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Artificial sweeteners have gone from diet darlings — touted for allowing people to get a hit of sweetness without the calories of sugar — to a more maligned ingredient, as evidence mounts suggesting a complicated net effect on calorie consumption. Now, a new study done in fruit flies and mice offers insights into how zero-calorie sweeteners may actually increase appetite. Previous studies in both humans and animals have suggested that artificial sweeteners might promote weight gain, but that research is controversial, said Greg Neely, an associate professor of genomics at the University of … [Read more...] about Souring on Artificial Sweeteners: Substances May Boost Appetite

Anyone who still needs motivation to move more may find it in a new study showing that, in addition to its other health benefits, exercise appears to substantially reduce the risk of developing 13 different varieties of cancer. That is far more types than scientists previously thought might be impacted by exercise. The comprehensive study also suggests that the potential cancer-fighting benefits of exercise seem to hold true even if someone is overweight. The idea that exercise might change someone’s susceptibility to cancer is, of course, not new. Many studies have found that people who are … [Read more...] about Exercise Tied to Lower Risk for 13 Types of Cancer

Sufficient dietary levels of the mineral nutrient magnesium might be a boon to good blood pressure, new research suggests. "Magnesium dilates arteries, and in doing so lowers the blood pressure," explained Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, a cardiologist who reviewed the new findings. "Foods high in magnesium include whole grains, beans, nuts and green leafy vegetables," she added. The new study was led by Dr. Yiqing Song, associate professor of epidemiology at Indiana University's School of Public Health. According to the researchers, past studies that focused on the role of magnesium in … [Read more...] about Dietary Mineral Could Be One Key to Blood Pressure Control

Whether you love vegetables or not, there's one thing you know for sure: Veggies are really good for you. And you can make them even more nutritious if you prepare them in ways that maximize their benefits. Oddly enough, that's not likely to be raw. Studies show the process of cooking actually breaks down tough outer layers and cellular structure of many vegetables, making it easier for your body to absorb their nutrients. For example, compared to raw, "studies found that eating cooked spinach and carrots resulted in higher blood levels of the antioxidant beta carotene, which then converts … [Read more...] about The healthiest ways to cook veggies and boost nutrition

The Food and Drug Administration rolled out its long-anticipated new food labels Friday, and they'll include new details on how much sugar is in food and reflect the sad fact that Americans eat more than they used to. They won't look much different from the old labels, but they'll have to use slightly larger and bolder type, and they will make sure that customers aren't fooled into thinking a giant bag of potato chips only has a quarter of the calories, fat and salt that it really does. That's because many of the new labels will have to reflect what people really eat, not what they should … [Read more...] about FDA’s New Food Labels: What to Know

Running can be a great way to lose weight … or it can be a great way to gain weight. "People are usually surprised and disappointed to learn that running doesn't always result in weight loss," says certified strength and conditioning specialist Janet Hamilton, an exercise physiologist with Running Strong in Atlanta. "In fact, it's not unusual to gain weight when running." Don't worry. Running can still be a great way to lose weight – and get healthier in the process. Just avoid these five common running mistakes. 1. Over-Fueling Fueling is vital to running harder, longer – and the … [Read more...] about 5 Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight Running

You probably realize that many things can affect your exercise performance – including your eating and sleeping habits, your training regimen and your state of mind – but the medications you take may not even be on your radar screen. Sure, you probably recognize that swallowing a sedating antihistamine (like Benadryl) or a benzodiazepine (like Ativan, Valium or Xanax) is likely to make you drowsy and impair your coordination at the gym. But you might overlook the fact that other drugs could also compromise your energy or balance, your hydration status, your concentration or stamina or other … [Read more...] about Is Your Medicine Ruining Your Workout?

It's 3 p.m. on a Tuesday and you'd do anything for a donut... with chocolate filling... and those rainbow sprinkles on top. Are you hungry? Bored? You may just have a case of the "sleep munchies." According to a recent study published in the journal SLEEP, a lack of zzz's stokes your appetite just like marijuana might. Seriously! When you don't get enough shut-eye, your brain lights up with the same chemicals that cause stoners to giggle over Funyuns and chomp on Twinkies. While sleep deprivation has long been linked to overeating and weight gain, researchers at the University of Chicago were … [Read more...] about How to stop the afternoon munchies