Saturday, July 2, 2011
Eating right, and working out is so very important!
Poor choices, not aging, pack on pounds
Nanci Hellmich, USA TODAY
USA TODAY
USA TODAY
06-23-11
Adults gain an average of almost a pound a year as they age, and much of that weight gain is caused by changes in diet such as extra servings of foods like potato chips, french fries, sugar-sweetened drinks, white bread and low-fiber breakfast cereals, says the largest, most comprehensive study of diet and weight gain in adults.
Other contributors: decreased intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other minimally processed foods; less physical activity; more time spent watching TV; and poor sleep habits.
The study provides the strongest evidence yet that weight gain is caused primarily by dietary and lifestyle choices, says senior author Frank Hu, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Small changes in habits add extra pounds, says lead author Dariush Mozaffarian, an associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Researchers analyzed data on the weight and eating and living habits of nearly 121,000 men and women from the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up study. Participants were tracked every four years for 20 years. They gained an average of 3.35 pounds over four-year periods and almost 17 pounds over the two decades, says the study, which was reported in today's New England Journal of Medicine.
People who made the most unhealthful dietary changes gained nearly 4 pounds more in four years than those who had the healthiest dietary habits.
People who ate an extra serving of chips a day gained an average of 1.7 pounds more in four years than those who didn't eat that extra serving.
People who drank one more sugar-sweetened beverage a day added an extra pound more in four years than those who didn't.
Other factors that led to weight gain: decreased physical activity, increased alcohol intake, less than six hours of sleep a night or more than eight, and increased TV viewing.
Though counting calories and watching fat intake have been emphasized recently, the new study suggests it may be better to focus on improving overall diet, Mozaffarian says: "You miss the boat if you just try to watch fat or sugar intake alone."
Some foods, such as nuts that are high in fat, helped prevent weight gain in the study. Other foods that are generally low in fat, such as white bread and low-fiber cereal, contributed to weight gain.
Other lifestyle factors count, too: People who increased their physical activity gained less weight, he says.
Hu says the research debunks the myth that there are no good or bad foods. "There are clearly healthy foods and less healthy foods and least healthy foods."
To see more of USAToday.com, or to subscribe, go to http://www.usatoday.com
Copyright 2011 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Gail's Enterprises
Gail's Enterprises
When I was reading this article in Ebony’s magazine on the editor’s letter page called “I Hate Hater.” I started remembering that I have been around people who never have anything nice to say about anyone not even themselves. When you are saying negativity thing, it is making you the one who looks bad. When you say mean thing it just shows an obvious sign of insecurity. If you feel good about yourself, there is no reason to tear someone else down. By doing this your are putting negative energy into the universe, and it will only come back onto you. Trust no one wants to be around someone that is negative and bitter all of the time. My belief is that you should be open in your acceptance of others; be generous with your praise; be free with your compliments. If you see someone whose style, accent or attitude is different from yours. You should take a step back and try to appreciate his or her perspective. My other belief is that if you can’t say something nice just don’t say anything at all. Giving a simple kind word can make someone’s day, and yours. Try this simple exercise by saying something nice to someone today. What I have found out by saying something nice to someone you don’t know; watch how your own day will be so much better for it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)