Will watching too much TV kill you? It is such a passive activity that is seems quite safe in terms of risks, but it is in this passivity that its danger lies. Japanese researchers found that each 2 hours of daily TV watching increases the risk of death by pulmonary embolism by 40%. Pulmonary embolism…
Category: Health Tip
Smoking and Pregnancy: A Bad Mix
A recent Finish study (1) found a positive association between mothers that smoked during pregnancy and the development of schizophrenia in their children. Previous research has shown that smoking while pregnant can cause serious physical problems, such as premature birth, birth defects and even infant death. This study, however, makes a connection between a mother…
Green goodness!
Its the time of year for kale – what a wonderful vegetable! It is loaded with nutrients like vitamins K, A, and C, iron, calcium, folate, and even a some protein. And all of this is packed in a very low calorie package! Kale belongs to a group of vegetables classified as leafy green vegetables….
Social Jetlag
Our bodies like consistency. They like to know what is coming to be able to plan ahead. That is why we have internal clocks or a circadian rhythm. We feel best when we eat, exercise and sleep at the same times every day. For most of us, it is no problem to keep the same…
Don’t Watch Your Waist!
This time of year is not typically when we want to think about our waistlines – we would rather just enjoy the delicious treats that abound. But with one simple tip, you could benefit your waistline without much thought at all. A recent study found that eating more fruit and non-starchy vegetables help maintain ideal…
Exercise for Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia, a disorder affecting women more often than men, is characterized by widespread muscular pain, fatigue, as well as sleep and mood problems. At present there is no cure for it, but it is managed often by medications. However, following a careful review of current evidence, a multidisciplinary group from 12 European countries, has unanimously…
Movement for the Mind
A Swiss study found that burnout was lower among students that exercised, than those that were more sedentary. This study looked at 56 vocational students and found that those who were meeting recommended physical activity levels scored higher on mental toughness and reported fewer symptoms of burnout. (See chart for current Nordic recommendations for physical…
Excess Weight – Extra Risks
A study recently conducted in Great Britain found that a high body mass index (BMI) places individuals in a risk zone for certain types of cancer. The risk varied depending on the type of cancer, but for 17 out of 22 types of cancer there was a positive association between excess weight and the risk…
Many Heart Attacks Could be Prevented
There are habits that can decrease the risk of heart attacks. A recent study with 20 000 Swedish men between the age of 45 and 79, found that almost four out of five heart attacks could be prevented by practicing what are called low-risk habits. In this study these habits were: a healthy diet, moderate…
Move for Mood
Exercise has many health benefits and these go beyond the strictly physical ones. A study looking at anxiety disorders and perceptions, found that exercise positively impacted the participants. Their perceptions to what previously was perceived as a threatening situation, was normalized after exercise. This study provides a helpful basis for working with anxiety disorders. Other…
Nuts better Than Ever!
In a recent large review study, it was found once again that eating nuts reduces blood cholesterol levels. In this review, the type of nut eaten didn’t seem to affect the benefit. The key was that they were tree nuts: walnuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, pecans, cashews, almonds, hazelnuts, and Brazil nuts. The lowering affects were…
Bigger is not Necessarily Better
A recent Scandinavian study looking at type 1 diabetes, found a relationship between weight gained during the first year of life and the onset of type 1 diabetes in childhood. This study done with data from Norway and Denmark is interesting due to the fact that the Nordic countries have the highest burden of type…