I don’t particularly enjoy running. On the other hand, I don’t particularly enjoy being overweight and out of shape either, so I do it — usually about three times a week, depending on my work schedule and willpower. But over the years I’ve developed chronic soreness in my knees and lower back, which I attribute at least in …
Diet & Fitness
Red-faced from drinking? It could be an evolutionary advantage
Lots of people get flushed in the face when they feel embarrassed, but for many Asians it’s the facial flush itself that can be embarrassing.
About half of all people of Asian descent share a genetic trait that causes a prompt reddening of the face in response to drinking alcohol — the result of an enzyme deficiency that interferes …
Next on New York’s health agenda: curbing salt intake
In recent years New York City has earned a reputation for ambitious—and some argue, overreaching—efforts to improve its’ citizens health. In 2006, the city’s Board of Health voted to ban trans fats in restaurant cooking. Two years later, they mandated that any restaurants with 15 or more chain locations post calorie content in their
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Does that smokey flavor come with a health cost?
Additives used to give meats, cheeses and other foods a “smokey flavor” may pose a health risk, according to initial results of an investigation by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Officials researched the effect of 11 different smoke flavorings—which are added to food products, as opposed to flavor incorporated through
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Cut back TV time, burn more calories
It may seem obvious that spending less time lounging on the couch may help burn more calories, but a team of researchers from the University of Vermont recently confirmed that cutting back daily TV time increases the amount of calories you burn. The study, published last month in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, included 36
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Have another cookie, it’s the holidays! Why our eating habits vary on weekends and special occasions
Part of the reason people tend to gain weight around the holidays may have to do with the way that we think about food, and eating, outside of our workweek routines. According to research published in the Fall 2009 issue of the Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, our tendency to separate eating habits into different
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Recall of all Slim Fast canned drinks
All Slim Fast canned beverages were recalled at the end of last week, following the discovery of contamination with the microorganism Bacillus cereus. The bacteria, which was discovered during quality testing, can cause diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Unilever, the manufacturer of Slim Fast, alerted the Food and Drug Administration and
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How to keep off the holiday pounds
For many Americans, overindulging at Thanksgiving is all part of the tradition. According to studies on the subject, the average American gains about a pound each holiday season. (That may not seem like much, but researchers say that those holiday pounds have a tendency to stick around: 10 years later, you’re 10 pounds heavier.) For …
Chemistry and Cranberry: the Science of Thanksgiving
Ever wonder how that little plastic pop-up timer knows when the turkey is done? Or why potatoes are the preferred starch of Thanksgiving? In this illuminating video, shot in a lecture hall at Catholic University of America, chemistry professor Diane Bunce sets out to answer those questions. Incorporating a power point presentation and
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Torn hamstring? Try horse placenta
When it comes to innovative and bizarre remedies for injuries, professional athletes have long been trendsetters. And the latest trend in hamstring and ligament repair among English Premier League footballers is no exception. Robin van Persie, who plays striker for Arsenal, was scheduled to fly to Serbia this week to meet with a daring
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Obese and unaware: can you be too comfortable with your body size?
Feeling confident and secure about your body is important, and a critical part of having high self-esteem, and as the health care debate continues, advocates for “fat acceptance” are struggling to have their voices heard by lawmakers. Yet, while it is clearly true that weight isn’t the solitary indicator of health, a problem arises when
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Allergies are on the rise, study finds
A study published this week in the journal Pediatrics finds that childhood allergies are on the rise in the U.S., with nearly 4% of children now reporting food allergies. Between 1997 and 2007 self-reported food allergies increased by 18%, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control. The finding comes as small scale
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FDA vs. the right to eat raw oysters?
When the Food and Drug Administration announced its plans late last month to ban the U.S. sale of raw oysters harvested during warmer months in the Gulf of Mexico, regional oystermen and connoisseurs of the shellfish alike cried foul.