The phrase “circadian rhythm” seems to appear with increasing frequency in the news. The study of circadian rhythm also got a boost when the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to three pioneering researchers in this area. But many people may not understand what it means and why it’s important. All biological … Continue reading Spotlight On: Circadian Rhythm
Eating
A Nutty Way to Curb Cravings
Although walnuts are recommended as an effective way to control appetite in people with diabetes, just how they regulate appetite has only recently been discovered. In a new study published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, researchers examined the brains of 10 obese volunteers who drank breakfast smoothies for five days. Some of the … Continue reading A Nutty Way to Curb Cravings
A Healthy Diet: A Prescription for a Healthy Life!
We have all heard the phrase “You are what you eat.” Not only is there a lot of truth in that little saying, it is also a great reminder for us to be aware of everything we put into our bodies. Everything we eat and drink has an effect on our being and our physical … Continue reading A Healthy Diet: A Prescription for a Healthy Life!
How Obesity Fuels Inactivity
More than one in three adults and one in six children in the U.S. are obese. Obesity—defined as a serious degree of overweight—is a leading cause of death, disease and disability. Although obesity has been linked to genetic disorders, it is most often caused by unhealthy behaviors and, therefore, is preventable and reversible. Throughout … Continue reading How Obesity Fuels Inactivity
Handling the Pain of Acid Reflux at Holiday Time
Credit: iStock With Thanksgiving coming up, eating—of all things rich, indulgent and delicious—is top of mind for many Americans. But for people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eating this type of food often and in large quantities can be a challenge. This week is GERD Awareness Week, a good time to learn how to prevent … Continue reading Handling the Pain of Acid Reflux at Holiday Time
How Many Hot Dogs Can You Eat in 10 Minutes?
The competitive-eating elite will descend on New York City’s Coney Island this Fourth of July to flex their hot dog eating skills at the annual Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Last year, the male winner ate 62 hot dogs and the female winner ate 38 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Competitive eaters are surprisingly … Continue reading How Many Hot Dogs Can You Eat in 10 Minutes?
Does Weight Have to Yo-Yo? Secrets for Keeping Weight Off
It’s the million-dollar (possibly billion-dollar) weight loss question: How do you keep lost weight off? This question is receiving renewed attention after a recent study reported that most of the contestants on Season 8 of television’s “The Biggest Loser” regained the large amounts of weight they’d lost on the show. Studies in rodents and humans … Continue reading Does Weight Have to Yo-Yo? Secrets for Keeping Weight Off
Capsaicin Causes Pain, No Gain
Capsaicin is a chemical people love or hate. It’s the chemical in hot peppers and spicy foods responsible for their spicy (and sometimes painful) taste, but researchers in Maryland and Pennsylvania think it may have some health benefits. William Yang, a high school student who worked on the project at the Temple University Lewis Katz … Continue reading Capsaicin Causes Pain, No Gain
Is Fat the Sixth Taste?
Restaurant menus for Valentine’s Day can be described in one word: decadent. From molten chocolate cake to marbled steaks, fat makes these foods so palatable. For a long time, scientists thought that we find heavy foods more appealing because of their mouth feel and aroma. However, recent studies suggest that the tongue might be able … Continue reading Is Fat the Sixth Taste?
How Our Bodies Turn Food into Energy
Low carb, high protein, paleo—diet trends often single out a nutrient group as the culprit of unwanted weight gain and an unhealthy lifestyle. But our body needs food for energy, and all three groups—carbohydrates, fats and proteins—have important roles to play. What is energy to the body, and how does the body turn what we’ve … Continue reading How Our Bodies Turn Food into Energy