Processed Food May Cause Obesity

Today we are surrounded by many processed food options that line the shelves of our grocery stores. These foods are often cheaper, more convenient, and attractive to those with limited time and cooking skills. Generally, the average American knows that eating fresh, whole foods is better than eating processed foods, yet they continue to rely …

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Holiday Survival

The holidays are often a stressful time of year, which can wreak havoc on your diet. There are holiday parties, office parties, and highly caloric foods surrounding us at every turn. Instead of giving into the subliminal pressure of the environment, and completely indulging in everything without being mindful, make a plan that will help …

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Longevity Belongs to the Fittest

In a recent groundbreaking study, researches have found that individuals who have the highest cardio respiratory fitness levels tend to live the longest.  Moreover, they found that the increase in death rates associated with lower cardiovascular fitness was comparable to or worse than rates for heart disease, smoking, diabetes, and hypertension.  The study also revealed …

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13 Minutes to Strong

For those who repeatedly use the excuse that there just isn’t enough time in the day to do any meaningful exercise, a recent research study begs to differ. This study showed that the same strength gains can be made by doing one set, to failure, of 7 basic exercises as opposed to 3-5 sets for …

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Decreased Dementia Associated with Midlife Cardiovascular Fitness

In a 44-year-long study involving women, high midlife cardiovascular fitness was related to a decreased risk in dementia.  The study found a dose-dependent relationship between fitness level and dementia risk.  Those with a high cardiovascular fitness level had only a 5% incidence of all-cause dementia by the end of the study, as compared with 25% …

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Exercise Promotes Healthy Gut Bacteria

Now that we’re through the first few months of the New Year, congratulations to those who have maintained their resolutions to start exercising (more).  But if you’ve fallen off the wagon, as many do after that first month, it’s never too late to get back into it.  And now you can add another benefit of …

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Exercise To Minimize Holiday Weight Gain

The best way to mitigate unwanted holiday weight gain, aside from abstaining, is to exercise. Yes, your weight will probably increase a little bit if you choose to moderately indulge in seasonal treats, but it doesn’t have to skyrocket.  It is important to maintain your exercise routine, and maybe even squeeze in a little bit …

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To Lose Fat and Preserve Muscle, Lift Weights

In a recent study, researchers found that participants who engaged in a regular weight training routine while cutting calories, lost more body fat and preserved more muscle than the calorie cutting and walking group, as well as the calorie-reduction only group.  The study consisted of 249 participants who were 60 years or older, and overweight …

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Resistance Training Reduces Risk for Metabolic Syndrome

In a 4-year study, consisting of 7,400 middle-aged adults, performing resistance training significantly decreased the risk of metabolic syndrome regardless of whether that person also did any aerobic training.  When participants met guidelines for both resistance training AND aerobic training, they decreased their risk by 25%.  The recommended amount of resistance training is two or …

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For Men, Exercise is Key to Increasing Fertility

A comprehensive randomized control study that came out earlier this year suggests that engaging in moderate aerobic exercise can significantly increase male fertility rates in previously infertile men.  The study was conducted over a 24-week intervention period, with both exercise and non-exercise groups being physically similar in terms of body composition, semen quality, markers of …

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