Posts by: Zero to Hero Fitness!

Cut This Out of Your Diet To Lose Weight, EASY!

It's a fact of life: We all gain weight. Calories may not be the only thing to blame, however, according to new research from Tufts University. According to the study, which was published online in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people who ate a diet high in processed carbohydrates--such as chips, fries, and pizza--gained more weight over the long term compared to those who kept it clean. In addition, eating more protein led to reduced weight gain over a…
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These 2 Workouts Could Stop Liver Disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD, is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease, according to recent reports. And its main trigger? Being obese or diabetic--two common problems prevalent in the western world. Luckily, there's one easy way to improve it, according to new research reported in the Journal of Hepatology. By just doing two specific aerobic exercise regimens, researchers say you can reduce liver and visceral fat in your body, reducing the severity of NAFLD--and lowering…
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Exercising at This Hour BOOSTS Your Metabolism!

So when's the best time to work out: Before or after dark? While research doesn't have an answer, experts do--and it all has to do with the power of your circadian rhythm. "Light is a very, very powerful signal to the brain," says Phyllis Zee, M.D., an associate director of the Center for Sleep & Circadian Biology at Northwestern University. "But also know that when you’re most alert, your muscle strength is at its highest, which can aid in peak…
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This Diet Nearly DOUBLES the Risk of Infertility!

Trying to conceive? These types of foods could actually worsen your fertility, according to researchers. A study led by the Harvard School of Public Health reports that eating foods high in pesticide residue can lead to lower sperm counts in men, as well as more oddly shaped sperm. These two factors can make it harder to conceive. The research was led by Jorge Chavarro, M.D., an assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. "The…
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This 1 Common Diet Trick is Actually a BIG Fail!

Trying to eat less food? Some experts claim choosing smaller plates to dine on could lower your caloric load. This trick doesn't necessarily work for everyone, however, according to new research from the University of Connecticut. According to the study, which was presented at the annual scientific meeting on the American Psychosomatic Society, some people, especially those who are overweight, don't change their portion sizes when using smaller plates--instead, they eat the same amount of food, causing the weight to…
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This 1 Simple Trick Cuts Calories By 60%!

Addicted to carbs? This simple trick cuts the calories in a favorite carb staple in half. According to research presented at the 249th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, adding just a teaspoon of coconut oil to boiling rice could change its composition, reducing its calories by 50 to 60 percent. That's a huge way to save on calories, say researchers. "Because obesity is a growing health problem, especially in many developing countries, we wanted to find…
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This Could Lower Your Cancer Risk By 55%!

Staying in shape matters at any age--and now new research proves it can help prevent two common types of cancer. Appearing in JAMA Oncology, researchers say men who had "high fitness" levels during their midlife years faced a lower risk of developing lung and colorectal cancer as they got older, though it did not lower the risk of prostate cancer. It also helped lower the risk of dying from these diseases. "To our knowledge, this is the first study to…
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These 3 Diet Changes Don’t Actually Work!

While people are waging their own battle against obesity at home, the government is also trying to help--from cutting trans fats out of fast food meals to building more bike paths to increase physical activity. But how many of them actually work? New findings from Drexel University sought to find that out, and unfortunately, the answers weren't always positive. "Rigorous science is needed to evaluate these natural or quasi-experiments," says Amy Auchincloss, Ph.D., an associate professor from the Drexel University…
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This Weight Increases Your Cancer Risk By 40%

This, believe it or not, increases your risk of developing cancer by 40 percent--if you're a woman. Most women struggle to lower this risk, however, with new reports saying this risk factor continues to rise. So what is it? It's obesity, say experts from Cancer Research UK. "We know that our cancer risk depends on a combination of our genes, our environment and other aspects of our lives, many of which we can control--helping people understand how they can reduce…
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Drinking This Gives You a Fat Gut – if You’re Over 65

We all know diet soda can make us fat. New research from the University of Texas reveals just where it makes us fat, however--and it's not good news if you'd like a slim tummy. According to new research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, older adults who drank diet soda regularly were more likely to gain weight in their abdomen, called central obesity. Central obesity won't just give you a dreaded "beer gut" either; it's also linked…
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