Monthly Archives: June 2012

Exercising and Breast Cancer: Regular Activity Lowers Risk

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Greg Asseff

Research has previously suggested that regular exercise could lower hormone levels, improve immune response and maintain healthy body weight – all important factors in cancer prevention. Now, a new study states that women looking to minimize their chance of developing breast cancer in particular would be wise to engage in regular exercise and maintain a healthy body weight. The exercising and breast cancer study found that women who exercise approximately 10 to 19 hours per week are 30% less likely to develop breast cancer than women who never exercise at all. In addition, the study results indicate that women who never exercised in their younger years can still realize major anti-cancer benefits by improving health during their reproductive and post-menopausal years.

Posted in Exercise, Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Studies, Weight Loss, Women | Leave a comment

Peel an Apple to Lose Weight? Study Says Yes

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Greg Asseff

Eating an apple to lose weight could be a reasonable part of your weight loss regimen. Besides being a snack that contains very little fat or sodium, some research suggests that apples could play a part in kidney stone prevention as well as reduced risk of skin and respiratory diseases. Apples are also a good source of soluble fiber. Recently, however, a new study conducted on mice suggests that the peels of an apple actually contain a powerful ingredient capable of preventing obesity and spurring weight loss. The compound, known as ursolic acid, is also found in cranberries, prunes and various herbs (thyme, oregano, lavender, rosemary, basil, peppermint, etc.) in addition to apple peels, though it’s most concentrated in the latter. Previous studies have indicated that ursolic acid may have strong anti-cancer properties as well.

Posted in Diet, Food, Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Nutrition, Studies, Weight Loss | 1,288 Comments

Gastric Bypass and Alcoholism Could Be Linked According to Study

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Greg Asseff

Those who undergo weight loss surgery may be inadvertently increasing their risk of developing a drinking problem, according to a new gastric bypass and alcoholism study that included over 1,400 individuals who had received gastric banding, gastric bypass surgery and other forms of surgical weight loss. Before undergoing surgery, roughly 7.6% of participants reported symptoms of alcohol addiction and abuse. When the subjects were surveyed again two years after their surgeries, this figure rose to 9.6%. When translated to the general population, the findings indicate that weight loss surgery leads to drinking problems for about 2,000 Americans each year. Unfortunately for these people, some research has suggested that alcoholism could be linked to health issues such as anemia, cardiovascular disease, cancer, depression, gout, nerve damage, and of course cirrhosis.

Posted in Diet, Health, Health Facts, Medical, Mental Health, News, Studies, Weight Loss | 1,397 Comments

Hotel Cleanliness: Study Reveals Dirtiest Areas in Hotel Rooms

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Greg Asseff

Summer is finally upon us, and for many that means traveling to vacation spots around the country and staying in hotels along the way. Unfortunately, staying in a hotel room is much different than staying at home, since there’s no telling who stayed in your room the night before, what sort of hygiene they maintained, and whether the hotel staff did a sufficient job of cleaning up before you checked in. Thankfully, a new hotel cleanliness study indicates that you can greatly cut down on the amount of germs to which you and your family are exposed in a hotel room so long as you know where to look and what not to touch. You may be surprised to find out where exactly the highest concentration of contamination was located, but luckily, the contaminated items allow for the needed germ protection to be relatively simple to accomplish.

Posted in Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Studies | 3,243 Comments

CDC Reveals Most Common Causes of Death

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Greg Asseff

Most of us, if not all of us, have been touched by someone that we knew that has passed away. Be it a relative, a coworker, a close friend, or even an acquaintance of an acquaintance, death is very real and, in fact, inevitable. However, there are lifestyle choices that we can make, implement into our daily lives, and live a healthy, active, and long life.

More specifically, we can choose, as individuals, to regularly partake in a variety of physical activities, consistently consume high quality well balanced whole foods, and make sure that we receive plenty of rest, relaxation, and sleep. By implementing these three broad items into our daily lifestyles, with a high level of regularity, we are able to provide our bodies with the ability to combat the leading causes of death and hence, live a long, healthy, and prosperous life.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published their composite list of the most common causes of death for Americans. The list, which is based on data collected in 2008 (the most recent year for which data was available), serves to indicate the biggest and most deadly health problems facing the United States today. Interestingly, the list looks quite different than it did just one year earlier, when data was collected in 2007.