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Exercise Lowers the Genetic Risk for Obesity

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

The World Health Organization estimates 1 billion adults are overweight and at least 300 million are clinically obese. Health officials blame the increased consumption of nutrient-poor, energy dense foods – such as sugar, saturated fat, and fast food – and reduced physical activity for the spike in obesity.

Obesity is a known risk factor for various diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and certain types of cancer.

And while poor diet and inactivity is commonly blamed for obesity, mental illness, like eating disorders and depression, and genetics may increase a person’s risk of becoming overweight or obese.

But as for genetics, in a new study, published in the Public Library of American Science Medicine journal, researchers say exercise can reduce individuals’ genetic predisposition to obesity.

The study involved 20,430 people living in Norwich, Britain and found most participants inherited to 10 and 13 genetic variants known to raise the risk of obesity; some people inherited as many as 17 variants.

Data showed each genetic variant was associated with grams of weight. In active individuals the genetic variant increase was equivalent to a 592 gram increase in body mass index, but people who exercise only had a 379 gram increase.

So the researchers reiterate that in order to help prevent obesity it is important to get plenty of exercise.

Image credit: Mushroom and Rooster

Posted in Fitness, Nutrition & Health, body mass index, cancer, exercise, heart disease, obesity, type-2 diabetes | No Comments »

Binge Drinking and High Blood Pressure Harm Your Heart

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

Binge drinking doesn’t mean a drink or two, more like ten or twenty – not exactly “drinking socially.” And not exactly the safest for your health; consuming copious amounts of booze at one sitting has been linked to alcohol poisoning, memory problems, anxiety, bladder ruptures, and even sudden death.

And a new study in the journal Stroke says binge drinking, in combination with high blood pressure, may also heighten the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

High blood pressure by itself is already associated with heart disease and stroke.

The research followed 6,100 South Koreans age 55 and up for two decades; teetotalers with normal blood pressure and men with high blood pressure who occasionally consume more than six drinks in one sitting.

Results found the binge drinkers had double the risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke. But the heaviest drinkers, people downing 12 or more drinks at one time, had nearly five times the risk of heart trouble. And the risk jumped to 12-fold if the extreme drinkers had severe high blood pressure.

The American Heart Association defines normal blood pressure as 120/80 mmHG or below. High blood pressure is classified as 140/90 mmHG and over. And severe high blood pressure is considered 168/110 mmHG or higher.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is typically treated with improved diet – especially reducing salt and saturated fat intake – exercise, and medication.

Image credit: chrismetcalf

Posted in Nutrition & Health, drugs & alcohol, heart disease, high blood pressure, salt & sodium, saturated fats, stress & anxiety, stroke | No Comments »

Even Low Levels of Cigarette Smoke Hurt Lungs

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Smoking can be traced back all the way to 5000 to 3000 BC when tobacco was grown and cultivated in South America. And it seems like for equally as long smoking has been linked to health problems.

In 2004, the World Health Organization estimated that tobacco usage caused 5.4 million deaths world wide; known consequences of smoking include lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and emphysema.

And its not just heavy smokers that face health risks, even light smokers are in danger.

According to a new study in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, being exposed to even low levels of cigarette smoke increase the likelihood of developing lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

COPD is a condition causing the airways to become narrowed, leading to shortness breath and triggers inflammation in the lungs.

For the study, researchers tested 121 people, nonsmokers, active smokers, and “low exposure” smokers, for urine levels of nicotine and cotinine. After analyzing their urine and each participant’s genomes, the scientists determined any level of nicotine or continine, low or high, caused genetic abnormalities.

The researchers say these findings should further the support for bans on smoking in public places where non-smokers are present.

Image credit: lanier67

Posted in Nutrition & Health, emphysema, heart disease, lung cancer, nicotine, smoking | No Comments »

Even Low Levels of Cigarette Smoke Hurt Lungs

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Smoking can be traced back all the way to 5000 to 3000 BC when tobacco was grown and cultivated in South America. And it seems like for equally as long smoking has been linked to health problems.

In 2004, the World Health Organization estimated that tobacco usage caused 5.4 million deaths world wide; known consequences of smoking include lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and emphysema.

And its not just heavy smokers that face health risks, even light smokers are in danger.

COPD is a condition causing the airways to become narrowed, leading to shortness breath and triggers inflammation in the lungs.

The researchers say these findings should further the support for bans on smoking in public places where non-smokers are present.

Image credit: lanier67

Posted in Nutrition & Health, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, heart disease, lung cancer, nicotine, smoking | No Comments »

Eating Less Red Meat Helps Your Heart

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

Red meat doesn’t have a good reputation when it comes to heart health. Foods like beef and steak are high in cholesterol, a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

So a new study found reducing your red meat intake even a little bit helps lower your risk of high cholesterol and heart disease.

Writing in the journal Circulation, researchers say if you eat red meat more than once a day you’ll help your heart by swapping out one serving of meat with a less fattening food, like nuts or fish.

In the study, women who eat two servings of red meat each day have a 30% higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared to women who eat roughly three to four servings per week.

The researchers call it a “pretty dramatic increase,” highlighting the benefit of moderation and not overeating red meat.

Other findings show women eating one serving of beef each day raised their risk of heart disease by 8%, compared to who women rarely or never eat red meat. Other foods heightened risk more severely. Eating hotdogs once or twice a month raised risk 35%, bacon 41%, and hotdogs 42%.

Red meat has also been linked to a variety of cancers, such as prostate cancer, bladder cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, and breast cancer.

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Posted in Nutrition & Health, bladder cancer, breast cancer, cancer, cholesterol, colon cancer, heart disease, high cholesterol, prostate cancer, red meat, stomach cancer | No Comments »

Obesity and Chronic Pain Linked to Family History

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

Family history, or “your genes,” is a major factor in predicting your health and potential health problems later in life; such as heart disease, diabetes, and breast cancer.

Go ahead and add chronic pain, obesity, and depression to that list too.

Published in the Journal of Pain, scientists analyzed data on more than 3,400 people in the University of Washington Twin Registry in order to learn how family history and psychological factors affect the relationship between obesity and chronic pain.

Researchers say overweight and obese twins were more likely to have lower back pain, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, abdominal pain, and widespread chronic pain, compared to twins of normal weight.

Additionally, the scientists found that depression and family history are linked to obesity and pain. Lower back pain and joint pain are known symptoms of obesity.

Chronic pain costs the United States $70 billion a year, but obesity nearly doubles that with a yearly price tag of $118 billion.

Obesity is also a risk factor for depression, and previous research has shown that depressed individuals are less likely to follow medical recommendations for conditions like cardiovascular disease, so cardiologists should take extra care and try to recognize any underlying depression.

Image credit: duncan

Posted in Nutrition & Health, chronic pain, depression, heart disease, obesity | No Comments »

Heart Troubles Less Likely in Fish Eaters

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

Fish is a staple in many parts of the world, especially countries near the ocean, like Japan, the Philippines, and Mediterranean nations, such as Italy and Greece.

Nutritionally fish is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids; a “good fat” linked to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

And now, published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, a new study involving 3,500 Korean adults, ages 40 to 69, found that men who consumed one serving of fish each day had a 57% lower risk of developing metabolic syndrome over the next three years.

Metabolic syndrome is a collection of conditions contributing to heart disease; including diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

In the study, men consuming the most fish had the lowest risk of metabolic syndrome, compared to men eating less fish. Researchers point to omega-3 intake as being responsible for the reduction of risk, but they aren’t certain what the daily recommendation for omega-3 fatty acids should be.

But a major concern about fish and seafood is mercury contamination. Smaller fish consume pollutants that work their way up the food chain as they’re eaten by larger predatory fish like swordfish and red snapper; which people often consume at restaurants.

So by the time humans consume these varieties of fish they’ve already accumulated high levels of mercury, even canned tuna is one of the most contaminated fish available.

Image credit: Astacus

Posted in Nutrition & Health, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, mercury, metabolic syndrome, seafood & fish | No Comments »

Too Much Meat Leads to Weight-Gain Over Time

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Meat, whether it is beef, pork, chicken, or fish, is a high-energy food, meaning every bite has a lot of calories; unlike vegetables which have fiber, making them low-calorie foods. Meat does not contain fiber.

And new research claims all those calories from meat may turn into extra bodyweight over time.

Writing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, scientists analyzed more than 370,000 individuals, 100,000 men and 270,000 women, from 10 different European countries participating in a cancer study.

Over a 5-year period, both men and women gained an average of about one pound a year, and the more meat a person consumed, the more they gained. The researchers say for every additional 250 grams of meat a person ate each day, their weight gain after 5 years would be 4.4 pounds greater than people not eating as much meat.

A half-pound of steak is equal to 250 grams of meat, or 450 calories.

The researchers admit the weight-gain isn’t much, but could have an impact on populations as a whole.

And consuming a lot of meat or eating a meat-centered diet, especially one low in fruits and vegetables, has been linked to a variety of health risks; including cardiovascular disease, obesity, and colon and pancreatic cancer.

Image credit: muckster

Posted in Nutrition & Health, bodyweight, cancer, colon cancer, fiber, heart disease, obesity, pancreatic cancer, red meat | No Comments »