Photo: Gret@Lorenz, Flickr

Do you feel like eating with a group of your girlfriends leads to pigging out? According to a recent study published in Appetite journal, there is a major difference in how women eat around men compared to how they eat around other women.

Based on observations of students in three large university cafeterias, the study found that, when eating with men, women consumed fewer calories. If the woman was eating with a group, her calorie intake was impacted by the number of men in the group. A group of women eating together corresponded with a meal significantly higher in calories.

It's possible that a woman subconsciously feels like smaller, daintier portions make her look more feminine and attractive to her male counterparts. You already know that having overweight friends can influence your weight gain, and if you're trying to find a mate (or just a date), you want to give the impression of being health conscious.

Eating well generally includes getting a variety of vitamins and antioxidants. So that's why a recent study on the effects of mixing exercise and antioxidants is so very frustrating at first glance.

Exercise helps boost your metabolism and increase insulin sensitivity, but incorporating antioxidant supplements such as vitamin C and E into your diet might negate these benefits, researchers found.

When you exercise, your muscle cells metabolize glucose, causing tissue-damaging oxygen molecules to be released -- antioxidants attack those molecules, which is normally a good thing. However, those same molecules have been shown to increase the body's sensitivity to insulin, which can help prevent Type 2 diabetes.

Don't think this means you get a pass on your daily servings of fruits and veggies, though -- researchers in this study agree that getting antioxidants through food is a good thing, and that it's really when you start taking large amounts of supplements that antioxidants might curb some of the benefits of exercise if you're at risk for diabetes.

Keep in mind, of course, that this is only one study. It is part of a growing body of evidence that have not shown supplements to be beneficial, and some may even be harmful. So the message isn't really frustrating at all, fruits and vegetables are still the best way to go.

Source

Did you know that everyone has a perfect running pace? If you're a runner, you've probably felt it -- it's the pace where you feel like you could keep up for miles and miles and miles. And it's not just a mental thing. Science backs it up!

According to a recent study, everyone has a specific pace that uses the least amount of oxygen to cover a distance. The study tested runners on a treadmill (both men and women) at six speeds, then recorded their oxygen intake and carbon dioxide output. Every runner's outcome was different, but a "perfect pace" was found for each.

The men's average was about 8.3 mph, or a 7:13 minute mile, and the women's average was closer to 6.5 mph, or 9:08 minutes per mile. I found this particularly interesting because that exact speed is my go-to on a treadmill -- who knew I was so average?

Source

Now here's a debate to get folks talking! A report recently taken by Lighter Life, a weight loss specialist, found that a high BMI correlates to a lack of sex, thus proving that thin women get it on more often.

Specifically, the report stated that 60 percent of size 8 women (UK size 8, that is, which equates to a US size 4) did the deed once a week or more, whereas 50 percent of their slightly heavier counterparts (UK size 12, or US 8) got horizontal that often. And, of women who wore a size 24 (US 20), just a third were getting busy weekly.

So should we all start dieting to rev up our sex lives? Probably not, seeing as how just a couple of months ago, another report made waves by saying that overweight women were more sexually active. To be fair, that study looked at whether or not a woman had ever had sex, rather than how often.

This all got me thinking -- are you more likely to initiate sex with your partner when you're at your fittest? Or doesn't it matter to you? Let me know in the poll, or leave a comment below!

Source

Splenda: Love it or hate it? We all know one group who definitely counts Splenda among its enemies: The sugar industry.

Chances are you came across the recent news that Splenda has been labeled unsafe by researchers at Duke University -- according to these findings, Splenda promotes obesity, destroys 'good' intestinal bacteria and prevents prescription drugs from being absorbed. But The New York Times recently pointed out that the study was founded by none other than Splenda's main competitor, a sugar manufacturer.

Blah blah blah. We've heard this all before in the HFCS debate. And let's be honest -- this bickering getting old, not to mention irritating. Is it too much to ask for a neutral third party to step in and tell us once and for all what the deal is? In the meantime, I don't think either in moderation will kill you.

(via Calorie Lab)

Source

Do you remember how many cups of coffee you drank yesterday? If you do, your recall ability may be due to the fact that you drank those cups in the first place. Allow me -- better still, allow researchers who published their study findings in the peer-reviewed journal Neurology -- to explain.

In a study of over 7,000 older adults, researchers discovered that women age 65 and older who drank at least three or more cups of coffee (or any other caffeinated beverage) per day experienced less memory loss than women who drank only one cup or less per day.

Although it appears that caffeine does not prevent dementia, it may delay some age-related memory loss in older women.

Source

Did you know that fiber can help you breathe easier? A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed that fiber increased lung capacity.

Specifically, folks who took in at least 27 grams daily had a larger lung capacity than did those who consumed fewer than 10 grams. Additionally, the group that consumed more fiber were found to be 15 percent less likely to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The author of the study, Stephanie London, M.D., Ph.D., said, "The fiber found in cereal and produce may reduce tissue inflammation that can damage lungs." There are plenty of ways to get fiber, and it's good for you in so many ways, you really have no excuse!

Source

Research shows that women who drink even small amounts of alcohol can spike their breast cancer risk. But getting enough folic acid can help.

A long-term Nurses' Health Study shows that the proper intake of the B vitamin may reduce breast cancer risk for those who consume more than the equivalent of one glass of wine per day.

Want to get enough folic acid in your diet? Ask your doctor about a multivitamin containing the recommended amount or make a commitment to consuming lots of fortified cereals, leafy greens, citrus fruits, and juice.

Source

You already know that caffeine can put a little extra pep in your step, but did you know that it could translate to better race times? A study in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport concluded that a shot of pre-race caffeine could help you race faster.

The study compared the effects of the equivalent of an eight-ounce cup of coffee with a placebo, and the 5k times of runners of all levels improved, generally by 10 to 12 seconds.

This could be due to a change in your perception of pain, according to the study's co-author Brendan O'Brien, Ph.D. For maximum effectiveness, have your java 30 to 60 minutes before the start. Make sure you know how you react to caffeine -- jittery joggers don't generally win medals, you know.

Source

I'm thinking back to the dinner I had last night. I'm visualizing it: Spinach lettuce, red grapes, shredded carrots, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, topped with salmon. No dressing. Just a bowl full of healthy stuff, all mixed together, simply scrumptious.

This visualization exercise is intended to cause me to eat fewer calories today. Not sure it's working. I think it's making me hungry instead.

According to the August issue of The Oprah Magazine, the findings of a study published in the journal Physiology & Behavior (2008) reveal that women who wrote a detailed description of their last meal (it happened to be lunch for this study) ate fewer cookies than those who didn't. OK, so maybe I should have written down my dinner items. No. I don't think that would have worked any better. Obviously, for some, journaling past meals does work. Might want to try it and see if it works for you.

Source

If you would like to start trying for a baby soon, you may as well pick a paint color for the room now. That's because it's entirely possible for mothers to have some influence on the gender of their child by following either a high-calorie or calorie-restricted diet, say U.K. researchers.

In a joint study conducted at the University of Exeter and Oxford University, it was discovered that when women eat a diet rich in calories (including a regular breakfast) around the time of conception, they might be increasing the liklihood that they will give birth to a boy. Conversely, by restricting their caloric intake at this time, women may be improving their chances of giving birth to a girl.

It is known from IVF research that high levels of glucose encourages the growth and development of male embryos while inhibiting female embryos, just as low levels of glucose might encourage the opposite. However, researchers caution against restricting calories for the purpose of increasing your chances of having a girl. As one a fertility expert from the University of Sheffield stated in a recent BBC News interview, "It has been observed in some animal studies that even small changes in female diet can affect the life long health of the offspring, so it is important that the mother has appropriate nutrition at the time of conception and throughout her pregnancy."

Source

Kids in predominantly Caucasian countries get pretty good sleep, says a new study. Better than kids in Asian countries, anyway.

This study, led by researcher Jodi Mindell of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, is the first ever to look at sleep patterns in infants and toddlers cross-culturally. The results, says Mindell, are astonishing. Here are two of them.

• Mindell found significant variability in bedtimes and total sleep time. For example, 15.1 percent of children in Canada shared a room, compared to 94.5 percent in Thailand, and the percentage of parents who believed their child had a minor or severe sleep problem ranged from 11 percent in Thailand to 76 percent in China.
  
  

• Kids in Asian countries were more likely to have later bedtimes, shorter total sleep times, increased parental perception of sleep problems, and were more likely to share a room than children in Caucasian countries. But there were no significant differences in night wakings and naps.
  
  

Mindell says her findings present more questions than they do answers, like: Why the differences? Could it be different cultural practices? And what is the impact of these differences? Seems it's time for another study.

Source

Millions of women suffer from chronic headaches, with 90 percent of them experiencing migraines. As if that isn't difficult enough to deal with, a study showed that women with chronic headache were four times likelier to report symptoms of major depression than were those with episodic headache.

The women who reported the symptoms of major depression were three times more likely to have symptoms related to the headache, like low energy, trouble sleeping, nausea and other pains and problems. These painful physical symptoms could cause or provoke major depression, and depression can heighten pain perception.

While the cause of the link between headache and depression isn't entirely known, it is certain that one is related to the other, making the research and treatment of both all the more important.

Source

Having just watched a beloved family friend endure a debilitating bout of chemotherapy, I'm very skeptical about a new survey released by the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS).

According to an article that appears in the current issue of Men's Health, a NCCS survey found that 94 percent of cancer patients claim that chemotherapy is not as enfeebling as most people perceive it to be. Again, I find this figure to be somewhat hard to believe. Even as a kid, when a good friend's father battled cancer, I witnessed the manner in which the treatment assaulted his body. I'm doubtful that he felt his initial concerns proved to be unwarranted once his treatment concluded.

In no way am I casting doubt on the efficacy of chemotherapy; rather, I'm simply voicing my opinion on this particular study. I simply find it hard to believe -- given what I've experienced personally with loved ones -- that such a high percentage of people finish treatment and essentially take the attitude of "It wasn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be." Could I be wrong? Of course -- wouldn't be the first time, definitely won't be the last. That's why I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the results of this survey. Feel free to weigh in on this matter in the comments section below.

Source

An eye-opening study from the University of Miami revealed that by ages 12 to 14, half of obese children have metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors that predicts type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

This information is cause for concern, as the numbers of obese children has continued to rise steadily since the data for this study were collected (between 1999-2002, at which time more than 17 percent of chidldren aged eight to fourteen were obese).

As these children age, their chances of facing a lifetime with a chronic illness escalates if they're weight is not reined in. As one researcher from the University of Miami study states in a WebMD article, "If a kid is age 8 with metabolic syndrome, it will take 10 years or less for that child to become a type 2 diabetic or develop heart disease."

The study analyzed data data on some 1,700 children as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Source