Elementary school children who took part in a healthy living program with older peers reduced their waist sizes and showed improvements in self-esteem, according to a new Canadian study. In the so-called Healthy Buddies program, students learn about healthy foods, physical activity and positive body image from older kids, rather than adult teachers or coaches. Researchers say the program could potentially reduce rates of childhood obesity. "We recognized that in Manitoba and … [Read more...]

An apple a day really does keep the doctor away. That is the succinct conclusion of a new study from the University of Oxford, where researchers have determined that a daily apple may rival preventative medicine when it comes to easing the burden of cardiovascular disease. Aside from adding some scientific evidence to the 150-year-old health proverb, the findings may also illuminate cheaper and safer lifestyle changes for at-risk individuals. Today, healthy lifestyle choices like proper … [Read more...]

People will choose larger portions of food if they are labeled as being "healthier," even if they have the same number of calories, according to a new study. "People think (healthier food) is lower in calories," said Pierre Chandon, a marketing professor at the INSEAD Social Science Research Center in France, and they "tend to consume more of it." That misconception can lead to people eating larger portion sizes of so-called healthy foods, and therefore more calories. "Foods are … [Read more...]

For thousands of years, explorers have been searching for the Fountain of Youth. Legend has it the elusive fountain contains a restorative source that brings endless vitality to those who drink from its pool. No one knows what the source is, exactly. It's been called everything from the "water of life" to the "elixir of immortality." These days, anti-aging specialists simply refer to it as "T." You'd think T, or testosterone, was pure magic from its advertised results: increased energy, … [Read more...]