Obesity

5 Helpful Apps that Teach Kids About Health and Nutrition

May 29, 2023 By Doc Sawyer

Kids need to be constantly reminded about eating the right foods to maintain good health as they’re growing up. Parents have to be on top of their children’s diet to ensure their proper development and avoid problems later on. Health problems linked to how children eat include obesity, asthma, diabetes, hypertension and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

A great way of teaching kids the value of eating natural and healthy foods is by making it fun for them. Fortunately, parents of today can use the apps as their partners in this endeavor as an after school care activity.

Fooducate

This is a mobile app that can be downloaded for free from iTunes. It allows the user to scan foods with a bar code to get details (ingredients), both positive and negative, on how healthy it is. It makes for a fun point and shoot video game that, for sure, your kids will enjoy. [Read more…]

Originally posted on June 27, 2013 @ 6:09 am

Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome May Benefit From Acupuncture

May 29, 2023 By Charlie

acupuncture Polycystic ovary syndrome is a relatively common condition in women, although it is not often diagnosed. With advancement in technology and more awareness, more women are able to determine if they are suffering from this syndrome, also known as PCOS. The condition is characterized by numerous small cysts in the ovaries, which interfere with the production of hormones. As a result, the male hormone testosterone is produced in higher quantities. The effects are manifested in various ways, some of which include fertility problems, irregular menstruation, obesity, and even increased risk for type 2 diabetes and heart problems.

The exact cause of PCOS remains a mystery to doctors and researchers. However, the symptoms are clear and some researchers believe that it is closely linked to an over active sympathetic nervous system. This system is what controls involuntary bodily functions such as the dilation of pupils.

A group of Swedish researchers conducted a study recently, wherein women with PCOS were divided into three groups. The first group underwent electro-acupuncture (a weak electric current is passed through the needles). The second group underwent a guided exercise routine (at least three times a week). The third group had no additional treatment or instructions. The findings? The activity of the sympathetic nervous system of the first two groups was considerably lower and the women who had acupuncture had a plus: more regulated menstruation. More than this, they also had lower levels of testosterone.

If you have PCOS or know anyone with PCOS, you might want to consider acupuncture.

Originally posted on August 24, 2011 @ 1:27 pm

Calorie Counting the Way to Go

May 29, 2023 By Charlie

Want to lose weight? Stuck on deciding which diet to go with?

According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine it doesn’t really matter which diet you choose to go with as long as you choose one and stick to it. The study, Comparison of Weight-Loss Diets with Different Compositions of Fat, Protein, and Carbohydrates (whew that is a long title!), all participants of the different diets tried lost and average of 6kgs in 6 months though and by the end of the study (2 years) those that stayed on lost more than 10% of their original body weight. Though that might not seem much the point is not how much weight was lost but that the important thing is to reduce the calorie intake. In short, you can go low fat, low carb, high protein or whatever you choose to do to lose weight and it will work as long as you COUNT YOUR CALORIES.

The bigger question now is not which diet you should go with but to stick to it. Losing weight is easy…at least compared to keeping off that lost weight.

Photo via ShellyS

Originally posted on June 2, 2011 @ 11:52 am

Being A Little Overweight Is Good!

May 29, 2023 By Charlie

The next time someone tells you that you have gained weight, point them to this blog post. A recent study conducted in Canada has yielded some interesting results with regard to being overweight.

According to a story ran by The New York Times, the study was done on over 11,000 Canadian adults. The results showed that people who are a bit overweight, but not obese, are less likely to die than those who are not overweight (READ: NORMAL weight). The category of overweight covers people who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9. In addition to this, people who are underweight – those who have a Body Mass Index of less than 18.5 – are more likely to die than the people who weigh normally.

Obviously, this finding is going to be well-received by many. The common way of thinking, prior to this study, is that being overweight automatically means more health problems, higher chances of dying earlier than normal. I guess this study gives us something new to think about.

Of course, we also have to take into consideration our lifestyles. Just because you have a BMI of anywhere between 25 to 29.9, it doesn’t mean that you can automatically say that you are going to be fine and that you have a lower risk of dying early. Smoking, drinking, no exercise, and other similar factors should be considered as well.

At least, when you get picked on because of a little extra padding, tell them that it just might be your insurance!

Originally posted on February 23, 2011 @ 8:27 am