Exercising in natural surroundings — a jog through a park, a bicycle ride along a trail — could be more beneficial than working out indoors, a new review suggests. However, access to natural areas that are public varies widely, with not everyone having the chance to exercise outdoors, the investigators noted. “The research is clear… read on > read on >
All Do It Herself:
About 1 in 6 U.S. Adults Practice Yoga
Nearly 1 in every 6 U.S. adults have engaged in the ancient practice of yoga over the past year, new government data shows. In fact, as Americans increasingly turn to alternative or complementary health approaches, “the largest increases [have been] in the practice of yoga,” noted researchers Nazik Elgaddal and Julie Weeks. They’re with the… read on > read on >
Exercise at One Time of Day Might Be Best for Blood Sugar Control
Folks trying to control their blood sugar levels might do best to work out in the evening, a new study suggests. Exercise performed between 6 p.m. and midnight appeared to be better at controlling blood sugar levels all day long, according to results published June 10 in the journal Obesity. This was particularly true of… read on > read on >
Moving Off the Couch Brings Healthy Aging: Study Finds Benefit
It’s tempting to binge-watch TV, but yet another study finds that when it comes to healthy aging, the less time on your sofa, the better. The study looked at 20 years of data on more than 45,000 people taking part in the Nurses’ Health Study. All were at least age 50 in 1992 and free… read on > read on >
Lifestyle Changes May Slow or Prevent Alzheimer’s in People at High Risk
New research shows that a set of healthy lifestyle habits can help preserve brain function in folks with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia. About 71% of patients who ate healthy, exercised regularly and engaged in stress management had their dementia symptoms either remain stable or improve without the use of any drugs, researchers reported… read on > read on >
Have High Blood Pressure? Weekly Workout May Lower Risk to Your Brain
Vigorous exercise more than once a week can lower the risk of dementia for people with high blood pressure, a new clinical trial shows. People who engaged each week in vigorous physical activity had lower rates of mild cognitive impairment and dementia despite their high blood pressure, according to results published June 6 in Alzheimer’s… read on > read on >
Could Tough Workouts Trigger a Hot Flash?
While going through menopause, many women who gain weight head to the gym for intense workouts, but new research suggests that too much exercise may help trigger another side effect: hot flashes. In a report published May 29 in the journal Menopause, investigators found that working out too vigorously may raise the risk hot flashes.… read on > read on >
Even a Small Urban Garden Can Boost Your Microbiome
A small urban garden can contribute to your health, especially if the garden contains rich soil, a new study shows. A one-month indoor gardening period increased the bacterial diversity of participants’ skin and appeared to improve their response to inflammation, researchers found. Growing, harvesting and consuming food produced in an urban garden every day could… read on > read on >
‘Moving Forward’: Battling Parkinson’s, He’s Rowing His Way to Paralympic Games
For decades, Todd Vogt has been dedicated to the sport of rowing, believing he was in peak physical condition. Then, a series of symptoms began to emerge, turning his life upside down. “My left arm stopped swinging, and I felt incredibly fatigued,” Vogt, 49, recalled. “Eventually, a tremor developed in my hand, and I slowly… read on > read on >
Tracking Exercise by Steps or Minutes? Study Finds Either Method Boosts Health
Some folks like to count their daily steps, while others prefer exercising for a certain amount of time during a day or a week. Luckily, either approach boosts health, a new study finds. Exercise targets based on either step count or minutes are equally associated with lower risks of premature death and heart disease, researchers… read on > read on >