Want More "Self-Control"?
While the debate on whether or not losing and maintaining weight loss is about increased willpower continues, researchers have discovered a way to boost self-control. A study reported in the Journal of Consumer Research has found that "consumers who successfully control their diets eat fewer unhealthy foods because they are satisfied sooner."
Researchers also found that "many consumers with poor self-control were able to establish greater control when they paid close attention to the quantities of unhealthy foods they consumed, because simply paying attention made them more quickly satisfied."
In fact, when the researchers asked participants to actually count how many times they swallowed an unhealthy snack, the participants were satisfied more quickly and demonstrated greater self-control. Monitoring how much they ate made those with low self-control behave like those with high self-control another reason to keep some sort of detailed food diary and track food intake specifically.
One important side note: The researchers caution that "Dieters should focus on the quantity of unhealthy foods but not the quantity of healthy foods. Monitoring healthy foods could actually be counterproductive to the goal of eating a healthier diet."
More: 3 Tips to Measure Fitness Health
Cherries Fight Gout (Inflammation Disease)
According to research reported in Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), eating cherries can reduce gout attacks by 35 percent. Approximately 8.3 million adults in the United States suffer with gout, described in the journal as "an inflammatory arthritis triggered by a crystallization of uric acid within the joints that causes excruciating pain and swelling."The study found that the "gout flare risk continued to decrease with increasing cherry consumption, up to three servings over two days." A serving of cherries is 10 to 12 cherries. In addition, the study found that cherry extract was also effective.
More: 5 Nutrients to Help You Stay Young
Working Out in Your 30s, 40s and 50s (Midlife) Can Help Reduce Chronic Disease
Do you think it's too late to make changes and start exercising? Think again. According to researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center and The Cooper Institute, starting a fitness regimen even in middle age can help to reduce chronic disease (diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, etc.) at end of life.
So, it's not just that exercise helps you live longer, the positive results continue until the end of life meaning that the last five years will be better.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's exercise recommendations are: 2 hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (i.e., brisk walking) every week and weight training muscle-strengthening activities that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms) two 2 or more days a week.
