Junk Food Addiction

In a study conducted by the researches at the Scripps Research Institute in Florida, findings suggest that junk food addiction may be real.

Rats given an unlimited access to high-fat, high-calorie foods needed to consume more and more to maintain the same level of pleasure. Apparently, reward circuits in the brain became less responsive to stimulation, which is similar to what happens when one becomes addicted to cocaine or heroin. The rats even endured a mild electric shock in order to obtain the food. They just continued to overeat and become obese.

When the high-fat foods were taken away in exchange of a more healthy diet, the rats refused to eat, even though they were starving. High-fat, high-calorie diets can lead one to become compulsive overeaters.

Exercise-To-A-Healthier-Life.com

Diet and Exercise Can Improve Thinking

From a report by Duke University, exercise and diet may improve the range of cognitive function.

According to the report, "Physical activity does seem to have a direct effect on brain cells. There are neurochemical changes that happen with exercise. There is increased production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which stimulates connection with other brain cells, but also there is some evidence that it helps grow new brain cells."

"And the combination of good eating and exercise also produced the expected physical advances. Diet-and-exercise participants lost an average of 19 pounds and lowered systolic blood pressure by 16 points and diastolic pressure by 10 points by the end of the four-month program."

Exercise-To-A Healthier-Life.com

Erectile Dysfunction Strong Predictor of Death

In a press release from the American Heart Association, it is reported that erectile dysfunction should be considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

German researchers have concluded that "erectile dysfinction is a strong predictor of death from all causes and of heart attack, stroke and heart failure in men with cardiovascular disease. Researchers found that men with cardiovascular disease and erectile dysfunction - conpared with those without erectile dysfunction - were twice as likely to suffer death from all causes and 16 times more likely to suffer the composite of cardiovascular death, heart attack, stroke and heart failure. "

Exercise-To-A-Healthier-Life.com

Marathon Runners May Be At Increased Risk For Heat Disease

According to a press release by the American College of Cardiology, "new data show regular marathon runners have increased stiffness of the large arteries, suggesting that some types of higher intensity exercise may negatively impact heart health."

"Our data suggest that exercise may have an inverted U-shape relation with arterial stiffness. In other words, when you do not exercise you have higher risk of cardiovascular events, but the same also happens when you exercise too much, said Despina Kardara, M.D., Athens Medical School, Hippokration Hospital, Athens, Greece, and lead investigator of the study. Regular long-term endurance training is generally beneficial for heart health, but it seems that the cardiovascular system is like a sports car engine. If you do not use it, it will decay, but if you run it too fast for too long, you might burn it out."

"Researches say there may be several explanations for arterial stiffening in Marathon runners. One plausible theory is that extreme exercise may place repeated and excessive stress on the artery wall leading to its fatigue."

"Ebndurance athletes should be cautious about the amount and volume of their training programs, trying not to wear themselves out, and always work in close collaboration with their physicians, especially before participating in an intense endeavor like marathon running."

Exercise-T0-A-Healthier-Life.com

Mindfulness Training

" Building Fit Minds Under Stress "

Mindfulness Training, a form of meditation, has been shown to improve mood and working memory, according to a University of Pennsylvania led study. "Mindfulness is the ability to be aware and attentive of the present moment without emotional reactivity or volatility."

The study emphasized integrating mindfulness exercises such as attention on the breath and midful movement into pre-deployment training for Marines being deployed to Iraq. These mindfulness skills were to regulate symptoms in the body and mind following an experience of extreme stress. The findings indicate that engaging in mindfulness exercises on a regular basis may improve mind-fitness. "Building mind fitness with mindfulness training may help anyone who must maintain peak performance in the face of extremely stressful circumstances."

Charles

Sleep and Memory

In a HealthDay article titled " Afternoon Nap Might Make You Smarter ", studies are showing the taking a nap after studying can improve your performance on tests. Apparently, a phase of non-dreaming sleep boost memory.

This type of research is not new. In an article by Dr. Shannon Moffett titled " Sleep, Tetris, Memory and the Brain ", she discusses her experiences with sleep researcher Dr. Robert Stickgold. His research has shown that sleep improves both procedural memroy and declarative memory. Procedural memory is the type of memory that is created when you practice a musical instrument or learn to play tennis. Declarative memory has to do with facts such as where you put your keys. According to Dr. Moffett, just sleeping on new information somehow cements the new info into your mind so that it is resistant to interference.

Check out these short videos for more information on Dr. Stickgold's research on sleep - Why Sleep Matters.

Charles

Mediterranean Diet And Your Brain

In the article titled " Mediterranean Diet May Help Keep You Smarter ", it is reported that adhering to a Mediterranean Diet - olive oil, whole grains, fruit, vegetables and fish - may protect aging brains from damage linked to cognitive problems. This is the result of a study conducted by Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas of Columbia University Medical Center in New York City.

The study involved 712 men and women averaging 80 years of age. People who followed a Mediterranean Diet moderately well were 21 percent less likely to have brain damage than pelple who did not follow a Mediterranean Diet regimen. Those who followed this diet most closely had a 36 percent reduced risk compared to those who followed it the least.

In a earlier study, it was shown that a Mediterranean Diet combined with exercise could help lower the risk for Alzheimer's Disease. This is probably the result that those who eat the healthiest have the fewer number of brain infarcts associated with cognitive decline.

"Boosting plant food intake can improve heart health and reduce body weight, but now it appears it may aid brain health."

Charles