Fitness

You've had a long workout--but now you need to eat something to replenish your body. So what do you reach for? Normally, most of us think sports beverages and bars are the best solution. New research from the University of Montana says this isn't necessarily true, however. In a review of two experimental trials on male cyclists, researchers say eating fast food, such as burgers and fries, was just as effective as health bars marketed to improve a person's recovery.…
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An accidental fall on the sidewalk isn't a big deal for most young adults--aside from the minor embarrassment it causes. For middle- to senior-age adults, however, doing so could equal broken bones, months of rehabilitation, and even a loss in quality of life. One simple trick could help reduce this risk dramatically, however. According to new research headed by researchers from the University of the Sciences, people over the age of 65 who took part in a simple, five-week balance-training…
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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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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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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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They say spouses do everything together--even eating right. Now new research from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health reveals something else they shouldn't do alone. According to the research, which was presented at the American Heart Association's EPI/Lifestyle 2015 Scientific Sessions in Baltimore, MD, husbands whose partners were physically active were 70 percent more likely to exercise as well, suggesting spouses can directly influence physical activity. Conversely, wives whose husbands were physically active were 40 percent more likely to…
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For many people exercise isn't a regular habit--but this could motivate them to do it more often. According to a new report, John Hopkins researchers say they've developed a formula that calculates a person's risk of dying over the next decade based on how well they perform on a treadmill. Not surprisingly, the worse you perform, the more likely you'll die. "The FIT Treadmill Score is easy to calculate and costs nothing beyond the cost of the treadmill test itself,"…
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As we get older, our risk of certain health problems continues to rise--and if you're a woman, that includes blood clots, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. But if there's one similarity older women share too, it's this: Not getting enough exercise. Now a study from Oxford University in England reveals that not making exercise a regular habit could put the hearts of middle aged women at risk. "To prevent heart disease, stroke and blood clots, women don't have to be super…
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Got diabetes? This simple trick could reduce your risk of a heart attack--after dinner. According to a study led by researchers from the University of Missouri-Columbia, people with type 2 diabetes who exercised after dinner reduced both blood sugars and fats in their blood, minimizing their risk of future cardiovascular events, such as a heart attack. The findings appear in the Journal of Applied Physiology. "This study shows that it is not just the intensity or duration of exercising that…
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We all know it's true: Regular exercise makes us healthy. Now new research from the Federal University of Paraiba in Brazil reveals it can treat a new health condition--as long as you also combine it with a special oil. According to the findings, a combination of regular exercise and coconut oil helped reduce blood pressure levels, as well as increase weight loss in laboratory rats. Now researchers are hopeful the same effects can be replicated in humans. "This is an…
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