Finding it hard to give up chocolate? Try walking. Research has shown that walking just fifteen minutes at a time can reduce chocolate cravings.

Following three days without chocolate, 25 regular chocolate eaters were asked to either complete a 15-minute brisk walk or rest. They then engaged in tasks that would normally induce chocolate cravings, including a mental challenge and opening a chocolate bar.

After exercise, participants reported lower cravings than after rest. Cravings were not only reduced during the walk, but for at least ten minutes afterwards. The exercise also limited increases in cravings in response to the two tasks.

The benefits of exercise in helping people manage dependencies, such as for nicotine and other drugs, have long been recognized.

A recent study has shown that deficiency of vitamin D may be a factor among men who are unable to impregnate their partners. The discovery surprised the researchers, who were investigating the incidence of DNA fragmentation of sperm.

Fertility specialist Dr. Anne Clark screened the blood of almost 800 men with fertility problems, and found that almost a third had lower than normal levels of vitamin D.

Sunlight is a major source of vitamin D and levels can also be boosted by supplementation

Vitamin D, used to only be linked to bone diseases such as rickets and osteoporosis, but increasingly research studies are revealing its importance in many areas of human health.

In a paper published recently in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vitamin D's role is identified in a number of health conditions inclluding immunity, blood sugar control, blood pressure management, heart health, muscle strength and brain activity. Adequate amounts of vitamin D are also believed to be beneficial in reducing the risk of cancer.

Some recent medical research is showing that weight may not be such an important indicator of health as has been previously thought. Last week a report in The Archives of Internal Medicine compared weight and cardiovascular risk factors among a representative sample of more than 5,400 adults. Half of the overweight people and one-third of obese people in the study were “metabolically healthy.” That means that many overweight and obese adults may have healthy levels of “good” cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose.

At the same time, about one out of four slim people in the study actually had at least two cardiovascular risk factors typically associated with obesity.

Being overweight or obese is definitely linked with numerous health problems. Nonetheless, researchers found the proportion of overweight and obese people who are metabolically healthy surprising.

Several studies have shown that fitness, as determined by how a person performs on a treadmill, is a far better indicator of health than body mass index. Some research has indicated that people who are fat but can still keep up on treadmill tests have much lower heart risk than people who are slim and unfit.




Sources:
New York Times August 18, 2008

A new study has found that Women who want to lose weight and keep it off need to exercise for almost an hour, five days a week.

Researchers found that a 55-minute regime was the minimum needed to keep up a 10percent drop in weight. Only a quarter of the 200 women involved in the study managed to lose this amount.

Research suggests a combination of exercise and calorie control as being the most successful combination for weight loss. This latest research once again confirms that plenty of exercise, along with an appropriate diet is key for weight loss.

A four-year study has found that tea slows down brain-cell degeneration, and can help to keep your mind sharp as you age.

Natural compounds in tea called catechins protect brain cells from damaging protein build-up over the years, maintaining your brain's cognitive capability.

In addition, the caffeine in tea, unlike that in coffee, contains the natural amino acid theanine, which offsets the normal side effects of caffeine such as headaches, raised blood pressure and tiredness.

Researchers studied the tea-drinking habits of over 2,500 Chinese aged 55 and older and gave them memory tests.

While two-thirds of the tea-drinkers maintained their memory two years later, 35 percent of non-tea-drinkers had a decline indicating cognitive damage.

If you'd like help in keeping your mind and body young call us now on 01727 764 832

When we experience heartburn and acid reflux after eating,the natural reaction is to assume that our stomach acidity levels are too high, that we have too much acid. However this is not always the case and clients who come to see me with symptoms such as these often improve when we supplement betaine hydrochloride(stomach acid)

This is because it's not so much excess levels of acid that cause reflux and heartburn it's acid in the wrong place. One of the reasons for this can be bloating in the lower abdomen as a result of bacterial fermentation. This can create a pressure in the digestive system which can push the acid upwards. The fermentation in the gut has been able to take place because inadequate levels of acid have created a situation where food hasn't been broken down properly. Thus it's easy to see how a vicious circle can develop.

If you're suffering from indigestion and bloating and would like help in identifying and treating the underlying causes contact us today on 01727 764 832