Full Article

Pizza perfect! A nutritional overhaul of 'junk food' and ready-meals is possible (11/14/2013)

Pizza is widely regarded as a fully-paid up member of the junk food gang -- maybe even the leader -- at least the versions found on supermarket shelves or delivered to your door by scooter. ...> Full Article

Baking blueberries changes their polyphenol content -- and possibly their health benefits (11/13/2013)

Blueberries are called a "superfood" for their high polyphenol content, but when served as warm, gooey pie filling or when lending bursts of sweet flavor to a muffin, their "super" health benefits change. Scientists studied how cooking and baking affect the increasingly popular fruit's polyphenols and reported their mixed findings -- levels of some of these substances rose while others fell -- in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. ...> Full Article

Japanese superfood prevents flu infection (11/13/2013)

Scientists have discovered that bacteria found in a traditional Japanese pickle can prevent flu. Could this be the next superfood? ...> Full Article

Testosterone production study challenges 25-year-old scientific dogma (11/12/2013)

New research refutes the scientific community's long-held belief that the body needs a specific protein to produce steroid hormones like testosterone, according to a recent study accepted for publication in the Endocrine Society's journal Endocrinology. ...> Full Article

HDL cholesterol controls blood glucose (11/12/2013)

High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), the so-called "good" cholesterol improves blood glucose levels by enhancing skeletal muscle function and reducing adiposity, scientists of the Helmholtz Zentrum München report in the current issue of the renown American Heart Association Journal Circulation. ...> Full Article

Too much texting can disconnect couples (11/11/2013)

Couples shouldn't let their thumbs do the talking when it comes to serious conversations, disagreements or apologies. ...> Full Article

VIP treatment for jet lag (11/10/2013)

A small molecule called VIP, known to synchronize time-keeping neurons in the brain's biological clock, has the startling effect of desynchronizing them at higher dosages, says a research team at Washington University in St. Louis. Neurons knocked for a loop by a burst of VIP are better able to re-synchronize to abrupt shifts in the light-dark cycle like those that make jet lag or shift work so miserable. ...> Full Article

Excess omega-3 fatty acids could lead to negative health effects (11/10/2013)

A new review suggests that omega-3 fatty acids taken in excess could have unintended health consequences in certain situations, and that dietary standards based on the best available evidence need to be established. ...> Full Article

People seem more attractive in a group than they do apart (11/9/2013)

People tend to be rated as more attractive when they're part of a group than when they're alone, according to findings published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. This phenomenon -- first dubbed the "cheerleader effect" by ladykiller Barney Stinson on the popular TV show "How I Met Your Mother" -- suggests that having a few friends around might be one way to boost perceived attractiveness. ...> Full Article

Moderate exercise not only treats, but prevents depression (11/9/2013)

Physical activity is being increasingly recognized as an effective tool to treat depression. Ph.D. candidate George Mammen's review published in the October issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine has taken the connection one step further, finding that moderate exercise can actually prevent episodes of depression in the long term.This is the first longitudinal review to focus exclusively on the role that exercise plays in maintaining good mental health and preventing the onset of depression later in life. ...> Full Article

How fat could help solve part of the diabetes problem (11/8/2013)

The pancreas is a large organ that wraps around our gut, and produces the exact amount of insulin our bodies need when we eat -- except when we start to develop diabetes, and insulin production slows down. Sydney scientists describe how a fat recycling system within pancreatic "beta cells" determines the amount of insulin they secrete, and so may provide a target for future diabetes therapies. ...> Full Article

Eye tracking technology suggests people 'check out' women at first glance (11/7/2013)

Eye tracking technology has reconfirmed what women have known all along: that people look at their sexual body parts more and faces less when evaluating their appearance. The study, published today in Springer's journal Sex Roles, was led by Sarah Gervais of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the US. It found that especially women with typical hour glass figures or larger breasts, narrower waists, and bigger hips frequently prompted such gazes. ...> Full Article

How bacteria with a sweet tooth may keep us healthy (11/6/2013)

Some gut bacterial strains are specifically adapted to use sugars in our gut lining to aid colonisation, potentially giving them a major influence over our gut health. ...> Full Article

New biological links between sleep deprivation and the immune system discovered (11/5/2013)

The fact that sleep deprivation has an impact on the function of the human immune system is well known. In their latest study, the University of Helsinki research group Sleep Team has now discovered new biological links between sleep loss and the immune system. The results provide at least a partial explanation of why sleep deprivation increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. ...> Full Article

Researcher learns how to break a sweat (11/5/2013)

Without sweat, we would overheat and die. In a recent paper in the journal PLOS ONE, USC faculty member Krzysztof Kobielak and a team of researchers explored the ultimate origin of this sticky, stinky but vital substance -- sweat gland stem cells. ...> Full Article

That allergic reaction to bee stings? It's meant to protect you (11/4/2013)

Allergic reactions to bee stings can be damaging or even deadly, but new evidence from two independent studies of mice reported in the Cell Press journal Immunity on Oct. 24th suggest that the immune response to bee venom and other allergens actually evolved and may continue to serve as a protective defense mechanism. Perhaps they aren't just misdirected immune responses after all. ...> Full Article

New testing strategy detects population-wide vitamin and mineral deficiencies (11/3/2013)

Levels of certain proteins in the bloodstream may be used to estimate levels of essential vitamins and minerals without directly testing for each nutritional factor. Researchers used a new strategy that allowed them to indirectly measure amounts of multiple nutrients in multiple people at the same time, an advance that should make it possible to rapidly detect nutritional deficiencies of an entire population, apply remediation efforts and test their worth within months instead of years. ...> Full Article

Just 2 weeks in orbit causes changes in eyes (11/3/2013)

Just 13 days in space may be enough to cause profound changes in eye structure and gene expression, report researchers. Their study is the first to examine eye-related gene expression and cell behavior after spaceflight. ...> Full Article

Identifying a mystery channel crucial for hearing (11/3/2013)

Our ability to hear relies on hair cells, sensory receptors that mechanically amplify low-level sound that enters the inner ear through a transduction channel. Although the transduction channel was characterized more than 30 years ago, researchers have been unable to identify its molecular components. A new study could help lead to a definitive identification of this mystery channel. ...> Full Article

Killer apps that could keep you healthy (11/2/2013)

The Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory hosted a competition this summer where graduate students designed two mobile apps to fight the threats of food-related illnesses and the flu. ...> Full Article

How liver 'talks' to muscle: A well-timed, coordinated conversation (11/1/2013)

A major collaborative research effort involving scientists at Harvard School of Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard University have uncovered a novel signal mechanism that controls how fat storage in the liver can communicate with fat burning in skeletal muscle. ...> Full Article