Latest Fitness Industry News
The latest fitness industry news at your fingertips.
- Cold Water Baths Reduce Muscle Soreness but Evidence Lacking On Safety [news]
- Plunging into cold water after exercise may be an effective way to reduce muscle soreness, but it is unclear whether there are harmful side effects. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is associated with stiffness, swelling and soreness a day or more after exercise. One increasingly popular method that both elite and amateur athletes use to try to prevent or reduce soreness is immersing themselves in cold water or ice baths. The claim is that this cold water immersion technique, sometimes referred to as cryotherapy, reduces muscle inflammation and its ensuing effects. The researchers wanted to assess the strength of clinical evidence about how well it works, and whether there is any evidence of harm.
- Scientists Discover Likely New Trigger for Epidemic of Metabolic Syndrome [news]
- scientists have uncovered a key suspect in the destructive inflammation that underlies heart disease and diabetes. The new research shows elevated levels of a receptor present on leucocytes of the innate immune response in people at risk for these chronic diseases. The receptors are the body's first line of defense against infectious invaders, and they trigger a rush of cytokines, the body's aggressive immune soldiers, into the bloodstream.
- Are superfoods all they're cracked up to be? [news]
- One trend that never seems to go away is the concept of ‘superfoods’. Superfoods, according to the many articles you’ll find on the subject if you Google, are foods jam-packed with nutritional goodness and incredible health benefits. Depending on what you read, superfoods are said to protect against cancer and heart disease, lower cholesterol, encourage weight loss, reverse diabetes, improve digestive health and even help us live longer. The implication is that they are somehow ‘better’ than the regular old foods we might be eating day to day.
- Why coffee isn't bad for you [news]
- Knowing what to eat isn’t always simple. In nutrition land there’s often flip-flopping advice – like carbs are bad, good – and then they’re bad all over again. It’s no surprise we get confused, given the often conflicting messages. But a new book "Coffee is Good for You" makes it easier to tell the believable from the bodgy. Coffee’s unhealthy reputation stems partly from older research linking coffee to an increased risk of heart disease and pancreatic cancer - but without accounting for the effects of any cigarettes which might have been smoked with the coffee. Newer studies following tens of thousands of people over many years, have found coffee drinkers have no greater risk of heart disease or stroke – and appear to have a slightly lower risk.
- Does your brain trick you into eating more? [news]
- Sometimes when it comes to healthy eating, we are our own worst enemies, without even realising it. A recent study, found that the colour of the plates we eat off can actually affect how much we serve and eat. Specifically, the study found the contrast between the colour of the plate and the colour of the food has quite an impact on our consumption. If the food is a similar colour to the plate, people will serve and eat about 22 per cent more than if the colours of the food and plate contrast. Add this to what we already know about plate size – choose a larger plate and you’ll almost certainly eat more, even when you’re trying not to – and it becomes clear that our brains can often trick us into less than healthy habits.
- Seven food myths debunked [news]
- The most famous fall guy for the obesity epidemic is dietary fat and we are still living with the legacy of the ''low-fat'' mantra. Just look at the abundance of ''low-fat'' and ''light'' foods in supermarkets. Weight loss is the result of eating fewer kilojoules and exercising more. The trick is to maintain a high nutrient intake in fewer kilojoules - this is where food choice is paramount.
- Language skills linked to time in sun [news]
- We all know the dangers of sun exposure - but researchers have now found that too little sun can be harmful for pregnant women too. Mothers with low vitamin D levels during pregnancy are twice as likely to have children who experience language difficulties requiring clinical treatment, Australian scientists have found in research that reignites the debate on whether all pregnant mothers should be tested for deficiency.
- Good and bad in kids' fitness [news]
- Toddler treadmills are part of a booming exercise industry aimed at children as young as three. Parents concerned over their children's waistlines can buy a treadmill or exercise bike for about $400 online. Similar child-sized gym equipment has drawn outrage overseas for the disruption it could cause to children's normal play routines, and New Zealand experts agree parents should encourage their children to play outdoors rather than resort to treadmills. The Fun and Fitness Treadmill is marketed as a toy to keep children aged three and older active. It includes a calorie counter. A child's exercise bike is also sold online for "budding Tour de France cyclists".
- Running not safe for everyone [news]
- Running is often touted as the ideal form of exercise - you don't need any special equipment or have to pay gym fees. But is running long distances really safe for everyone? Some health experts are now calling for caution, especially for those discovering the joys of running in their later years. The unanimous advice is that runners see their doctors before undertaking strenuous workouts. "When you are older you need to be careful. The risk factors for heart disease are genetics, age and sex."
- App adds incentive to workout [news]
- If a bulging waistline isn't enough of a motivator to go to the gym, a new iPhone app adds a financial incentive to provide that extra nudge. The app called GymPact charges users a fee for every gym commitment they skip. The fee can range from $5 to $50 dollars. "We decided to motivate people by having money on the line, rather than giving them money, which is a very radical departure from other motivational apps and programs," explained Yifan Zhang, GymPact's co-founder and CEO.
- A smarter weight loss workout [news]
- We know walking is good for us, but have we over rated its power to help us lose weight? For those looking to shed kilos, going for stroll might not be enough, says Sydney dietitian Susie Burrell. “There’s a perception that going for a walk is getting good exercise but we’re now so sedentary that walking is just compensating for all the sitting we do in our daily lives,” Burrell says. Advertisement: Story continues below “If you want to lose weight on top of this, you need to add some sessions of more intense exercise to improve the ability of cells to burn fat – but this stuff isn’t talked about enough.”
- Blood pressure - should you DIY? [news]
- Should you check your own blood pressure at home? I hadn't thought about this until my partner Rick returned from his general practitioner with a scary blood pressure result. Convinced it was the white coat effect, Rick bought an electronic blood pressure monitor and checked his blood pressure at home. It was normal. Two days later he took his notes and his monitor to the GP - who, after checking his technique and his readings, agreed his blood pressure was fine and no medication was needed. Some figures suggest white coat hypertension may affect up to 20 per cent of people diagnosed with high blood pressure.
- Alertness study a boost for egg industry [news]
- The egg industry is jumping on new research that indicates eggs may help you stay alert. The latest news continues the rehabilitation of the plentiful, protein-packed capsules that were once frowned upon by health officials because of their cholesterol content. The scientists compared the actions of different nutrients on orexin cells, which are critical in determining wakefulness and energy expenditure. Amino acids - nutrients found in proteins such as egg whites - were found to stimulate orexin neurons much more than other nutrients.
- Toilet yoga brings relief for office workers [news]
- We wouldn't sit on a plane for nine hours without being advised to get up, move around and have a stretch. But many people sit shackled to their desks, nine hours a day, five days a week. No one tells them to get up and stretch it out. It's not natural and it's not really surprising that more people's bodies and spines are seizing up.
- High carb breakfasts boost brainpower [news]
- As the school year gets under way, new research is adding further weight to evidence that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially for children. Research has shown a strong link between low GI, higher carbohydrate breakfasts and better academic performance. The study, which involved 60 students, found that a low GI, higher carbohydrate breakfast helped students do maths tasks more quickly and accurately, and improved attentiveness.
- Blame Your Taste Buds for Liking Fat: Receptor for Tasting Fat Identified in Humans [news]
- Why do we like fatty foods so much? We can blame our taste buds. Our tongues apparently recognize and have an affinity for fat, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. They have found that variations in a gene can make people more or less sensitive to the taste of fat.
- Many Strategies to Increase Physical Activity for Kids Lack Injury Prevention Measures [news]
- A new study by researchers documents a need for increased injury prevention efforts in many of the most popular activities for kids (walking, bicycling, swimming, sports and playground use) in the United States. Injury is the leading cause of death for young people in the U.S., yet many public health efforts to promote physical activity in kids do not consider the numerous available strategies to incorporate injury prevention.
- High Animal Fat Diet Increases Gestational Diabetes Risk [news]
- Women who consumed a diet high in animal fat and cholesterol before pregnancy were at higher risk for gestational diabetes than women whose diets were lower in animal fat and cholesterol, according to researchers
- Bad news for fashionistas: high heels do ruin the way you walk [news]
- High heels can permanently change the way women walk and put them at greater risk of strain injuries, scientists have determined. Researchers in Australia found that regular outings in towering heels shorten the fibres in women's calf muscles and can change the position of joints and muscles in the feet.
- Gene linked to fat storage capacity [news]
- Some people are fatter than others even when they eat similar food because of genes that encourage fat storage, according to a new study. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh identified a number of genes in fat tissue that may lead people to retain weight unnecessarily in the body.
- Why diets make you fatter [news]
- Fact: Almost without exception, anyone who tries to lose weight rapidly with a diet fails. They might shed kilos in the short term but will ultimately put it all back on - and then some. In fact, one of the authors of a study published in the American Psychologist journal in 2007 went so far as to call dieting ''a consistent predictor of future weight gain''. Perversely, it seems, if you want to get fatter, just go on a diet and wait for a bit.
- Exercise smart - heed your heart [news]
- Whether you're interested in running a marathon or staving off the chronic diseases of ageing, to reap the rewards of your efforts getting into the zone is essential. Experts say knowing and staying within your heart rate training zone is an easy way to pace the intensity of your workout. "Your goal is to get to a stage where you're fit enough to exercise within your heart rate training zone."
- Scientists Identify an Innate Function of Vitamin E [news]
- It's rubbed on the skin to reduce signs of aging and consumed by athletes to improve endurance but scientists now have the first evidence of one of vitamin E's normal body functions. The powerful antioxidant found in most foods helps repair tears in the plasma membranes that protect cells from outside forces and screen what enters and exits. Everyday activities such as eating and exercise can tear the plasma membrane and the new research shows that vitamin E is essential to repair.
- How Poor Maternal Diet Can Increase Risk of Diabetes [news]
- Researchers have shown one way in which poor nutrition in the womb can put a person at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other age-related diseases in later life. This finding could lead to new ways of identifying people who are at a higher risk of developing these diseases and might open up targets for treatment.
- Targeting Leg Fatigue in Heart Failure [news]
- Doctors should not only treat the heart muscle in chronic heart failure patients, but also their leg muscles through exercise, say researchers in a major new study. Heart failure causes breathlessness and fatigue that severely limits normal daily activities such as walking. The University of Leeds research team has, for the first time, shown that leg muscle dysfunction is related to the severity of symptoms in heart failure patients.
- When Warming Up for the Race, Less Is More [news]
- Coaches, physiologists and athletes alike will attest to the importance of warming up before athletic competition. Warming up increases muscle temperature, accelerates oxygen uptake kinetics and increases anaerobic metabolism, all of which enhance performance. However, the question of how long and strenuous a warm-up should be is more contentious, with some in the sports community advocating longer warm-ups and others espousing shorter ones. Now researchers have found evidence indicating that less is more.
- How Muscle Fatigue Originates in the Head [news]
- A low-calorie diet eliminates insulin dependence and leads to improved heart function in obese patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study presented in November. "Lifestyle interventions may have more powerful beneficial cardiac effects than medication in these patients".
- Fitness Levels Decline With Age, Especially After 45 [news]
- Men and women become gradually less fit with age, with declines accelerating after age 45, according to a report in the October 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, however, maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI), not smoking and being physically active are associated with higher fitness levels throughout adult life.
- Physical Fitness Trumps Body Weight in Reducing Death Risks, Study Finds
- If you maintain or improve your fitness level -- even if your body weight has not changed or increased -- you can reduce your risk of death, according to research. In a study of 14,345 adult men, mostly white and middle or upper class, researchers found that...
- Where it Hurts isn't where the Problem is [news]
- Traditionally when our clients/patients have come in to see us with sore spots we’ve assessed the sore spots and treated the sore spots to make them go away. This assumes that the cause and the symptom are one in the same, an assumption that this article will show, is not one we can make. Here is an example of two patients to demonstrate the point that where it hurts isn’t where the problem is.
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