Few medical studies have analyzed the relationship between sitting and total mortality. But a large (123,216 individuals) new study from the American Cancer Society found that women who sit for more than six hours/day were 37 percent more likely to die (over the 13-year study period)—and 10 percent more likely to get cancer—than those who sat less than three hours/day. Surprisingly, the “sitting risk” was lower for men: six-plus-hour-a-day male sitters were 18 percent more likely to die, but the cancer risk was not considerably higher.
New Stanford University Study: Acupuncture Reduces Pain after Surgery
The study of acupuncture during surgery is a relatively new area of research. But a recent, rigorously designed clinical trial showed that it significantly reduced pain and improved restoration of a normal diet after operations. Check out the findings
New Study: Walking in Nature Impacts Brain and May Reduce Depression
Last week Stanford University released the results of a study indicating that not all “walks” are created equal. People that walked for 90 minutes in a wild, natural area (as opposed to similar treks in busy city areas) showed significantly decreased activity in the “rumination” region of the brain, which regulates obsessive, negative thoughts and emotions. And ongoing rumination is a critical factor in depression.
More Vacations: Less Heart Disease
It’s summer vacation time, and there is a solid, body of medical evidence that suggests vacations are indeed good for one’s health. For instance, the famed Framingham Heart Study found that women who took a vacation once every six years or less were nearly eight times more likely to develop coronary heart disease or have a heart attack than those who took at least two vacations a year. Another study of 12,000 men at high risk for coronary heart disease found that those who failed to take annual vacations were 32 percent more likely to die of a heart attack.
Mediterranean Diet Helps Mitigate Cognitive Decline, Memory Loss
While there’s much observational evidence that correlates improved mental abilities with healthy dietary practices, a newly released clinical, randomized study provides scientific backup. Sponsored by the Spanish government and conducted by the University of Barcelona over a four–year period on 477 cognitively healthy adults (55–80 years of age) revealed that subjects following a Mediterranean-type diet, supplemented with nuts and olive oil, showed lower rates of decline in cognitive functioning than subjects who followed a simple low-fat diet. Reduced risks of dementia were also noted. Dr. Emilio Ros, who led the study, attributes this in part to the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents found in the supplements that have been long–suspected to improve cognitive abilities
New Study Shows Success of Financial Incentives to Quit Smoking
Results of a University of Oxford (UK) meta-analysis of 8,500 adult smokers revealed that financial incentives to quit generally carried higher sustained success rates when 1.) subjects were required to make a cash deposit (refundable upon quitting, along with additional cash incentive); and 2.) when the cash reward was significantly higher.
