2010 February | Health & Wellness

BPA Increases Children’s Risk of Asthma

plasticbottlesbpa BPA Increases Childrens Risk of Asthma More bad news about BPA: a recent study finds that Bisphenol-A (BPA) exposure could be linked to allergic asthma. And, scientists note that the timing of when BPA started being used in plastics and canned goods coincides with increasing asthma rates in the United States.

The initial findings do require more evaluation, but the connection is the latest in a string of problems associated with the chemical including heart disease, breast cancer and obesity.

The FDA recently recommended steps to reduce BPA exposure that include discarding worn or damaged baby bottles and feeding cups, heating food and drink in BPA-free containers, and checking labels to ensure containers are dishwasher and microwave-safe.

Gloss Find: ShaToBu – The Workout You Wear

shatobu1 227x300 Gloss Find: ShaToBu The Workout You Wear I test a LOT of shapewear over here — pretty much every product that claims to suck in and hide unsightly bumps has made it across my desk. Most do the trick — some better than others — but I was intrigued by ShaToBu, a new shaping product that promises to not only smooth out our hips, belly, and behind, but also help tone and burn calories at the same time.

shatobu2 Gloss Find: ShaToBu The Workout You Wear Named after what it does — Shape, Tone, Burn — the products were created by a chiropractor, Dr. Denise Perron, who wanted to combine the benefits of good posture and resistance training with comfort and fashion. Using strategically placed resistance bands, the shaper makes muscles work harder during everyday movements — though so subtle you can’t really feel the difference — to burn more calories.

How many calories more can you burn? According to Dr. Perron, ShaToBu burns up to 12% more calories — or 30,000 extra calories per year — which adds up to about 5 – 8 pounds of potential weight loss.

I’ve been wearing the High Waist to Knee shaper a few days a week for about a month and the biggest benefit I’ve seen is in my posture. The shaper not only holds everything was hidden in, but also forces me to sit up straight without discomfort. And, if I’ll end up losing 5 pounds this year as a result? Even better!

ShaToBu – available in Waist to Knee ($50) and High Waist to Knee ($60) in black or nude at ShaToBu.com

Low-Carb Diet Increases Bad Cholesterol Levels

carbs 300x217 Low Carb Diet Increases Bad Cholesterol Levels Cutting carbs can help dieters lose weight, but a new study finds that it also increases “bad” cholestrol levels…possibly doing more harm than good.

Researchers at the University of Colorado found that people who ate a diet low in carbohydrates but relatively high in fat lost the same amount of weight over a six week period as those who consumed a high-carb diet, but the LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels increased significantly among low-carbers. Conversely, those who consumed higher carbs saw their LDL levels decrease.

“The data suggests that a high-fat diet may have adverse metabolic effects during active weight loss,” Teri Hernandez, lead author of the study, concluded.

You Snooze, You…Win?

nap 300x199 You Snooze, You...Win? A new study finds that Spaniards may be onto something with their siestas…because an afternoon nap better prepares the brain to remember things. Likening a nap to rebooting your computer — your brain works more smoothly after a fresh start.

“Sleep is not just for the body. It’s very much for the brain,” said lead researcher Matthew Walker, an assistant professor at the University of California at Berkeley, who studied about 40 young adults and tested their memory. Half the group napped in the afternoon for about 100 minutes — and they performed 10% better on a memory test the whole group took in the late afternoon.

“This is further evidence that sleep plays a critical role in the processing of memories,” Walker said. “It provides more evidence that it’s not just important to sleep after learning, but you need it before learning to prepare the brain for laying down information.”

The Newest Super Nutrient: Vitamin D

vitamind 300x202 The Newest Super Nutrient: Vitamin D I hadn’t heard all the buzz about Vitamin D and its superpowers, until an annual physical (for which I was 3 years overdue…oops) today where the nurse informed me that included in my blood workup, would be a test for Vitamin D deficiencies. After talking to my doctor and then researching Vitamin D online, I learned that the primary nutrient is linked to bone health, weight loss and most recently, it was found to possibly kill breast cancer cells.

JoEllen Welsh, a researcher with the State University of New York at Albany, has been studying Vitamin D for over two decades and found that treating breast cancer cells with the vitamin has the same effect as breast cancer drugs: it kills up to half of the cancer cells.

“What happens is that vitamin D enters the cells and triggers the cell death process,” she told Good Morning America. “It’s similar to what we see when we treat cells with [breast cancer drug] Tamoxifen.”

And, Vitamin D also aids in weight loss. Another group of researchers recently measured blood levels of vitamin D in38 obese patients prior to and following an 11-week diet that contained about 750 less calories per day than the participants needed to maintain their weight. They found is that those with higher levels of Vitamin D in their blood lost more weight.

So how can you take advantage of this apparent super nutrient? First, have your doctor check for a deficiency. If you aren’t making enough Vitamin D, spend a little more time in the sun (as in 15 – 20 minutes a day) or take a 2,000 IU supplement. Always check with a doctor first, of course.

A New Meaning for ‘Runway’: High Style on the Treadmill

lucy1 A New Meaning for Runway: High Style on the Treadmill Like everyone else in the known free world, last month I made a resolution to kick start a new fitness plan with the goal of adding some tone to my shapeless, spaghetti-arm physique. A relative stranger to the gym, I armed myself with a playlist full of Lady GaGa, determined to break my lifelong streak and actually stick to an exercise regimen for longer than a week.

It’s no secret that a killer outfit can add tons of confidence, whether it’s a slinky black cocktail dress or sporty activewear. My usual workout outfit of high school-era nylon Adidas pants and an old cotton tee was severely lacking so I made the switch to a real activewear ensemble – lucy’s high-tech Vital Jacket ($78) and Impact Knee Pant ($58), and was surprised by how much the sleek black combo made me feel the part of a habitual gym rat. Once I slipped on the “active chic” zip-up and cropped running pants, I was a regular with a running tab at the juice bar, “my” elliptical machine and a prime spot in kickbox cardio class. I had gone Method, Daniel Day-Lewis style.

lucy’s theory is that when you look good, you feel good. And when you feel good, you’ll push yourself that extra mile, which is why they inject their high-tech activewear with a dose of on-trend style for a fashionable alternative to sweat pants and old t-shirts. My sorry old getup made me feel self-conscious but now I felt like a cardio champ who blows off steam at the gym when I’m not hiking up Los Angeles’ Runyon Canyon or training for that marathon. Just a quick glance in the mirror was all I needed to keep huffing it for another few minutes or so.

So will these lucy outfits get me out of bed when all I want to do is sleep in that morning? And kick my behind when I’m lagging during a run or force me to put down that extra slice of pizza? Doubtful. But with their high-tech innovations like moisture-wicking fabric and the new collection of classic pant styles like the Power Pant II, $78 and Cardio II Knee Pant, $68 (available in short, regular and tall lengths) made with lucy Powermax™ for maximum compression, moisture management and four-way stretch, they’ll help me run that extra mile at my best capability. And with their stylish, fashion-focused designs, at least I know I’ll look good doing it.
More lucy Favorites:

The ruffled Final Round Hoodie – $98

The Criss-Cross Tank II – $58

The Spa Hoodie – $48

The Walk-About Pant – $68

For more information, visit www.lucy.com

Kettlebell Workouts: Burn Calories, Fat Faster

kettlebell Kettlebell Workouts: Burn Calories, Fat Faster We’ve been fans of Kettlebell workouts for years — the old-school Russian weights and training techniques have become a hot Hollywood trend because they combine the benefits of strength training, muscle conditioning and aerobic exercise, all in one workout.

And, a new study finds that kettlebell training burns more fat and calories than average workouts.

After following 10 men and women who workout out with kettlebells for a 20-minute period, researchers found that on average, they burned about 20 calories per minute — or 400 calories — during the typical 20-minute kettlebell workout which involves rhythmic swinging and lifting exercises. That burn rate is equivalent to running a six-minute mile or cross-country skiing uphill at a fast pace.

“This is good news for people who are looking for a very good resistance-training workout that will also help them lose weight,” says researcher Chad Schnettler of the University of Wisconsin’s La Crosse Exercise and Health Program. “For people who may not have a lot of time, and need to get in a workout as quickly as possible, kettlebells definitely provide that.”

Red Wine, Dark Chocolate Kill Cancer

redwinechocolate1 199x300 Red Wine, Dark Chocolate Kill Cancer Even though we knew that red wine and dark chocolate have health benefits, a new study finds that the two are actually potent medicine for killing cancer.

In addition to blueberries, garlic and some teas, Angiogenesis Foundation leader William Li told attendees at the TED Conference in California that red wine and dark chocolate also have cancer-fighting qualities.

“What we eat is really our chemotherapy three times a day,” he said. The foods appear to cut off the blood supply to tumors and quite literally starve them to death. The Foundation went as far as to say that certain foods — like soy, parsley and red grapes — are as effective if not more than FDA approved drugs in battling cancer cells.

So, this Valentine’s Day, indulge in a nice glass of Cabernet and some chocolates without the guilt!