Why sitting is bad for your health

http://uk.health.lifestyle.yahoo.net/Why-sitting-is-bad-for-your-health.htm
Wed 11 May, 2011 09:00 am BST

HEALTH

A modern health hazard

© Gert Vrey - Fotolia.com

The average adult is recommended to get a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise and eight hours of sleep per day. That leaves 15 and a half hours free, and more and more people are choosing to spend that time at their desk.

But today's sedentary lifestyle is actually worse for your body than you might think. Spending too much time sitting without a break can have an adverse effect on your heart and your waistline. In fact, research shows it can be as bad for your health as not getting enough exercise.

A study published in January found that those who spend more than four hours a day in front of a screen were more than twice as likely to have a major cardiac event resulting in hospitalization or even death compared to those who got less than two hours screen time.

The higher mortality rate associated with prolonged periods of sitting is independent of low levels of physical activity or other traditional risk factors. It is thought that sitting down for too long can also harm your metabolism, although exactly how this happens is still unclear.

Worst of all, too much sitting still can be bad for your health, even if you exercise regularly.

A new study from the University of South Carolina found that men who sat for more than 23 hours every week were 64 per cent more likely to die from heart disease than those who sat for less than 11 hours a week. Many of the men in the study exercised routinely.

The USC researchers say that one of the reasons sitting is so bad for you is because your large muscle groups, such as those in your legs and back, are not contracting like they would if you were up and moving.

The same researchers also found that sitting can contribute to bad levels of cholesterol, blood sugar, triglycerides and waist size, all of which can lead to problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

"We just aren't really structured to be sitting for such long periods of time, and when we do that, our body just kind of goes into shutdown," said Toni Yancey of the University of California Los Angeles.

But Yancey also said that it is possible to combat the effects of a sedentary lifestyle.

Occasional, short breaks – even just standing up for a few minutes every hour – have been found to significantly improve the health of the sitting person. She also said that sitting on an exercise ball can help a person use more of their muscles while sitting.

Moving around the office at work can also help. Standing up and going for coffee or lunch is far better than having it at your desk. Take the stairs at work, rather than the lift or escalator, and get up to speak to a work colleague at their desk instead of e-mailing them.

Your best solution, though, might be to get out of your chair and away from the computer as much as you can. There's plenty to be done on your feet – so what are you waiting for?

Top 5 most addictive foods

http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/diet-fitness/5-addictive-foods-article-ulrb.html

Realbuzz - Friday, 6 May 2011 09:56 BST

DIET & FITNESS

While we all know about the dangers of alcohol, drugs and cigarettes, did you know that you could become addicted to your favourite food? From withdrawal symptoms to changes in brain chemistry, our snacks have surprising ways of keeping us wanting more. Here is our guide to five of the world’s most addictive foods.

Chocolate

Many people claim to be chocoholics, but can you really be addicted to chocolate? The answer is... perhaps. One reason many people feel "addicted" to chocolate is that the food's chemical compounds (including theobromine, phenyethylamine, anandamide and tryptophan) actually have pleasure-inducing effects that can mimic the effects of drugs on the brain. Chocolate also contains alkaloids(tetrahydro-beta-carbolines) which are present in alcohol and have been linked to alcoholism.

However - before you go booking yourself into Chocoholics Anonymous - it is important to note that many researchers have pointed out that the chemicals in chocolate also exist in other foods which most of us do not crave. It has also been suggested that the chemicals in chocolate are not in high enough doses to lead to addiction. Regardless, it is impossible to deny that chocolate is one of the world's most-craved foods - whether this is due to psychological reasons or a physical addiction.

Cheese

From pizzas to cheeseburgers, cheese is a staple of many widely-craved junk foods, but there could be more to our cravings than we think. Various studies have discovered the presence of opiates - including the highly addictive morphine - in the popular dairy product.

While the amounts of morphine in cheese are very small and probably not enough to cause addiction, some researchers have expressed concern about its levels of casein (the main protein in cheese) which produces morphine-like opiate compounds called casomorphins during digestion. On top of this, cheese also contains phenylethylamine, a substance with stimulant effects which is thought to give consumers a natural "high", and which is reputed to have addictive qualities.

Sugar

We all know that sugar is bad for our health but, according to numerous studies, it can also be addictive. Studies have suggested that when we eat sugar, chemicals called opioids are released by the brain, which leads to an intense feeling of pleasure. It is this feeling that people may crave in the absence of sugar.

A study by psychologists at Princeton University investigated sugar addiction by studying its effect on rats. They discovered that after rats were fed a diet high in sugar, they experienced symptoms similar to those produced by drug withdrawal when the sugar was withdrawn, including shaking and changes in brain chemistry. The study therefore concluded what other researchers have also suggested; that it is possible to become severely dependent on sugar.

Burgers and other processed meat

Numerous researchers and studies have suggested that fatty, processed junk food such as burgers may actually be addictive. According to Professor David Kessler - an ex-commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration and author of The End of Overeating - the combination of fat, salt and sugar in junk food triggers our "bliss point" and leaves us wanting more.

Scientists at the Scripps Research Institute in Florida backed up this theory with a study which found that the addictive responses in the brains of rats when fed junk food including fatty meats were the same as in those that consume cocaine or heroin. On top of this, meat - like chocolate, cheese and sugar - releasesopiate-like substances during digestion which some studies have suggested can leave us craving more.

Coffee

Many feel that they can't start the day without a cup of coffee and people often joke about having a caffeine "addiction", however this may not be far from the truth. Although there has been much debate over the years about whether or not caffeine is genuinely addictive, it is difficult to deny that many of us crave it to the point where we feel we can't function without it.

One reason that people may crave caffeine so much is due to the fairly severe symptoms of caffeine withdrawal that people often face, ranging from fatigue and headaches to irritability and depression. However, it may be that, rather than being physically dependent on caffeine, you are actually addicted to the belief that you can't function without your morning cup of coffee. Whatever the reason, caffeine remains the world's most popular drug and a staple of many daily routines.

6 Types of Tea for 6 Different Moods

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/6-types-of-tea-for-6-different-moods.html
posted by Megan, selected from Intent.com Aug 29, 2009 9:17 am

A cup of tea heals emotional wounds, alleviates sickness and makes cold weather more bearable, even enjoyable.

Tea humanizes complete strangers and dissolves cultural barriers. If I know that your kitchen cupboards are stuffed with different types of tea bags and tea leaves, I will probably like you.

And let’s remind ourselves of all those health benefits of tea that people keep raving about, for good reason. Tea contains beneficial antioxidants that help fight cancer. Tea also boosts the immune system, increases mental alertness, lowers stress hormone levels and can help you sleep.

Which tea best suits your emotional and physical needs right now? Here is a handy guide.

Need a Quick Pick-Me-Up? Drink Black Tea. Black tea is Coffee Lite for those of you wanting to cut back on your coffee but still needing that perky caffeine fix. The strong flavor will reinvigorate your senses and get your mental gears running for the rest of the day.

Want to Feel Healthy and Refreshed? Try White Tea. White tea has the least amount of caffeine and contains the most antioxidants. As it is the least processed tea compared to other tea types, it has a light flavor that will go down smoothly.

Need Some Stress-Relief? Try Green Tea. Green tea has a natural, grassy, neutral flavor that is perfect for stress relief. Plus, it is not loaded with as much caffeine as black tea.

Need Some Creative Inspiration? Try Indian Chai Tea. Indian chai tea is a multifaceted taste palette loaded with different spices and nuances. Whether you drink it straight or with some cream and honey, consider having this drink within arm’s reach for your creative brainstorming sessions.

Feeling Physically Under the Weather? Try Fruit-Flavored Tea. Orange tea, lemon tea, raspberry tea: the options are endless. Drink up for sore throats, body aches and general under-the-weather-ness. Too bad cough medicine doesn’t taste more like this.

Need to Quench Your Thirst? Try Cold Oolong or Barley Tea. Found in most Asian supermarkets, getting a cold bottle of these teas is the perfect way to satisfy your thirst on a hot day. With ice, please.