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A lot of people scoff at the idea of fasting; they see it as a form of starving yourself. Fasting does not have to be extreme and it can actually provide a number of health benefits. The following are four things you should know about intermittent fasting: 1. What is Intermittent Fasting? Intermittent fasting is the practice of not eating anything for an extended period of time. This period of time can be as little as 12 hours, although some people even fast for as many as 24 hours. 2. Is Intermittent Fasting Beneficial to Your Health? Numerous studies have found that intermittent fasting can be beneficial. For example, the way you eat can affect your sleep-wake cycle (also known as your circadian rhythm). This means that intermittent fasting could potentially help to improve your sleep cycles. Getting good sleep is essential for both your physical and mental health. 3. How Does Fasting Affect Your Body? Although most Americans aren’t starving, humans (and animals in general) don’t always have access to food, especially in times of hardship. The body naturally adapts to a lack of food through certain metabolic changes. For example, if you’re not consuming enough glucose, your liver will create ketones from fatty acids that your body will use as an emergency energy source. 4. How Can Fasting Promote Your Physical Health? One of the ways that intermittent fasting can help improve your health is through a process called autophagy. When practicing intermittent fasting, your body will begin a self-detoxification process in which old and damaged cells are broken down and recycled. This helps to promote cellular replenishment in tissues, such as your skeletal muscle. For more information about maintaining a healthy diet, continue visiting us at The Benefits Store. #diet #dietforhealth #intermittentfasting

Why is Protein So Important? Every cell in your body requires protein because protein builds and repairs tissues. Proteins are also used to produce enzymes, hormones, and other chemicals your body needs. They are important building blocks for your muscles, bones, skin, blood, and cartilage. So why do bodybuilders consume so many protein shakes and bars? It’s because, in order to build muscle, you have to break it down so that the body can repair it (and make it stronger). That process requires a lot of protein. Why Should You Cut Down on Protein Shakes? A new study was recently published in Nature Metabolism: Even though BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids) can help build muscle, they have their share of drawbacks. For example, not only can consuming BCAAs negatively impact your mood and cause weight gain, but consuming too much can also reduce your lifespan. This is especially true if your diet is high in protein but low in carbohydrates. The better course of action is to vary your protein sources to get a variety of amino acids into your diet. For example, red meats, chicken, fish, eggs, beans, nuts, lentils, and more are healthier choices. Learn More About Maintaining a Healthy Diet A healthy diet is essential to maintaining good health. For more diet-related advice and to stay up-to-date on the latest health-related news, be sure to keep visiting us at The Benefits Store.

How Exercise Can Prevent Cartilage Damage The study revealed that exercise causes the cells in one’s joints to experience mechanical forces that help to suppress the action of inflammatory molecules, which is what leads to osteoarthritis. When a person exercises, the cartilage in their joints are squashed. This mechanical distortion is identified by living cells within the cartilage. These cells block the action of inflammatory molecules as a result. The study revealed that the anti-inflammatory effect caused by exercise is the result of the activation of HDAC6, which is a type of protein. When the HDAC6 is activated, it triggers a change in the proteins that form the primary cilia, which are tiny hair-like structures found on living cells. While there are certain pharmaceutical drugs that block the activation of HDAC6, thereby preventing the anti-inflammatory effects of exercise, there are other treatments available that can have the opposite effect, thereby mimicking the positive effects of exercise. Anyone living with arthritis should exercise as a way to prevent their cartilage from degenerating, as this recent study, which was published in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, has shown. The study also backs the fact that exercise has anti-inflammatory effects on the arteries’ normal blood flow, helping to prevent arterial diseases, including aneurysms and atherosclerosis. The results of the recently published study suggest that a new therapeutic approach called mechano-medicine could help treat conditions such as arthritis. Mechano-medicine would involve the use of drugs that simulate the effect of physical activity to help prevent cartilage damage. For all the latest information about advances in arthritis treatment or for health news in general, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today. #exercise #livingwitharthritis #preventcartilagedamage

Brain Research Involving Neural Activity Syncing Most neuroscience research that has been done involving the brain has been focused on the brain in isolation. Yet human beings are immensely social creatures. Very little is actually known about how the human brain performs social learning. As a result, scientists are looking for ways to understand brain function in a social context. The study recently presented at the CNS focused on how mothers responded toward novel toys in an emotional manner, and how those responses affected how their infants reacted to the toys. Both the mothers and their infants wore wireless EEG technology. Scientists would then record the brainwaves from each device as mothers reacted emotionally to one toy and how the infants reacted in response. For example, a mother would pick up a toy, frown, and state she didn’t like the toy. The infant would then be allowed to choose what toy to play with. According to the data collected, the infants would be more likely to respond based on how their mothers reacted. The study shows the neural activity of infants and their mothers are connected and how important it is to begin looking at the brain in a more social context. Learn more about the human brain and stay up to date on all health news by visiting us at The Benefits Store. #BrainResearch

Although there is no cure, a recent advancement in the study of seizures was made when it was found that dogs could identify the odor of a seizure. The potential use of seizure alert dogs could help researchers figure out ways to prevent seizures before they happen. The Potential of Seizure Alert Dogs There is enough evidence to indicate dogs have the ability to sniff out seizures before they happen; however, it’s unclear what exactly dogs are smelling. It could mean the subtle changes in how a person is behaving triggers a dog’s response. Whatever it is could lead to more knowledge about the seizures themselves and how to prevent them. At the very least, a person with epilepsy could seek a safe place when alerted by a seizure alert dog. A Study on Dogs and Seizures Scientists recently conducted a study. They took body fluid samples from several subjects with epilepsy, using subjects not experiencing a seizure, exercising, and in the midst of a seizure. They gave these samples to five different dogs trained to identify a range of diseases. All five dogs were able to identify the sample that was taken from a subject in the midst of a seizure. The study shows that there is something specific that dogs are able to sniff out that indicates a seizure is occurring or about to occur. Seizure alert dogs can help scientists identify a specific chemical signature which could lead to important advancements in treating epilepsy. For more health news, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #Seizurealertdogs

Study Focused on Diet Versus Exercise People who lose weight often have a difficult time keeping it off for a long period of time. The study, which was conducted at the AHWC (Anschutz Health and Wealth Center) at the University of Colorado, was published in Obesity. The study found that physical activity helped people maintain weight loss much more effectively than chronically restricting their energy intake through a diet. The study involved subjects who had maintained the loss of 30 pounds or more for more than a year. It revealed some of the following information about diet versus exercise: Weight loss maintainers burned more calories every day than those who had normal body weight controls. Weight loss maintainers burned more calories in physical activity than overweight/obese individuals or individuals who had normal body weight. Weight loss maintainers consumed a similar amount of calories every day compared to overweight/obese individuals. The study was performed by measuring the total daily energy expenditure by collecting urine samples after providing subjects with water in which the hydrogen and the oxygen atoms are removed. An uncommon isotope of these elements is then added in their place. The resting metabolic rate of the subjects was also measured to figure out how much energy was used at rest compared to how much was used up as a result of physical activity. Both Diet and Exercise Are Important Maintaining a healthy diet is still important when it comes to maintaining one’s health; however, the recently published study revealed that exercise, in particular, will help keep off the weight a person has lost. For more weight loss related news, visit us at The Benefits Store today.

Here are 5 facts about brain health: The brain is always developing – Unlike the body, which stops growing in your late teens, the brain tends to keep developing throughout the 20s and will continue to change throughout your lifetime. The brain is fully functioning – There’s a popular misconception that humans only use 10 percent of their brains. This is simply not true; every part of your brain is functioning. The brain is full of neurons – Brains have over 100 billion neurons that process information. These neurons are referred to as “gray matter.” Studies have shown that children who were taught a second language before the age of five tend to develop denser gray matter in adulthood. The brain needs oxygen – Your entire body needs oxygen to run properly, but the brain needs a significant amount. In fact, 20 percent of the oxygen you inhale is used by the brain. Alcohol hurts the brain’s ability to function – This might seem obvious seeing as how the more alcohol you drink, the more impaired you become. Information travels at incredible speeds through the brain; it’s why we are able to form thoughts and execute actions so quickly. The brain processes information at roughly 268 miles per hour. When you drink alcohol, the speed at which information travels through your brain slows considerably. Learn more about your brain’s health and professional health advice by visiting us at The Benefits Store today. #brainhealthbrainawareness

Common causes of poisoning include household cleaning products, cosmetics, painkillers, and certain medications. Here are a few household safety tips that can help with preventing poisonings in your home: Keep food separate from poisonous items – This ensures that children don’t mistake anything that might be poisonous as food. Keep indoor plants out of reach – Younger children can and do put anything in their mouths. Some indoor plants can be poisonous if ingested, which is why you need to place them out of reach if you have kids. Keep poisonous items away from children – Make sure medicine is kept in cabinets that have locks or childproof latches on them. Any detergents or chemical products should be kept out of sight and out of reach. Even when storing them on the top shelf of your garage, keep toxics locked up – children have a habit of climbing. Put everything back – Once you’ve used something that might be poisonous, such as a medication, a cosmetic item or cleaning product, make sure you return it to its place. Safely discard poisonous items – All cleaning products, old medications, cosmetics, etc. should be sealed and taken to an outdoor trash can. Don’t just toss them into the nearest wastebasket where a child can access them. Store poisonous items in original containers – This ensures that even adults won’t get confused over what they’re taking and take something dangerous. Be sure to follow these safety tips for preventing poisoning in your home. If someone has been poisoned, call the National Poison Control Hotline, 1-800-222-1222 for assistance. For more health tips, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #preventingpoisoningpoisonprevention

High Blood Pressure Treatment Program A study was performed in which patients with hypertension were given at-home BP (blood pressure) measuring devices. When they measured their blood pressure, the Bluetooth-enabled device would transmit the information automatically into their electronic medical records. The medications these patients were prescribed were then adjusted on a biweekly interval, based on their weekly average blood pressure. Out of all of the participants, 81% of those enrolled and 91 percent of those that regularly measured their blood pressure at home reached their blood pressure goals within an average of seven weeks. The study showed patients with high blood pressure can potentially be treated more effectively as long as they regularly measure their own blood pressure while at home. Of course, in addition to taking their prescribed medications, there are other steps needed to lower and maintain a healthy blood pressure. Reducing and Treating High Blood Pressure at Home The following are a few tips for reducing your blood pressure and maintaining healthy blood pressure. They can also make treating high blood pressure at home more effective. Eat healthy – High cholesterol levels result in high blood pressure, so make sure you eat good foods and lower bad fats. Reduce the sodium in your diet as well. Exercise – Even if you aren’t overweight, exercising can help lower your blood pressure. Lose weight – Blood pressure tends to increase as weight increases. If you’re overweight, you need to lose weight by eating healthier and exercising regularly. Manage stress – Stress leads to high blood pressure. Reduce unhealthy activities – Quit smoking and limit how much alcohol you drink. High blood pressure is something you can treat at home. For more health tips, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today. #HighBloodPressure #Treatinghighbloodpressure

Sleeping-In on the Weekend Won’t Help A study was recently conducted at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. It focused on whether or not weekend catch-up sleep is protective. It turns out that even if you sleep longer on the weekends in an attempt to make up loss of sleep during the week, you’re more likely to eat too much and to gain weight as a result. The problem is that sleeping extra hours on the weekend to try to make up for the lack of sleep you got during the week won’t correct your body’s inability to regulate blood sugar. And if you’re not getting enough sleep during the week in the first place, then you’re probably doing things that could hurt your health long-term, such as overeating. Lack of Sleep Can Hurt Your Health The Johns Hopkins study involved 35 subjects divided into three groups. Each group had different sleep requirements over the course of a 10-day period. None of these subjects had health issues or newborns that could impact their sleep. The first group was allowed nine hours of sleep each night. The second group was allowed five hours of sleep a night. The third group was allowed to sleep five hours a night during the week, but was given the chance to sleep as long as they wanted during the weekend. Both sleep-deprived groups ate more after dinner and gained weight following the study, despite one of those groups being allowed to catch up on sleep during the weekend. People eat more when they are sleep deprived because their bodies are burning more calories. Sleeping-in during the weekends won’t help if you’re not getting enough sleep during the week. For more health news, visit The Benefits Store today. #GettingEnoughSleep #sleep #SleepAwareness #sleepingin

A muscular physique has always been something that people wanted and worked for. People go to the gym every day to build muscle, and historically, people have admired those with muscular physiques. However, it turns out that having a muscular physique isn’t just beneficial in terms of how you look, but it could also protect you against cancer. How Muscle Mass Can Benefit the Fight Against Cancer Researchers from Osaka University in Japan recently published a study in Scientific Reports focusing on sarcopenia, a disease that causes the loss of skeletal muscle mass. The study revealed that sarcopenia is associated with poor response to treatments for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (referred to as programmed death inhibitors, or PD-1 inhibitors). PD-1 inhibitors are a new class of drugs that work along with the immune systems of patients to increase their ability to attack cancer cells. For those PD-1 inhibitors to be effective, the patient must have a strong immune system. One of the current challenges involved with their use is that only a specific subset of patients experienced long-term, progression-free survival rates. One of the risk factors associated with poor outcomes for a number of different types of cancer is sarcopenia. This is because a dysregulated immune system leads to muscle degradation. The study focused on the medical results of 42 subjects with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. They were treated with PD-1 inhibitors and had undergone a skeletal muscle mass assessment before being treated. It turned out that patients that had sarcopenia before starting treatment had much worse outcomes than those without sarcopenia. The study basically revealed the baseline skeletal muscle mass of an individual has a big impact on how effective PD-1 inhibitors are against cancer. Unfortunately, muscle degradation is common in patients with advanced cancer, but there are drugs that could help increase skeletal muscle mass prior to treatment. Advancements in cancer research are being made every day. Keep up-to-date on all the latest health news at The Benefits Store. #cancer #cancertreatment

There are many types of eating disorders and not all of them result in the individual looking emaciated. Keeping this in mind, here are 5 facts that can give you a better understanding of eating disorders and how they may affect you: You can still be close to or even above your ideal body weight and suffer from an eating disorder. Patients who suffer from Bulimia Nervosa often appear to be at a healthy weight. However, they may be engaging in bingeing and purging behaviors. If they are constantly going to the bathroom following a meal, this may be a sign they are vomiting what they have just eaten. The main cause of eating disorders is body dissatisfaction. A person who might be suffering from an eating disorder will often spend an inordinate amount of time looking at themselves in the mirror, may make frequent negative comments about their physical appearance, and will insist they are overweight even if they aren’t. A disruption in normal eating patterns in a person can indicate they have an eating disorder. Common disruptions include: bingeing certain foods consuming excessive amounts of appetite suppressants developing a strong dislike for foods previously enjoyed drinking too much water and/or coffee eating smaller portions than usual no longer eating with others Individuals with eating disorders often develop eating rituals, such as moving their food around their plate, chewing for a long time before swallowing, cutting their food into smaller pieces, and taking much longer to eat. These rituals are meant to make it look like they are eating when, in fact, they are not. Eating disorders can be accompanied by: dental erosions hair loss irregular menstrual cycles low blood pressure and pulse low energy vulnerability to upper respiratory infections These are five facts about eating disorders you should know. For more health tips, visit us at The Benefits Store.