Aging & Health

Research Study: Add Up To 10 Years of Lifespan with Healthy Habits

January 30, 2020 Tim Comments Off

You may wonder if those lifestyle choices you make today will really make any difference on how you age or how long you will live. Can you truly decrease your risk of chronic diseases or is it already pre-determined? The results of a new research study[1] published in the BMJ may help you make up your mind. What did the research study attempt to prove? The objective of the research study was to determine the relationship between certain low-risk lifestyle factors and life expectancy with and without certain chronic diseases. The study set out to prove that by adopting particular healthy habits, you could not only add years to your life, but you could live those additional years free of [Read more …]

Research Study: Intermittent Fasting and Aging

January 19, 2020 Tim Comments Off

The new year is settling in, which means most people are heading to pack the gym as they take on their New Year’s resolution of getting fit and practicing regular exercise. With all the new fads and methods popping up year after year about how to get trim and toned, it can be hard to determine what is best for you and your lifestyle, let alone which of these fads and methods actually work. One of the most popular methods out there today is intermittent fasting, and today we’re going to dive into the actual research study[1] conducted on this method to test its effectiveness, practicality, and overall results. What Did the Research Study Attempt to Prove? Intermittent fasting is [Read more …]

5 Tips To Achieve Your New Year’s Resolution

December 21, 2019 Tim Comments Off

So here we go again, it’s almost New Year’s and for many of us that means New Year’s resolutions. Are you planning on getting into shape as a New Year’s resolution? Is weight loss one of your New Year’s goals? Well if you are like most Americans chances are that exercise, and fitness are going to be one of your New Year’s resolutions. However, what are a few ways that you can make this New Year’s resolutions goals easier than years past? Can You Reach Your New Year’s Resolution? This Is How! Tip #1: Have a Plan Like with any goal, before you act it is important to outline a plan. For instance, if weight loss is your plan how [Read more …]

Research Study: Can Marathon Running Improve Knee Health in Adults?

December 16, 2019 Tim Comments Off

Is long distance running good for your knees, or bad for your knees? A recent research study[1] posted in the BMJ Open found some surprising results. The general thoughts on running and knee health, especially for older adults tends to go back and forth with some studies saying that repetitive movements are too jarring and cause too much impact to knees, ankles and other joints while other studies have concluded that the damage is minimal and that running can be safe if done correctly. In this long term, cohort study researchers attempted to prove that longer term running (i.e. marathon running) did not cause excessive damage to the knees and that it could, in fact, improve knee health. What is [Read more …]

Can Exercise and Physical Activity Help Prevent Depression?

December 14, 2019 Tim Comments Off

Approaching the conundrum of whether depression leads to inactivity or if inactivity causes depression, the facts speak for themselves: Exercise is beneficial to both psychological and physical health[1]. The effects of being physically active both prevent and improve a number of health conditions including lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes, alleviating the symptoms of arthritis, reducing anxiety and improving mood. The Research Backs This Up The statistics show us that one in ten adults in the U.S. is dealing with the effects of depression and likely to be on antidepressant medications[2]. While more research is necessary to identify all the contributing factors that either cause or alleviate the effects of depression, studies have shown that [Read more …]

Study: Aerobic Fitness Shows Reduced Cardiometabolic Risk vs Strength Training

September 23, 2019 Tim Comments Off

A new study published in the JAMA Open seems to show that those who possess greater aerobic fitness have less cardiometabolic risk as opposed to those who prioritize strength training.[1] The researchers involved in this study wanted to evaluate whether the metabolites associated with cardiometabolic risk were equally associated with both aerobic fitness and maximal muscular strength. The study involved many participants who were part of a military training exercise. The participants were split up into multiple groups – those with maximal aerobic fitness, those with minimal aerobic fitness, those with maximal strength (as demonstrated on the leg extension), and those with minimal strength. The researchers used metabolomics to study the metabolites present in the trainees blood stream. Metabolomics is [Read more …]

Is the Morning the Best Time to Exercise for Weight Loss?

September 4, 2019 Tim Comments Off

A new study published in the International Journal of Obesity seems to show that those who exercise in the morning lose more weight than those who exercise after 3pm.[1] The researchers involved in this study wanted to evaluate the impact of exercise timing on weight loss, as well as energy balance. The study involved many participants who completed a 10-month supervised exercise program. The participants were split up into multiple groups – with some working out early, and others later in the day. At the end, those who exercised before noon had lost significantly more weight, as compared to those that exercised later in the day. The researchers official conclusion was: “This study, combined with the results of previous studies, [Read more …]

Does weight training have healthy effects on the human brain - as it seems to do for lab mice?

Weight Training – Good for the Brain Too?

July 25, 2019 Tim Comments Off

A new study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology seems to show that weight training has beneficial effects on the brain (in lab mice.)[1] Resistance exercise training (also called strength training, or weight training) is believed to have beneficial effects on the cognitive impairment that can precede neuroinflammatory disease. But, what has not been discovered is why weight training helps. This study attempted to do just that. Lab rats with an artificially induced form of cognition impairment were monitored after having performed resistance training exercise. How do you make a rat do weight training? The researchers had the rats perform ladder climbs (for treats) with additional weight resistance. The rats gained muscle mass and strength – but that was [Read more …]

Study: Too much sitting makes you resistant to the effects of exercise

July 25, 2019 Tim 1

A new study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology seems to show that people can become “resistant” to the healthy benefits of aerobic exercise if they sit too much.[1] In this study, a number of participants were asked to perform aerobic exercise after 4 days of prolonged sitting. The metabolic impacts of that exercise (post-exercise triglycerides, glucose, and insulin levels) were then compared to exercise sessions done on days which included a 1 hour treadmill workout. The participants did not see as much benefit from exercise after the bouts of prolonged sitting. The researchers call this condition “Exercise Resistance”. What does this all mean? It is probably wise to partake in physical activity (whether exercise, or otherwise) frequently – [Read more …]

Study: Sugary drinks and diet drinks linked to higher risk of death

March 18, 2019 Tim Comments Off

A new study published in the journal Circulation shows that the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages and artificially sweetened beverages is linked to a higher risk of death.[1] This study, which reviewed the history of over 117,000 participants, found that women who drank two or more sugary drinks per day had a 63% increased risk of premature death. Men who drank similar amounts had a 29% increased risk of death. The study found an increase in Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and to a lesser degree an increased risk of cancer. The formal conclusion of the study is : Consumption of SSBs (Sugar Sweetened Beverages) was positively associated with mortality primarily through CVD mortality and showed a graded association with dose. The [Read more …]