For years, you probably have been told that wheat bread is far better for you than its white counterpart, but a small, new study suggests that maxim may not hold true for everyone.
Researchers looked at how quickly blood sugar levels rose after eating (a process called the glycemic response) either white bread or sourdough-leavened wheat bread. The researchers found that the response seemed to vary by person, and that some people didn’t have a bad glycemic response to white bread.
“Our study suggests that, in terms of glycemic responses, different people respond differently to even the same meal,” explained study author Eran Segal, from the Weitzman Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel.
“In the context of white bread, this means that some people respond badly to white bread and should probably avoid it, while others have a healthy response to it, given what we measured,” Segal said.
“In a broader sense, what this means is that the ‘one-size-fits-all’ diets that are given to the population as a whole, without personalization, are probably not optimal for everyone,” added study co-author Dr. Eran Elinav, who’s also from the Weitzman Institute.
The researchers theorized that differences in the gut microbiome (the natural bacteria living in a person’s intestine) may explain why people respond differently to different breads. The researchers added that they were able to predict what a person’s glycemic response would be to a particular bread based on the makeup of their microbiome.
Both Segal and Elinav did report they are paid consultants for a company that offers personalized dietary advice based on an individual’s gut microbiome.
At least one nutritionist wasn’t convinced that people should give up on whole grains.
“This small, short-term study does not offer a free pass to eating tons of highly processed white bread,” said Samantha Heller, a senior clinical nutritionist from New York University Langone Medical Center.
“Epidemiological research has shown that people who eat more whole grains, such as whole grain breads, crackers, cereals, brown rice and quinoa, have a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, inflammation, obesity and certain cancers,” Heller noted.
In addition, she said, whole grains have a balance of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that white bread doesn’t. Plus, Heller said, fiber is the “preferred meal for gut microbiota.”
The study included 20 people from Israel. They were between 27 and 66 years old. Eleven were female, the researchers said.
Each volunteer spent a week eating white bread and a separate week eating artisanal sourdough-leavened whole wheat bread.
They ate bread first thing in the morning. Half the time, they were allowed butter on their bread. They couldn’t eat anything else beginning the night before, and then for two hours after eating the bread. They also weren’t allowed to exercise for two hours after eating, because all of these things can alter the glycemic response.
Across the groups, the researchers found a similar response to the breads when averaged together. There were no significant overall differences based solely on the bread and glycemic response. The researchers also said there didn’t seem to be a difference in the gut microbiota based on which bread was eaten.
“Our study challenges the common belief that types of food that are considered healthy are indeed healthy. We know that people are different in their genetic makeup and lifestyle, and here we show that people have rather stable and person-specific microbiomes,” said Avraham Levy, one of the study’s researchers. He’s also from the Weitzman Institute.
“These differences between people affect how they respond to even the same meals, which means that foods which are considered healthy may not be as healthy for everyone, and vice versa,” Levy said.
The scientists noted that more research needs to be done. Funding for the study came from the Israeli Ministry of Science, Technology and Space, as well as from private foundations and donors.
In the meantime, a number of groups recommend eating whole grain foods instead of processed white foods. These groups include the U.S. federal government, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
The study was published June 6 in the journal Cell Metabolism.
It�s not always possible to keep up with your workout routine while traveling. So one hotel chain is making it easier�to cycle, do yoga, or sweat along to a cardio routine video�without ever�leaving your room.
Last month, Hilton Hotels debuted�their Five Feet to Fitness in-room mini gyms, which offer�11 different fitness equipment options�just steps�away from the bed and nightstand. Eight rooms are currently available�three�at Hilton’s�Parc 55 San Francisco and five�at Hilton McLean Tysons Corner in Virginia.
The chain plans to add�more than 100 rooms with mini-gyms around the country by the end of the year, says Ryan Crabbe, senior director of global wellness at Hilton. They’ll be available in Hilton hotels in�Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, New York, and San Diego.
What kind of workout options will guests have?�Features include a�stationary Wattbike, medicine balls, sandbags, a Bosu ball, TRX, a yoga mat, and a foam roller, among other gear and accessories. Each room also comes with a�a touch-screen “fitness kiosk” that shows guests the right way to use�each piece of equipment. The kiosks are also loaded with more than 200 workout�videos covering cardio, cycling, endurance, strength-training, HIIT, yoga, and stretching and recovery.
If guests aren’t up for a cycling session after a long day on a business trip or sight-seeing, Hilton still has them covered�by outfitting each room with other�wellness-related features�such as a�meditation chair, protein drinks in a hydration station, and mini Biofreeze packets for sore muscles.
Hilton�s focus on fitness and wellness was driven by feedback from hotel guests and research into how travelers use hotels. A recent study conducted by Cornell showed that while 46 percent of travelers intend to use the hotel gym, only 22 percent end up doing a workout.
�We know that creating a wellness stage right in the hotel room might just be the solution for those guests who need the convenience of being able to get a quick workout in before breakfast or after a long day of business meetings, or those that prefer to workout in the privacy of their own room,� says Crabbe. �We also know that movement and mindfulness make for a better travel experience.�
No one can pinpoint exactly what causes migraines and headaches or why some people are more prone to experiencing them than others, but what we do know is that there are many factors which could potentially trigger them.
Causes of Cluster Headaches
Abnormalities in the region of the brain, known as the hypothalamus, are the cause of cluster headaches. What makes these headaches different than other types of headache is that they manifest like clockwork. Episodes generally occur in the same time of day and they typically follow the seasons of the year, making these very predictable. These headaches are mostly attributed to changes in the brain rather than changes in the environment or from how people handle stress.
Causes of Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are some of the most common types of headaches and they can affect anyone. �These types of headaches frequently occur when the neck and scalp muscles become tense or tight. Additionally, people who have migraines are more likely to experience moderate or severe tension headaches. The�increased sensitivity to pain resulting from the tension headaches, which might be caused by miscommunication between nerve pathways to the brain. A tension headache is usually triggered by something.
Tension Headache Triggers
A head injury
An illness, such as for example a sinus infection
Drinking alcohol
Eating foods with withdrawal symptoms or too much caffeine from a lack of caffeine
Excessive smoking
Clenching your jaw
Grinding your teeth
Overexertion (caused by intense physical activity, etc.)
Poor posture
Sitting or standing within an uncomfortable position for too long (eg, working at a desk, sewing)
Sleeping with your neck in a abnormal position
Straining your eyes (working at a computer, reading something with very small text, etc.)
Tiredness
Causes of Migraines
Both genetics along with the environment may be the most common cause of migraines. For example, if your mother experiences cases of chronic migraines, you may experience them as well. But in the case you don’t have a family history of migraines, then they may be caused by means of a variety of factors from changes in the weather to too much stress and not handling stress effectively. It’s possible that migraines may also be caused by imbalances in chemicals in the brain. The hormone serotonin helps nerves communicate with each other as well as helps regulate pain in the body. A lack of serotonin may causes a migraine, according to research studies.
Migraine Triggers
Alcohol
Certain foods, for example aged cheese and foods with aspartame (an artificial sweetener)
Changes in your sleeping habits
Dehydration
Depression
Eating foods that have caffeine (eg, coffee, chocolate)
Extreme fatigue
Grinding your teeth
Hormonal changes and menstruation (in women)
Hunger
Poor sleeping habits, lack of sleep, or too much sleep
Skipping meals
Some medications, including oral contraceptives
In spite of the fact that the exact cause of migraines and headaches is unknown, avoiding the triggers mentioned above is certainly one of the best ways to try to prevent headaches and migraines. By avoiding the above mentioned triggers and understanding the causes, you are in a position to help reduce the amount of headaches or migraines you experience in the future.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .�
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topics: Cervicogenic Headache and Chiropractic
Neck pain associated with whiplash-associated disorders resulting from an automobile accident are reportedly the most prevalent cause for discomfort along the cervical spine. The sheer force of an impact from a rear-end car crash or other traffic incident can cause injuries or aggravate a previously existing condition. While neck pain is commonly the result of damage to the complex structures of the neck, cervicogenic headaches may also result due to neck issues. Chiropractic care can help carefully restore the alignment of the cervical spine to relieve headaches and neck pain.
For many, weight training calls to mind bodybuilders pumping iron in pursuit of beefy biceps and bulging pecs. But experts say it�s well past time to discard those antiquated notions of what resistance training can do for your physique and health. Modern exercise science shows that working with weights�whether that weight is a light dumbbell or your own body�may be the best exercise for lifelong physical function and fitness.
�To me, resistance training is the most important form of training for overall health and wellness,� says Brad Schoenfeld, an assistant professor of exercise science at New York City�s Lehman College. During the past decade, Schoenfeld has published more than 30 academic papers on every aspect of resistance training�from the biomechanics of the push-up to the body�s nutrient needs following a hard lift. Many people think of weight training as exercise that augments muscle size and strength, which is certainly true. But Schoenfeld says the �load� that this form of training puts on bones and their supporting muscles, tendons and ligaments is probably a bigger deal when it comes to health and physical function.
�We talk about bone resorption, which is a decrease in bone tissue over time,� he says. When you�re young, bone resorption is balanced and in some cases exceeded by new bone tissue generation. But later in life, bone tissue losses accelerate and outpace the creation of new bone. That acceleration is especially pronounced among people who are sedentary and women who have reached or passed menopause, Schoenfeld says. This loss of bone tissue leads to the weakness and postural problems that plague many older adults.
�Resistance training counteracts all those bone losses and postural deficits,� he says. Through a process known as bone remodeling, strength training stimulates the development of bone osteoblasts: cells that build bones back up. While you can achieve some of these bone benefits through aerobic exercise, especially in your lower body, resistance training is really the best way to maintain and enhance total-body bone strength.
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More research links resistance training with improved insulin sensitivity among people with diabetes and prediabetes. One study published in the journal Diabetes Care found that twice-weekly training sessions helped control insulin swings (and body weight) among older men with type-2 diabetes. �Muscle is very metabolically active, and it uses glucose, or blood sugar, for energy,� says Mark Peterson, an assistant professor of physical medicine at the University of Michigan.
During a bout of resistance training, your muscles are rapidly using glucose, and this energy consumption continues even after you�ve finished exercising, Peterson says. For anyone at risk for metabolic conditions�type-2 diabetes, but also high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels and other symptoms of metabolic syndrome�strength training is among the most-effective remedies, he says.
Strength training also seems to be a potent antidote to inflammation, a major risk factor for heart disease and other conditions, says Schoenfeld. A 2010 study from the University of Connecticut linked regular resistance training with inflammation-quelling shifts in the body�s levels of cytokines, a type of immune system protein. Another study from Mayo Clinic found that when overweight women did twice-weekly resistance training sessions, they had significant drops in several markers of inflammation.
Some of the latest and most surprising research is in the realm of �light-load training,� or lifting very small weights. �It used to be thought that you needed to lift heavy loads in order to build muscle and achieve a lot of these benefits,� Schoenfeld says. �That�s what I was taught in grad school and undergrad, but now it looks like that�s completely untrue.�
He says lifting �almost to failure��or until your muscles are near the point of giving out�is the real key, regardless of how much weight you�re using. �This is a huge boon to adherence, because many older adults or those with injuries or joint issues may not be able to lift heavy loads,� he says.
If all that isn�t convincing enough to turn you onto weights, perhaps this is: maintaining strength later in life �seems to be one of the best predictors of survival,� says Peterson. �When we add strength�almost every health outcome improves.�
�It used to be we thought of strength training as something for athletes,� he adds, �but now we recognize it as a seminal part of general health and well-being at all ages.�
The UTEP track and field team will be sending nine student-athletes to compete at the 2017 NCAA Championships this week in Eugene Ore., starting Wednesday June 7 through Saturday, June 10.
Wearing the Orange and Blue for the women�s team will be Tobi Amusan (100m Hurdles), Samantha Hall (Discus Throw), Lucia Mokrasova (Heptathlon), Winny Koech (10,000m) and Lilian Koech (800m).
On the men�s side, Emmanuel Korir (800m and 4x400m relay), Michael Saruni (800m and 4x400m relays) and the 4x400m relay ream of Korir, Saruni, Asa Guevara and James Bias will represent the Miners at the NCAA Championships.
Tobi Amusan | Sophomore | Hurdles
The Sophomore makes her return to the NCAA Championships after taking runner-up last year. Amusan heads into the championships with the fastest qualifying time, when she clocked 12.57w at the West Region Prelim. The Nigerian native has yet to lose a 100m hurdles in five races thus far.
The school record holder will compete in the semifinals for the 100m hurdles on Thursday at 6:32 p.m. MT on ESPN2. A total of eight runners out of the 24 will advance to the finals. Three heats will be held (eight athletes in each heat) and the top two finishers from each heat plus the next best two fastest times will advance.
Samantha Hall | Senior | Discus
The senior will make her final appearance in the Orange and Blue at the national stage for the second time in her career after earning 13th overall at the 2015 NCAA Championships. Hall holds the school record in the discus throw with a mark of 58.50m and qualified for the NCAA Championships tossing for 56.50m at the West Region Prelims.Hall will compete on Saturday�s final starting at 4:05 p.m. on ESPN3.
Lucia Mokrasova| Junior | Heptathlon
Mokrasova will take the track in the heptathlon on Friday and Saturday morning for the Miners. The junior broke her previous school record earlier this year at the Texas Relays, she scored 5,671 points.
That point total for Mokrasova ranks her 12th nationally headed into the competition. The Slovakia native will take the track on Fridayat 1:30 p.m. on ESPN3.
Winny Koech | Sophomore | 10,000m
Koech will compete in the 10,000m Final on Thursday night at 8:08 p.m on ESPN2. Koech has clocked a personal-best 33:51.31 when she ran at the Mt. SAC Relays earlier this year. The C-USA champion ranks 17th among the 24 student-athletes competing, after running a qualifying time of 34:39.41. This will be the first trip to the national stage for Koech.
Lilian Koech | Sophomore | 800m
Making a her first appearance at the national stage, the Kenya native will run in the 800m semifinal on Thursday at 7:14 p.m on ESPN2. Koech clocked her personal best earlier this year with a time of 2:04.68 at the Brutus Hamilton Challenge. The sophomore earned one of the automatic qualifying spots from the West Region Prelim with a time of 2:07.68.
Emmanuel Korir | Freshman | 800m
The Kenya native has taken track and field by storm this year. Breaking numerous meet records and school records, including the indoor 600m world record (1:14.97). Korir is undefeated in the 800m through three races. The freshman clocked the fastest-time in the 800m earlier this year with a time of 1:43.73 at the Brutus Hamilton Challenge. Korir is just one of three athletes in the world to run sub-1:44 in the 800m and sub-45 in the 400m.
The All-American will take the track on Wednesday in the 800m semifinal starting at 7:14 p.m on ESPN2.
Michael Saruni | Freshman | 800m
Saruni has been just as spectacular as his teammate Korir. Saruni clocked a personal best 1:45.92 at the Texas Relays beating the 2012 Olympic silver medalist (Leonel Manzano) and the collegiate record holder (Donavan Brazier). Saruni heads into the championships ranked sixth in the nation.
Men�s 4x400m Relay Team
The Men�s 4x400m relay team will consist of both freshman 800m runners, senior James Bias and junior James Bias. The team registered the second-fastest time in program history with a time of 3:03.15 and ranks as the fourth-fastest qualifying time to the NCAA Championship. The team will compete on Wednesday in the 4x400m relay semifinal with the final set for Friday at 8:51 p.m. on ESPN.
You can watch the 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships live on the ESPN family of networks. Both the final day of the men�s championship and women�s championship will be aired in prime time on ESPN.
For live results and breaking news be sure to follow @UTEPTrack on Twitter and uteptrack on Instagram.
Your home is your castle, and also your haven. But common household items may be turning your sanctuary into a hazard and increasing your risk for colds, viruses, and food poisoning as well as deadly diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and cancer.
Below are five common, but possibly dangerous, items you should consider replacing … now.
Aluminum pots and pans. Aluminum pots and pans may increase your risk for neurological diseases because small amounts of aluminum leach into foods, especially those containing acids. Experts have linked aluminum to Alzheimer’s disease as well as Parkinson’s disease, kidney and liver damage, weakened bones, and multiple sclerosis.
“Aluminum is cumulative, and even small doses over time become highly toxic,” board-certified neurosurgeon Dr. Russell Blaylock tells Newsmax Health. “It’s a powerful neurotoxin. When aluminum combines with certain acids, such as those in orange juice, aluminum absorption is increased 11-fold,” he says. “If you’re cooking with fluoridated water, the aluminum and fluoride bind, so you’re producing aluminum fluoride, an extremely toxic compound.”
The worst scenario for a health disaster involving cookware is boiling water for tea in an aluminum kettle or pan, says Blaylock. “Black tea is already high in aluminum and fluoride, and you’d be getting very high levels of aluminum fluoride. Replace aluminum pots and pans with stainless, says Blaylock.
Scratched “non-stick” cookware. Manufacturers use the chemical PFOA (perfluororctanoic acid) when making Teflon (also known as polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE), the “no stick” cookware. But the pots and pans that are so easy to clean could be increasing your risk for several conditions, including breast cancer, preeclampsia, thyroid disease, and ulcerative colitis.
Teflon and similar coatings, such as T-Fal and Silverstone, emit PFOAs when heated to a high temperature. The fumes can cause flu-like symptoms in people, nicknamed “Teflon flu.” A study by the Environmental Working Group found that heating a nonstick pan to 680 degrees on an ordinary electric stove released six toxic gasses including two that are known to cause cancer.
Studies have found that empty pans can reach 800 degrees in only five minutes, and some studies show that enough PFOAs are emitted to kill pet birds at temperatures as low as 325 degrees.
At high temperatures, Teflon also releases tetrafluoroethylene, a known carcinogen, and another chemical called monofluoroacetic acid, which can be fatal even in small amounts. When heated to 887 degrees, Teflon also emits perfluoroisobutene, a substance used in chemical warfare. When pans are scratched, the harmful chemicals are released at even lower temperatures.
Older cookware, scratched or not, is more likely to emit toxins, and many manufacturers have agreed to produce non-stick cookware that would not emit PFOAs. To be on the safe side, replace questionable pots and pans with stainless steel. Dr. Blaylock warns of one exception — don’t buy Chinese stainless. “It is usually extremely low-grade and it will degrade,” says Dr. Blaylock.
Kitchen sponges. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that food poisoning sickens 1 in 6 Americans every year (48 million). Of those, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die. Salmonella and E. coli, two of the most common, hide on kitchen surfaces and in sponges, which are usually wet and provide an ideal environment for germs to multiply.
To stay safe, replace sponges on a regular basis. Sanitize wet sponges by microwaving them for two minutes, washing in the dishwasher, or placing them in boiling water laced with a couple of tablespoons of vinegar for three or four minutes.
Fire extinguishers. You probably have at least one fire extinguisher in your home, but how long has it been since you’ve even given it a second look? Fire extinguishers can de-pressurize over time and be worthless in an emergency. Check the label to see how long yours should last — some are expected to work for only about five years.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends non-rechargeable units be replaced every 12 years and rechargeable ones tested and recharged every six years. If your home is humid, your extinguisher may need replacing more often.
Check the pressure gauge on your extinguisher every month to make sure it falls in the green area. If not, replace it immediately. Also check for corrosion, cracked hoses, and broken handles — all indicate your fire extinguisher needs to be replaced.
Plastic food containers. Bisphenol A (BPA) is used to make plastics used in food and beverage containers and is often used in the lining of metal cans. BPAs are proven endocrine disruptors and can increase the risk for breast and prostate cancer, heart disease, and obesity. “BPA actually disturbs the hormone production in our bodies,” Dr. Erika Schwartz, a leading expert on hormones tells Newsmax Health.
Avoid BPA by choosing fresh foods and those in glass containers instead of those in cans. Buy plastic containers with the recycling labels No. 1, No. 2, No. 4, and No. 5 on the bottom. Avoid those with No. 3, No. 7, or PC (polycarbonate). Cloudy or soft containers don’t contain BPA.
When children live through a contentious divorce or separation by their parents, the fallout appears to harm their health for decades, even into adulthood, researchers said Monday.
The study involved 201 healthy adults who agreed to be quarantined, exposed to a virus that causes the common cold, and monitored for five days.
Those whose parents had separated and had not spoken to each other for years were three times as likely to get sick, compared to those whose parents had separated but had stayed in touch as the children grew.
Previous research has shown that adults whose parents separated during childhood have an increased risk for poorer health.
The latest study showed that this higher risk of illness is due, at least in part, to heightened inflammation in response to a viral infection, the report said.
“Early life stressful experiences do something to our physiology and inflammatory processes that increase risk for poorer health and chronic illness,” said Michael Murphy, a psychology postdoctoral research associate at Carnegie Mellon University.
“This work is a step forward in our understanding of how family stress during childhood may influence a child’s susceptibility to disease 20-40 years later.”
The study also showed that the adult children of parents who had separated but stayed in touch were no more likely to get sick than the adult children of intact families.
“Our results target the immune system as an important carrier of the long-term negative impact of early family conflict,” said Sheldon Cohen, a co-author and professor of psychology.
“They also suggest that all divorces are not equal, with continued communication between parents buffering deleterious effects of separation on the health trajectories of the children.”
The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a peer-reviewed US journal.
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