Saturday, October 30, 2010

Tainted Halloween candy. Is it for real?

Gather round as I am going to tell you a story that will send chills up your spine and rattle one of your deepest beliefs around all Hallows Eve. You ever wonder why your parents inspect all of the candy you receive after a night of conquest gathering more treats than tricks? There is a fear( insert deep evil laugh ha, ha, ha) that someone on your street is just waiting to give you rat poison in your Snickers or  put needles in apples. 

Ever since I was a kid, I was told that kids died from eating Halloween Candy that was poisoned, tainted or filled with razor blades or syringes. My Parents and later when we became parents knew there was an inspection of the candy at the end of the night to make sure it was okay to eat. Today parents still look closely at the candy and treats that are collected to make sure it was not tampered with or altered in any way.

Where did these stories come from? Are they based on fact, or perhaps they are part of the many urban legends that surround Halloween. There has never been a documented case of poisoning or sharp objects causing harm from Halloween Candy. It is a story that has been built around some half truths and then as the years went by, the tale becomes taller with each passing year. There are some actual stories of poisoning at Halloween but it was not done by evil strangers but by relatives...Read more on the myths about Halloween Candy from Fox News.com

It is important that you be aware of your children when they are out trick or treating and to follow many safety rules. They should always go out with an adult or an older Brother or Sister. Don't go up to houses alone and beware of predators. Be aware of busy streets and cross only when it is safe. Oncoming cars are one of the biggest concerns for safety. Make sure that if they are wearing a mask that they can see well enough not to trip or fall in the dark. '

Have fun and perhaps the one thing that will bring fear to many adults is the sound of many people going from house to house searching for the long awaited treasure. Finally they come to your door and you can hear the laughing and excitement building. You slowly open the door and hear TRICK OR TREAT!!! Boo.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Positive social living overrides bad health habits.

It's pretty easy to understand the negative ways that your health and even your outlook on life are affected from smoking, drinking or being overweight.. What affect does it have when there are actions in place to improve your lifestyle? A recent study showing the psychological aspects of health says that a decline in health could be delayed up to 10 years if you are taking steps to improve your lifestyle.
It goes on to say that the research identified physical exercise, social support and control beliefs, individually and in combination, as significant predictors of change in functional health, above and beyond the negative effects of the traditional risk factors.
"Control beliefs" refer to a person's sense of how much they can influence important life outcomes. Those who have a greater sense of control are more likely to engage in health-promoting behaviors, such as getting exercise and eating right. Supportive social relationships can promote health by reducing stress and encouraging healthy behaviors...Read more from Science daily.com

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

USANA announces record third quarter profits.

Everyday it seems like there is not much good news when it comes to businesses and the overall growth of the economy. USANA Health Sciences on the other hand is celebrating great news with the announcement of a record third quarter for sales. There were many great new products introduced at the USANA International Convention, USANA entered into China, as well as a new interactive presentation tool.

Read more from Business Wire.com

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Poor Magnesium Status May Be Related to Metabolic Syndrome


Metabolic syndrome has been defined as the presence of abdominal obesity combined with two of the following factors: hypertension, dyslipidemia, impaired glucose tolerance, or diabetes mellitus. Magnesium is an essential cofactor for more than 300 enzymes involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.
In a recent study, researchers enrolled 117 overweight and obese patients and measured serum magnesium levels together with fasting serum glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and triacylglycerols. Researchers found a strong inverse relationship between serum magnesium levels and the presence of metabolic syndrome. In addition, as the level of serum magnesium decreased, the number of factors relating to metabolic syndrome increased. Also, there was an inverse relationship between serum magnesium levels and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation).
The scientists concluded that decreased levels of serum magnesium are associated with increased risk for metabolic syndrome, possibly due to a low-grade inflammatory process.
Angelos A, et al. An inverse relationship between cumulating components of the metabolic syndrome and serum magnesium levels. 2008. Nutrition Research 28(10):659-63. 
USANA Essentials of Health

Monday, October 25, 2010

Rainy Day workouts

Can rainy days and workouts co exist? Many people will take a rainy day as an excuse to skip the exercise. If you are committed to a fitness goal then a little rain should not get you down. Read more about rainy day workouts from Mens Health.com