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HEALTH/WELLNESS
Lose weight!
'Get Off Your Arse' and
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for a long life
likely to die early
opping a pill might seem a small price to pay for a peaceful night's sleep. But beware of the long-term cost - those who pop sleeping pills are a third more likely to die prematurely than those who don't, says latest research. The figure takes into account factors that can affect longevity, from social class and chronic health conditions to smoking and alcohol use. And, unlike previous research, it also recognises the effects of depression, reports the Daily Mail. With around 10 million sleeping pill prescriptions in Britain and many more tablets sold over the counter, the findings have significant implications for the health and habits of the nation, says the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Crucially, the study did not distinguish between those who were heavy users and those who only took them occasionally. Researcher Genevieve Belleville of the Laval University in Quebec, Canada said: "These medications aren't candy and taking them is far from harmless." Belleville analysed 12 years of data on more than 12,000 Canadians. When all other factors were equal, death rates were found to be significantly higher among sleeping pill users and those taking tablets to ease anxiety. Pill takers were more likely to succumb to every type of illness, from parasites to cancer, she said.
new Auckland research has found that typing while standing and moving while working could help workers shed extra pounds and reduce diabetes risk. Grant Schofield, professor of Public Health on "Weight goes r, at Auckland University of Technology a (AUT), has named it his 'Goya' policy under the rad to y a.k.a. 'Get Off Your Arse'. A review of a w a s i t i so research looking into sedentary ht i g e w e h t keep behaviour, co-authored by Schofield, was released in Feb and revealed off under the workers who moved as they worked ield radar." Schof a could not only shed up to 2kg a year conducted but would also have better posture. udy "Weight goes on under the radar, so it preliminary st rs is a way to keep the weight off under ke r o w r u of f o the radar." Schofield conducted a prerliminary study of four workers using a sing a comme u commercially available heightavailable y l l a i c adjustable desk and measured the ble amount of energy used standing, sitting height-adjusta ae m and lying down while working. His study d n a k s de found that a worker standing and typing ount sured the am sed used 84 calories an hour, 13 per cent more than someone sitting and typing (73 of energy u g calories/hour), and 16 per cent more than standing, sittin a person who is lying down (71 calon w o d g n i y l d n ries/hour), reports Stuff.co.nz . The extra a . g n i k r o calories burnt, combined with the increase w e l i wh in movement for standing workers, meant their weight would drop rather than increase during the year. According to Schofield, standing for long periods can even avert the production of the enzymes that trigger type 2 diabetes.
Balance Proteins
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Sleeping pill users
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A diet containing just the right mix of proteins may be more important than reducing calories for a long and healthy life, according to new study on fruit flies. According to researchers, the study could help explain why 'dietary restriction' (also known as calorie restriction) - reducing food intake whilst maintaining sufficient quantities of vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients - appears to have health benefits. In many organisms, such as the fruit fly (drosophila), mice, rats and the Rhesus monkey, these benefits include living longer. Previous studies have shown that dietary restriction can have health benefits for humans, too, though it is unclear whether it can increase longevity. However, dietary restriction can have potentially negative side effect - diminished fertility. For example, the female fruit fly reproduces less frequently on a low calorie diet and its litter size is reduced, though its reproductive span lasts longer. To understand whether the health benefits of dietary restriction stem from a reduction in specific nutrients or in calorie intake in general, researchers at the Institute of Healthy Ageing, UCL (University College London), mea-
January, 2011
sured the effects of manipulating the diet of female fruit flies. The fruit flies were fed a diet of yeast, sugar and water, but with differing amounts of key nutrients, such as vitamins, lipids and amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of life as they form the basis of proteins. Methionine is one of the most important amino acids at it is essential to the formation of all proteins. The researchers found that varying the amount of amino acids in the mixture affected lifespan and fertility; varying the amount of the other nutrients had little or no effect. In fact, when the researchers studied the effect further, they found that levels of a particular amino acid known as methionine were crucial to maximising lifespan without decreasing fertility. Adding methionine to low calorie diet boosted fertility without reducing lifespan; likewise, reducing methionine content in a high calorie diet prolonged lifespan. "By carefully manipulating the balance of amino acids in the diet, we have been able to maximise both lifespan and fertility," said Dr Matthew Piper, one of the study authors. The results of the study are published today in the journal Nature .
How can you Live without it
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Skin Care
he skin is the outer covering of the body. In humans, it is the largest organ of the protection system made up of multiple layers of epithelial tissues, and guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments and internal organs. Skin of a different nature exists in amphibians, reptiles and birds. Human skin is not unlike that of most other mammals except that it is not protected by a pelt and appears hairless though in fact nearly all human skin is covered with hair follicles.Make Up Most women of the modern age manage both career and family. In the case of people living in the city, skin gets exposed to lot of pollution and the rate of damage is higher than ever. If you are so beauty cautious, you need to take steps to protect your skin. So you need a follow some easy skin care regimens. The precise skin care products for the exact skin will always give you better results and keep your skin from damage. A skin toner or a moisturizer will refresh your skin. Moisturizing creams provide intense moisturizing and helps prevents skin from becoming dry. A day moisturizer that is light on the skin as well as one with sun protection is of a better use. A night moisturizer is well when it can recharge your skin for a better appearance. A generous amount of cream over your hands will keep them soft and adorable. Its very obvious that skin gets tanned up at the Make Upexposure of the sun, a skin protection glove over your hands or masking will help protect your skin color. Diet also matters a lot in your skin color process, so a proportionate and a balanced diet will always give better results on the outlook of your skin.