Health News: Friendly Bacteria
Seaworthy Cancer Fighter
Poisonous ocean bacteria are now being used to treat certain types of prostate cancer. Doctors inject a drug laced with the marine microorganisms into the prostate, where they unleash their toxicity and kill cancer cells. —The Lancet
Weekend Warriors Win
In a study of nearly 64,000 people age 40 and up, those who crammed 150 minutes of exercise into two days got the same health benefits as those who spread their routines over the week. Sure, they might have a greater risk of injury than their daily fitness brethrens but they were 30 percent less likely than non-exercisers to die from cancer or heart disease. —JAMA
*“Getting maximum results in minimum time is definitely possible. Research indicates that shorter, more intense workouts (called high-intensity interval training or HIIT) are more effective at burning calories than high-volume, low-intensity exercise. HIIT also causes post-exercise oxygen consumption or EPOC—the more intense the training, the more oxygen your body consumes after exercise.” —Michael Ardizzone, certified personal trainer, Retro Fitness, Paramus
Breathe Easy
Taking a fish oil supplement containing 17-HDHA daily can cut asthma risk. Why? This type of omega-3 poly7unsaturated fatty acid was shown to reduce production of IgE, an antibody that triggers asthma. —University of Rochester Medical Center
Tidy Up
Women working in a messy kitchen scarfed nearly twice as many cookies as those in a tidy one, according to research. A disorganized environment is linked to increased stress and weakened willpower. —Cornell University
Focus on Eating
When it’s mealtime, don’t think about multitasking, such as working, chatting on the phone and watching Netflix. Studies show that eating while distracted causes you to consume more food—50 percent more. So be single-minded when dining. —Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Berry the Pounds
The resveratrol in strawberries, raspberries and blueberries works to turn flabby white fat into calorie-burning beige fat, making it easier to lose weight. —Washington State University
Put a Chill on Self Control
People who held a cold object fared better on a test measuring self-control than those who held a warm object. Colder temps are thought to be linked to alertness. —Psychological Research
Nap for Brain Health
People who took a 60- to 90-minute nap after lunch every day had better brain function than those who took shorter naps, longer naps or no naps at all. This was reported after studying nearly 3,000 people age 65 and older. —Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
10
The number of harmful chemicals found in indoor dust. —George Washington University
