Health News: Get On Your Feet

Take Off Your Shoes!

Walking barefoot decrease the pressure on your knees by as much as 12 percent, which is great news for the 27 million older Americans who have osteoarthritis. —Rush Medical College, Chicago

Fib No More

Turns out those harmless little white lies might not be so harm-less. Scientists studying brain scans of the amygdala, the region of the brain that responds to unpleasant emotions, found that the area became desensitized with each successive fib. Researchers theorize that the more we lie, the less the brain responds, priming people to tell whoppers with ease. —Nature Neuroscience

One in three

The number of kids in the U.S. ages 2 to 19 who eat fast food daily. —Centers for Disease Control

Dress with Care

Time to banish the blue cheese and instead grab the vinegar when dressing your greens. A recent study found that people with type-2 diabetes had lower blood sugar levels if they consumed about 2 tablespoons of vinegar right before they ate a high-carb meal. —Arizona State University

23,000

The number of emergency room visits each year caused by the adverse health effects of dietary supplements. —New England Journal of Medicine

7 to 9

The number of hours of daily sleep recommended for adults ages 26 to 64. —National Sleep Foundation

Wandering Minds

The next time someone suggests that you should stop daydreaming, ignore him or her. Research shows that letting your mind wander during the workday may actually boost your on-the-job performance. Apparently, this “rest” allows you to tackle challenging tasks more effectively. —The Journal of Neuroscience

What's for Breakfast?

Whatever it is, eat up. Research shows that folks who skip breakfast are 30 percent more likely to be obese. —American Heart Association

Dodging Dementia

Dementia is declining: some 8.8 percent of adults older than age 65 have it, but that’s a decrease from 11.1 percent in 2000. Researchers posit that the good news is the result of people’s improved heart health. In addition, there’s been an increase in average education levels, and studies suggest that education might help protect against the disease. —JAMA

“Joint pain in the lower extremities can prevent seniors from jogging or walking for exercise. Low-impact exercises such as swimming or the use of a stationary bike can burn fat and maintain cardiovascular health without causing discomfort.” —Wayne Berberian, M.D., chief, Foot and Ankle Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center