http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/staying_healthy/ What makes people stay healthy? How can diet, exercise, pets, even your neighborhood, affect your health? Read about the latest research. en-us Sat, 26 May 2012 14:05:01 EDT Sat, 26 May 2012 14:05:01 EDT 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/staying_healthy/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523145655.htm Most Americans (52 percent) have concluded that figuring out their income taxes is easier than knowing what they should and shouldn’t eat to be healthier, according to a new survey. Wed, 23 May 2012 14:56:56 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523145655.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523114847.htm Blame it on your genes? Researchers say individuals with variations in certain "obesity genes" tend to eat more meals and snacks, consume more calories per day and choose the same high fat, sugary foods. Wed, 23 May 2012 11:48:48 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523114847.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522135301.htm Married men will eat their peas to keep the peace, but many aren't happy about it, and may even binge on unhealthy foods away from home. Tue, 22 May 2012 13:53:53 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522135301.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120521164056.htm In animal studies, Rutgers scientists have found that surgical removal of abdominal fat from mice fed a high-fat diet reduces the risk of ultraviolet-light induced skin cancer – the most prevalent cancer in the United States with more than two million new cases each year – by up to 80 percent. Mon, 21 May 2012 16:40:40 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120521164056.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120519071454.htm Older adults who drank coffee -- caffeinated or decaffeinated -- had a lower risk of death overall than others who did not drink coffee, according a new study. Sat, 19 May 2012 07:14:14 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120519071454.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120517132057.htm When it comes to weight gain, when you eat might be at least as important as what you eat. When mice on a high-fat diet are restricted to eating for eight hours per day, they eat just as much as those who can eat around the clock, yet they are protected against obesity and other metabolic ills, the new study shows. Thu, 17 May 2012 13:20:20 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120517132057.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120517131703.htm It turns out that when we eat may be as important as what we eat. Scientists have found that regular eating times and extending the daily fasting period may override the adverse health effects of a high-fat diet and prevent obesity, diabetes and liver disease in mice. Thu, 17 May 2012 13:17:17 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120517131703.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515203023.htm Taxes on unhealthy food and drinks would need to be at least 20 percent to have a significant effect on diet-related conditions such as obesity and heart disease, say experts on bmj.com today. Ideally, this should be combined with subsidies on healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables, they add. Tue, 15 May 2012 20:30:30 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515203023.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515052531.htm Food allergies pose a serious and growing problem in the West. Many foods can lead to allergic reactions and this situation is further complicated by so-called cross-reactions, whereby an allergy to one particular food can trigger allergic reactions to another food. There are no treatments available for food allergies, but the establishment of two mouse models can be used to develop and test new forms of treatment, for example vaccines. Tue, 15 May 2012 05:25:25 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515052531.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514122844.htm Water could change the way we eat. That's the conclusion of new research. Mon, 14 May 2012 12:28:28 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514122844.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510132637.htm Urgent appointments, tight work timetables and hectic social schedules structure modern life, and they very often clash with our intrinsic biological rhythms. The discrepancy results in so-called social jetlag, which can damage one’s health. Among other effects, it can contribute to the development of obesity, as a new study shows. Thu, 10 May 2012 13:26:26 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510132637.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510122802.htm Social jetlag -- a syndrome related to the mismatch between the body's internal clock and the realities of our daily schedules -- does more than make us sleepy. It is also contributing to the growing tide of obesity, according to a large-scale epidemiological study. Thu, 10 May 2012 12:28:28 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510122802.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120507210038.htm People who wolf down their food are two and a half times more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes than those who take their time according to new research. Mon, 07 May 2012 21:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120507210038.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120507164223.htm Television viewing and unhealthy eating habits in U.S. adolescents appear to be linked in a national survey of students in the fifth to tenth grades, according to a new report. Mon, 07 May 2012 16:42:42 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120507164223.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120504171919.htm Parents can have a significant impact in steering young children away from too much time spent in sedentary pursuits. Fri, 04 May 2012 17:19:19 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120504171919.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120501162704.htm The United States government would get a better bang for its health-care buck in managing the country's most prevalent childhood disabilities if it invested more in eliminating socioenvironmental risk factors than in developing medicines. That's the key conclusion of a new article. Tue, 01 May 2012 16:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120501162704.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120501085653.htm Despite longstanding recommendations for children with asthma to avoid tobacco smoke, many youths are still exposed to secondhand smoke and their health suffers because of it, according to a newstudy. Tue, 01 May 2012 08:56:56 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120501085653.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120430140027.htm College students wishing to eat healthier may want to invest in a clear fruit bowl says a recent article. The new study found that when fruits and vegetables are within arm's reach, students are more likely to eat them. Furthermore, making fruit and vegetables more visible increases the intake of fruit, but the same does not hold true for vegetables. Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120430140027.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120429085415.htm There is a long-held concern that youths who eat a lot of fast food are at risk for becoming overweight. New research shows that greater familiarity with fast-food restaurant advertising on television is associated with obesity in young people. Sun, 29 Apr 2012 08:54:54 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120429085415.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120426105705.htm Generation X adults prepare an average of 10 meals a week, and eat out or buy fast food an average of three times a week, according to a report that details the role food plays in the lives of Americans born between 1961 and 1981. Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:57:57 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120426105705.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120424095655.htm Eating disorders can be triggered by lack of support following traumatic events such as bereavement, relationship problems, abuse and sexual assault, according to new research. Even changing school or moving home can prove too much for some young people and lead to conditions such as anorexia or bulimia.    Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:56:56 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120424095655.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120423184157.htm "Come and get it!" A phrase historically proclaiming that the communal meal is ready, is heard all too infrequently among contemporary American households, especially as children get older. Indeed, over 40% of the typical American food budget is spent on eating out, with family meals often being relegated to holidays and special occasions. Aside from negative effects on the family budget, eating out has been shown to be generally associated with poor food choices and bad health. Of particular interest to public health experts is growing scientific evidence that fewer family meals may translate to increased obesity risk and poor nutritional status, especially among children. Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:41:41 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120423184157.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120423162223.htm The international obesity epidemic is widespread, nondiscriminatory, and deadly. But do we really understand all of the factors underlying this alarming trend? Excessive calorie intake and plummeting levels of physical activity are largely to blame for our ever-expanding waistlines. But there are other factors. Intestinal microbiota, may play a far greater role in human health than previously imagined. Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:22:22 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120423162223.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120420104525.htm A study of the families of 150 preschoolers suggests that parents of healthy-weight and overweight preschoolers are generally well aware of dietary risk factors that fuel childhood obesity. Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:45:45 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120420104525.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120418134852.htm Over-30s can benefit from being nagged, nudged and cajoled by family and friends into being more active, according to new sport psychology research. Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:48:48 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120418134852.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120417080350.htm Can lack of sleep make you fat? A new paper which reviews the evidence from sleep restriction studies reveals that inadequate sleep is linked to obesity. The research explores how lack of sleep can impact appetite regulation, impair glucose metabolism and increase blood pressure. Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:03:03 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120417080350.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120416150117.htm What should be a fairy-tale day — a woman’s wedding — could turn into a nightmare for a bride-to-be who goes on a new feeding-tube diet to lose 20 pounds fast, says an expert. Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:01:01 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120416150117.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120416130358.htm Pregnant women in New York City exposed to higher concentrations of chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAH, were more than twice as likely to have children who were obese by age 7 compared with women with lower levels of exposure. PAH, a common urban pollutant, are released into the air from the burning of coal, diesel, oil and gas, or other organic substances such as tobacco. Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:03:03 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120416130358.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120416112920.htm Foods high in fiber provide good protection against cardiovascular disease, and the effect is particularly marked in women. The research involved the study of the eating habits of over 20,000 residents of the Swedish city of Malmö, with a focus on the risk of cardiovascular disease. The importance of 13 different nutrient variables (mostly fiber, fats, proteins and carbohydrates) was analyzed. Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:29:29 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120416112920.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120410163539.htm Neighborhood supermarket and park proximity directly related to obesity, study finds. Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:35:35 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120410163539.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120403142328.htm The combined effects of exercise plus caffeine consumption may be able to ward off skin cancer and also prevent inflammation related to other obesity-linked cancers. Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:23:23 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120403142328.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120403135957.htm Reusable grocery totes are a popular, eco-friendly choice to transport groceries, but only 15 percent of Americans regularly wash their bags. Most users are inadvertently creating a breeding zone for harmful bacteria, according to a new survey. Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:59:59 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120403135957.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120403124252.htm Obesity adds more to health care costs than smoking does, reports a new study. Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:42:42 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120403124252.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120330110204.htm Eating foods at breakfast that have a low glycemic index may help prevent a spike in blood sugar throughout the morning and after the next meal of the day, researchers say. Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:02:02 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120330110204.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120330081352.htm A new study along the same lines as its predecessors shows how eating fast food is linked to a greater risk of suffering from depression. Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:13:13 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120330081352.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120328154433.htm More than half of all cancer is preventable, and society has the knowledge to act on this information today, according to health researchers. Investigators now outline obstacles they say stand in the way of making a huge dent in the cancer burden in the United States and around the world. Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:44:44 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120328154433.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120326160827.htm Smoking alters the impact of a schizophrenia risk gene. Scientists have demonstrated that healthy people who carry this risk gene and smoke process acoustic stimuli in a similarly deficient way as patients with schizophrenia. Furthermore, the impact is all the stronger the more the person smokes. Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:08:08 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120326160827.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120326133512.htm The negative health effects of early-life exposure to secondhand smoke appear to impact girls more than boys -- particularly those with early-life allergic sensitization, according to new research from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:35:35 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120326133512.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120322162042.htm While high-fat foods are thought to be of universal appeal, there is actually a lot of variation in the extent to which people like and consume fat. A new study reported that two specific genes (TAS2R38–a bitter taste receptor and CD36–a possible fat receptor), may play a role in some people’s ability to taste and enjoy dietary fat. By understanding the role of these two genes, food scientists may be able to help people who have trouble controlling how much fat they eat. Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:20:20 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120322162042.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120315094506.htm Dietary cadmium, a toxic metal widely dispersed in the environment and found in many farm fertilizers, may lead to an increased risk of breast cancer, according to a new study. Cadmium occurs at low concentrations naturally, but scientists are concerned because contamination of farmland mainly due to atmospheric deposition and use of fertilizers leads to higher uptake in plants. Consuming whole grains and vegetables may counteract the effects. Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:45:45 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120315094506.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120314170749.htm A parent's weight change is a key contributor to the success of a child's weight loss in family-based treatment of childhood obesity. Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:07:07 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120314170749.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120307145821.htm That caffeine in your tea, energy drink or other beverage -- is it really natural? Scientists are reporting successful use for the first time of a simpler and faster method for answering that question. Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:58:58 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120307145821.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120306131646.htm Scientists have reviewed the body of evidence around weight loss supplements and has bad news for those trying to find a magic pill to lose weight and keep it off -- it doesn't exist. Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:16:16 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120306131646.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120306131254.htm When healthy but inactive men and women exercise for a matter of minutes, it produces a rather immediate change to their DNA. Perhaps even more tantalizing, the study suggests that the caffeine in your morning coffee might also influence muscle in essentially the same way. Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:12:12 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120306131254.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120306072912.htm People who smoke only at weekends cause as much damage to their memory as those who smoke on a daily basis, according to new research. Tue, 06 Mar 2012 07:29:29 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120306072912.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120302132426.htm Maintaining a healthy lifestyle from young adulthood into your 40s is strongly associated with low cardiovascular disease risk in middle age, according to a new study. Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:24:24 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120302132426.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120221125405.htm Babies are not able to metabolize or excrete caffeine very well, so a breastfeeding mother's consumption of caffeine may lead to caffeine accumulation and symptoms such as wakefulness and irritability, according to an expert. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:54:54 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120221125405.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120221103745.htm The levels of the environmental pollutant perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) that mothers had in their blood during pregnancy increased the risk of obesity in their daughters at 20 years of age. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:37:37 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120221103745.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120219143222.htm Defects in a protein that functions as a dietary fat sensor may be a cause of obesity and liver disease, according to a new study. The findings highlight a promising target for new drugs to treat obesity and metabolic disorders. Sun, 19 Feb 2012 14:32:32 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120219143222.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120216133249.htm Fish oil is an underused ingredient in the food industry because of its association with a strong odor and aftertaste. A new study shows that fish oil can be added to goat cheese to deliver high levels of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids without compromising taste or shelf-life. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:32:32 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120216133249.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120215082938.htm Scientists have discovered a new molecule that could offer the hope of new treatments for people allergic to the house dust mite. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:29:29 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120215082938.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120214121856.htm Caffeinated drinks such as coffee and soda are the pick-me-ups of choice for many people, but too much caffeine can cause nervousness and sleep problems. Caffeine Zone, a new software app developed by researchers, can help people determine when caffeine may give them a mental boost and when it could hurt their sleep patterns. The software takes information on caffeine use and integrates it with information on the effects of caffeine to produce a graph of how the caffeine will affect the users over time. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:18:18 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120214121856.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120213185639.htm Smoking bans in public/workplaces don't drive smokers to light up more at home, suggests a study of four European countries with smoke-free legislation. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:56:56 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120213185639.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120213153957.htm Being involved in a healthy, loving relationship is good for the heart, says a cardiologist. People who are married or who are in close, healthy relationships tend to be less likely to smoke, are more physically active and are more likely to have a well-developed social structure, she said. They are also more likely to have lower levels of stress and anxiety in their day-to-day lives. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:39:39 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120213153957.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120213153948.htm Researchers have found that Mexican-American youth gain pounds as they move away from the dietary habits of their native country, a move that is putting them at risk for serious health problems. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:39:39 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120213153948.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209135842.htm A new study has shown that babies who are weaned using solid finger food are more likely to develop healthier food preferences and are less likely to become overweight as children than those who are spoon-fed pureed food. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:58:58 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209135842.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206214220.htm Infants allowed to feed themselves with finger foods from the start of weaning are likely to eat more healthily and be an appropriate weight as they get older than infants spoon-fed purees, indicates a small study. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:42:42 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206214220.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203113312.htm A preference for fatty foods has a genetic basis, according to researchers, who discovered that people with certain forms of the CD36 gene may like high-fat foods more than those who have other forms of this gene. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:33:33 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203113312.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201135314.htm A new study sheds light on why some children may need to urinate more often during the rest cycle. Researchers found sleep deprivation caused healthy children, ages 8-12, to urinate significantly more frequently, excrete more sodium in urine, have altered regulation of the hormones important for excretion. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:53:53 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201135314.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126115941.htm Asian women who consumed an average of 200 milligrams or more of caffeine a day -- the equivalent of roughly two cups of coffee -- had elevated estrogen levels when compared to women who consumed less, according to a study of reproductive age women. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:59:59 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126115941.htm