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With spring here in the northern hemisphere, it’s time to get outside again. Did you know that you can burn more than 250 calories in a single hour of walking? If you don’t want to walk an hour all at once, try a half an hour before work and half an hour at lunch. Or, try half at lunchtime and half after dinner. Regardless, get a comfortable pair of walking shoes, turn off the TV, and get on your feet.
If you suffer from exercise-induced asthma—and limit your exercise time as a result—there is good news from a recent study reported in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. According the study, individuals with this type of asthma had lung spasm scores that were 30 percent higher if they exercised at 6:00 p.m. as opposed to 7:00 a.m.
Granted, the type of exercise you do, the environmental conditions and the severity of your asthma can all affect the likelihood of an attack. But it may be worth switching your workout to the morning to see if it helps you.
According to research out of Harvard, two or more servings per week of strawberries may help reduce inflammation linked to clogging and hardening of the arteries, both of which increase with age. Another way to slow aging is to boost your intake of extra virgin olive oil and the herb rosemary. The oil can help protect against brain-cell damage, while rosemary contains carnosic acid, which helps prevent free radical damage in the brain that can contribute to stroke, Alzheimer’s and Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Maybe it’s the oxygen, or maybe it’s the endorphins. Whatever it is, researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California discovered that adult mice that, “completed voluntary exercise in a running wheel increased cell proliferation.” This means that exercise and a stimulating environment resulted in brain cell regeneration. This finding is significant because it was previously accepted that only developing—not adult—mammals experienced cell regeneration. So hop on that bike, go for a swim, take a walk or lift some weights. You’ll not only get healthier, but may get smarter, too.
A recent symposium surrounding infant feeding styles and later-life obesity suggests that breastfeeding offers less protection against childhood obesity than previously thought. While breastfeeding remains beneficial for a variety of reasons, it’s not apparent that preventing overweight is one of them. Though some of the study was funded by a formula industry-group, it’s worth taking a look and deciding for yourself. Get the latest on this controversial topic here: http://www.babycenter.com/204_breastfeeding-may-not-protect-against-obesity_5128845.bc.
Young parents often let their own health and wellness take a backseat to the needs of the children. Unfortunately, this often occurs because we look at fitness as a “me” activity, not a “we” activity. MSN Lifestyle’s Aviva Patz brings us a great solution to this conflict of needs: ten fun and healthy ways to exercise as a family. Check out the whole list here: http://lifestyle.msn.com/familyandparenting/raisingkids/articlebhg.aspx?cp-documentid=35184.
As evidenced by a recent story in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, researchers, universities and grantors continue to invest a great deal of time and money in the investigation of happiness. Is it genetic? Is it based on wealth or health? Turns out that the answer is yes to all of these, but the weighted contribution of factors depends upon whom you ask. What’s the one undeniable and consistent factor? Quite simply, it’s good health. That’s why we owe it to ourselves and our families to improve and maintain our wellness as much as we can. We cannot control all of life’s uncertainties, but we can make choices to maximize the health of our minds, bodies and spirits. For more information on some of the latest studies on happiness, visit: http://www.star-telegram.com/245/story/592170.html.
Two Mondays ago, the University of Minnesota's Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport released a fascinating and disappointing assessment of young women and their participation in physical activities. The study’s bottom line: while the good news is that girls are participating in organized sports in record numbers, the bad news is that their overall participation in physical activities lags far behind boys. Study authors also say that minority girls, who are overrepresented amongst our country’s poor, have much more limited access to physical activities. For the full research report, visit: www.tuckercenter.org. DKWIO will continue to do its part to fight these interrelated issues by offering programming that’s accessible to everyone and that’s aimed at some of our most at-risk kids.
Did you know that April 21-27 is National Turn Off Week [insert your own joke here]? The creation of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institute of Health, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Turn Off Week encourages parents and kids to turn of the TV or the computer and get active. This event is a great reminder that kids shouldn’t spend more than two hours per day in front of any screen and that overexposure to TV and video games is a significant contributor to the childhood obesity epidemic. For a host of great ideas on substitute activities for TV watching and a number of easy-to-follow suggestions (don’t put a TV in your child’s bedroom!), visit: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/news/event03.htm#content.
With spring’s arrival in the northern hemisphere, it’s time to throw some fish, chicken or steak on the barbecue and enjoy the beauty of god’s outdoors. Unfortunately, many store-bought barbecue sauces are steep in sugar and fat. Instead of ruining a wonderful healthy meal, try one of the barbecue sauces highlighted in Cooking Light’s BBQ sauce feature: http://www.cookinglight.com/cooking/fd/features/package/0,14343,1202523,00.html. Enjoy!
 | MSNBC: McDonald's courts busy moms as emissaries |
| | Detroit Free Press: No sweat: Obamas work fitness into daily routine |
| | Reuters: Fast-food ad ban could cut child obesity: U.S. study |
| | Associated Press: Burger King limits sodium in kids meals |
| | CNN: More U.S. families struggling to feed children, report says |
| | Detroit News: Nutrition experts shell out praise for walnuts |
| | New York Times: Child Obesity Seen as Warning of Heart Disease |
