Category Archives: Studies

Toy-Related Injuries On the Rise

With the Christmas season officially upon us and Black Friday being just days in the past, toy sales are no doubt experiencing a year-end surge. Of course, nobody would give a child a gift that’s obviously risky, but toy-related injuries do happen. Especially engaged parents can try keeping up with the latest product recalls to make sure the products and playthings their children use do not present a risk of injury. Toy recalls in particular certainly aren’t uncommon; for example, Toys”R”Us very recently issued a complete recall for the “Just Like Home” toy toaster set due to the possibility that the toy toast could break into small, sharp pieces that present laceration and choking hazards. Obviously, however, toys don’t necessarily have to be subject to a recall to present injury risks. Now, a one-of-a-kind study shows that toy-related injuries have gone up significantly over the past two decades.

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

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Is Real According to New Study

Some health conditions are difficult to diagnose simply because it’s hard for a doctor to truly understand what a patient is going through. Conditions that involve pain often fall into this trap. For example, despite all the amazing advances in modern medicine, patients and doctors still often rely on a somewhat archaic pain chart in order to communicate pain severity. Because pain is so personal and subjective, the legitimacy of a person’s condition can often be called into question. Sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) fall victim to this confusion as well, often being labeled as hypochondriacs. The CDC defines chronic fatigue as “profound fatigue that is not improved by bed rest and that may be worsened by physical or mental activity.” However, many believe that the syndrome simply doesn’t exist or that it’s being overly misdiagnosed. Indeed, nobody knows what causes CFS. A new discovery may curb some skepticism, however.

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Posted in Health, Health Facts, Medical, Mental Health, Studies | 6 Comments

Without A Diet Plan, Exercise Can Actually Cause Weight Gain

Weight loss, from a strictly scientific perspective, seems pretty straightforward: in order to lose weight, a person must burn more calories than they consume. Obviously, this means getting some exercise; however, it isn’t always this simple. If a person’s diet is poor, it will take exponentially more exercise to see any results. Now, a new study published in the The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research shows just how ineffective regular exercise without a diet plan could be. Not only can the exercise fail to produce results, it could also actually cause weight gain. Think about it: getting a whole bunch of exercise could technically cause you to become more hungry throughout the day. If you’re not watching your diet, you could end up overeating and negating any of the benefits the exercise provided. This study shows how bad it could be, depending on the person.

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Posted in Diet, Exercise, Food, Health, News, Nutrition, Studies, Weight Loss, Women | 1,147 Comments

Study Says School Lunches More Healthy Than Packed Lunches

School lunches have been a contentious topic for a few years now. As part of her Let’s Move! initiative, first lady Michelle Obama has played a large part in rallying support for changes that could decrease childhood obesity. Part of this initiative included the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which set new nutrition standards for school lunches and allocated funds for the implementation of those changes. However, not everybody is happy with this. According to the Washington Post, the backlash has ranged from students in Georgia being upset over the removal of fried chicken from their lunch menu to lobbyists and food companies pushing for legislation that would allow school districts to opt out of the new nutrition standards. New information from Virginia Tech researchers might help defend the Obama administration’s actions regarding school lunches, however.

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Posted in Diet, Food, Health, Nutrition, Parenting, Studies | 1,525 Comments

Gluten Not The Only Protein That Affects Celiac Disease

There’s no denying the increasing popularity of gluten-free products. According to U.S. News & World Report, household purchases of foods labeled “gluten-free” increased from 5 to 11 percent between 2010 and 2013. Also, sales of gluten-free foods are predicted to generate around $15 billion in yearly sales by 2016. The gluten-free option has become so popular that the FDA has had to step in to ensure that such claims on food labels are actually true. Despite this rise, however, the jury is still out regarding whether or not a gluten-free diet actually improves the lives of those who do not suffer from celiac disease. For example, this study shows that non-celiac gluten sensitivity may actually be a myth. Either way, the problem for those who actually suffer from celiac disease has just become more complicated, as a new study suggests gluten isn’t the only culprit in wheat.

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Posted in Diet, Food, Health, Health Facts, News, Nutrition, Studies | 2,403 Comments