Although life-long success with weight control requires regular physical activity and eating a healthy diet, there is more to the story. Science has uncovered some additional key facets that, in my experience, most people are in the dark about. Getting quality sleep (7-8 hours a night). Sleep deprivation quickly disrupts metabolic function and boosts appetite […]
Although moderate alcohol consumption has been shown to lower the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, alcohol offers up a slew of fattening features that can weigh heavy on your waistline. Here are six good reasons to watch it with booze, beer, and wine. Relatively speaking, alcohol provides lots of calories—specifically 7 calories per gram […]
A meticulously performed study has confirmed what recent, past studies have found: The blue wavelength of light emitted from computers, tablets, and smartphones disrupts sleep and decreases the release of melatonin, a vital hormone involved in regulating the body’s all-important day/night rhythms. For this study researchers first monitored the sleep of 19 healthy study subjects […]
Because even small amounts of excess body fat, especially if deposited in the belly, can boost the risk of many chronic diseases – taking steps to power up your metabolism can pay big health dividends. Simply stated, metabolism is the calories burned for the production of energy necessary to keep the body functioning properly. Whether […]
It’s true: sleep is vital for a healthy metabolism. In a jolting study that really grabbed my attention, scientists found that a single night of sleep loss impaired metabolism on par with eating a high-fat diet for six months! We know from past studies that both poor sleep and high-fat diets can impair the action […]
Chronic stress is an underappreciated, yet powerful driver of pathologic weight gain. Chronic stress is a potent driver of ‘toxic’ fat accumulation, and the stress hormone cortisol is the biochemical culprit. When we experience persistent, daily stress over months to years, cortisol levels rise abnormally high and remain chronically elevated. This leads to weight gain, […]
Sleep is paramount for health and weight control. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to prevent sleep deprivation from putting a damper on your health and your diet. Here’s what I suggest: -Strive to get at least seven hours of restful sleep a night. Some people do even better with eight. -Make the room you […]
Poor sleep leads to poorer lifestyle habits. That was the sobering conclusion from a new study that sought to tease out the cause and effect relationship between sleep and lifestyle choices in a scientifically rigorous manner. For this first-of-its-kind evaluation, a group of sleep researchers collaboratively followed and evaluated the sleep and lifestyle habits of […]
Weight control is of monumental importance to your overall health and functionality. If you are a non-smoker, weight control is the most powerful tool you have to increase your chances of a long, healthy, and productive life. Here are nine strategies that I consider “essential” for lasting success with weight loss and weigh control. Meaning, if you […]
Over the past week, I read several important study findings looking at omega 3 fats in children, and all of them really grabbed my attention. Omega 3 fats are “essential” fats that play a critical role in brain, cardiovascular, and immune health. Here are the study highlights. I hope they will grab your attention too! […]
If you want to improve your sleep – get moving! In a new poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation – the results were compelling – exercise is fantastic for sleep. Highlights from this evaluation included the following… (National Sleep Foundation, news release, March 4, 2013) People who engaged in any level of exercise were much more […]
Improving your weight control may be as easy as getting enough shut-eye. Prior studies have shown a consistent link between sleep loss and increased hunger, and in a new study, scientists have identified specific changes in the brain that explain this relationship. The investigators had already shown in a previous study that a single night […]
