Fitness

Feeling depressed? This exercise could perk you right up. Recent research from the Queensland University of Technology reveals that middle-aged women who walked for 200 minutes per week felt more emotionally strong, had fewer symptoms of depression, and had more energy, all benefits that improved their psychological well being. For researcher Kristiann Keesch, the findings could mean using alternative ways to treat depression, something seriously lacking in the medical community. "With depression so prevalent, there is an urgent need to…
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It's a common fact: Exercise is good for us. Even better? Exercising everyday--something shown to improve weight loss, boost energy levels, and even improve the health of your heart in the process. Now there's an even more important reason to make it a daily habit, say researchers. According to a new study published in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease, people who exercised moderately to vigorously on a daily basis were more likely to have lower blood pressure and blood glucose--two…
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Getting old is a fact of life. As we age, however, we face a higher risk of chronic health problems--such as depression, heart disease, and even obesity. New research from the University of East Anglia reveals a new way to keep these diseases at bay, however. According to the findings, now reported in the newest issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine, walking outside in groups helped people lower their resting heart rate, blood pressure and total cholesterol--which, together,…
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Want a stronger, leaner body? Turns out you can drink something that reaps the same benefits as a sweaty gym session. According to a recent report by POPDUST, resveratrol, an antioxidant found in red wine, could give you the same benefits of regular exercise--except, well, it's way more fun. "We were excited when we saw that resveratrol showed results similar to what you would see from extensive endurance exercise training," says Jason Dyck a researcher in the department of Pediatrics…
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So what's worse: Being obese or not exercising enough? As it turns out, not getting enough exercise is deadlier, according to new research from the University of Cambridge. The findings, now published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, show that being sedentary increases a person's risk of early death by as much as 30 percent--much more than people who are simply obese. Good news, though: These effects are reversible. "This is a simple message: just a small amount of…
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Exercise can do a lot of good, but its latest benefit is even better for older Americans. According to new research from the King's College London and the University of Birmingham, people who cycle for exercise have younger bodies than those who skipped this type of exercise--something sure to extend their overall lifespan. The research was published in the Journal of Physiology. "The highly active older volunteers were not only very healthy but had superior physiology when compared to a…
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So you've made your first resolution: Start working out more. But with temperatures continuing to drop in the northern hemisphere, doing so is an easier said than done task, with snow, ice, and chilling temps making it harder to stay active. A new study from the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Medicine reveals a simple way to up your motivation levels, however: work out in a warm environment. Better yet, it also inhibits your appetite, say researchers. "When…
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Memory lapses are common as we get older, but if it affects your quality of life, chances are you'll risk developing Alzheimer's disease--a disease that eventually kills. There isn't a cure for it either, though, research now shows there's a way to dramatically reduce your risk. According to a study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, people who ran at least 15.3 miles per week reduced their risk by a staggering 40 percent. However, only running between 4.5 to…
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Night sweats, irritability or hot flashes--these symptoms can only mean one thing. Called menopause, these symptoms signal the end of fertility for most middle-aged women, and it's definitely not pleasant. There may be a natural way to alleviate some of these symptoms, however, according to a new study published in the journal Maturitas. The findings, which were first reported earlier this week, reveal that getting regular exercise in the form of aerobic exercise or strength training had fewer hot flashes,…
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Yet again the American College of Sports Medicine has predicted the most popular fitness trends for 2015--and what makes the top of this list may surprise you. Hint hint: It's definitely not the Shake Weight. "Appearing for the first time in the trends survey in 2013 (at no. 3) was body weight training, and it has taken over the top spot from last year’s first-time entry high-intensity interval training," says Walter R. Thompson, Ph.D., FACSM, vice president of the ACSM…
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