Victory was sweet for the U.S. Women's World Cup team 5-2 victory this month -- but it's a safe bet that the vanquished team from Japan was reaching for actual sweets after the stunning upset. Research by Cornell food scientists reveals how a person's emotional state -- particularly in the competitive, wide world of sports -- affects the perception of taste. In particular, people in negative emotional states tend to crave sweets more than those in a positive frame of mind. "We determined how emotions arising from the outcome of college hockey games influenced the perception of sweet, salty, … [Read more...] about Is defeat sweeter than victory? Researchers reveal the science behind emotional eating
Health Insurance Companies Seek Big Rate Increases for 2016
WASHINGTON — Health insurance companies around the country are seeking rate increases of 20 percent to 40 percent or more, saying their new customers under the Affordable Care Act turned out to be sicker than expected. Federal officials say they are determined to see that the requests are scaled back. Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans — market leaders in many states — are seeking rate increases that average 23 percent in Illinois, 25 percent in North Carolina, 31 percent in Oklahoma, 36 percent in Tennessee and 54 percent in Minnesota, according to documents posted online by the federal … [Read more...] about Health Insurance Companies Seek Big Rate Increases for 2016
How to Bust Your Binge
Pizza and ice cream are calling. Here's how to avoid their tempting siren songs. There's a scene in "Sex and the City" where Miranda comes home from a particularly rotten day, takes a distressing phone call and then whips up a batch of brownies, gobbling one after the other. Disgusted with herself, she tosses the rest into the garbage. Hearing more bad news from another call, she stumbles back into the kitchen, grabs the trash can and does a full-on dumpster dive, stuffing her mouth with whatever brownies she can retrieve. Now, consumed with shame, she calls her best friend Carrie and … [Read more...] about How to Bust Your Binge
Obese Postmenopausal Women May Face Higher Risk for Breast Cancer
A study of more than 67,000 women suggests that those who are obese and postmenopausal may face significantly higher odds for breast cancer compared with slimmer women. The risk for breast cancer among the most obese women in the study was up to 58 percent higher than for normal-weight women. In this study, the researchers said the most obese women had a body mass index (a measure of body fat) of 35 or higher. A woman who is 5-foot-7 and weighs 225 pounds would fall into that category. "Obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer that is modifiable, making a healthy weight very … [Read more...] about Obese Postmenopausal Women May Face Higher Risk for Breast Cancer
Hangry and Thirsty? 6 Signs it’s time to fire your diet
If you can't stop thinking of chocolate, that's a clue you need to change your eating plan. Popular fad diets like the Cookie Diet —which sounds delicious but is actually a very restrictive low-calorie eating plan — can help with short-term weight-loss. The problem is they're hard to maintain. Diets that reign on deprivation can contribute to psychological stress as well as disrupt normal body functions. Sadly, these restrictive plans rarely breed long-term success, and instead, they are like magnets, attracting overweight consumers to buy products and buy into programs that provide little … [Read more...] about Hangry and Thirsty? 6 Signs it’s time to fire your diet
Metabolism – What is yours doing?
What is Metabolism? Metabolism is a reference to all the chemical reactions that occur within your body. More specifically, your metabolism is the sum of all energy transformations associated with each chemical reaction in your body. This is the reason why metabolism is commonly discussed from a fitness, exercise, and weight loss perspective, because it ultimately represents your body's regulation of energy or, in other words, calories. Keep reading to learn more about metabolism. Important Concepts Related to Metabolism To understand how metabolism works, it is first helpful to … [Read more...] about Metabolism – What is yours doing?
Skipping meals tied to increased belly fat, prediabetes
A new study of mice suggests skipping meals may disrupt metabolism in a way that leads to extra fat accumulating around the middle and signs of prediabetes. Writing in the The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, the researchers, including members from Ohio State University in Columbus, describe how they compared mice allowed to nibble their food throughout the day with mice that ate their food in one session and then fasted for the rest of the time. They found that the mice that gorged all their day's food in one session and fasted in between developed insulin resistance in their livers - … [Read more...] about Skipping meals tied to increased belly fat, prediabetes
Men who exercise may delay age-related high cholesterol
Men who get plenty of aerobic exercise may delay the onset of age-related high cholesterol, potentially lowering their risk for heart disease, a new study suggests. Researchers followed thousands of men over several decades, periodically drawing blood to test their cholesterol and then making them run on treadmills to measure their cardiorespiratory fitness. Men who could run longer and faster – signs that their bodies more easily deliver oxygen to muscles – also had lower cholesterol. "The benefits of physical fitness in improving cholesterol levels are greatest in young to … [Read more...] about Men who exercise may delay age-related high cholesterol