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Friday, April 27, 2007

The Week in Review

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By Joanne Eglash
eDiets Healthy Lifestyle Columnist

We Stress a Healthy Breakfast
Just when you were telling yourself that any breakfast is a good breakfast… Canadian researchers at the University of Calgary report that those who consumed just one high fat, fast-food breakfast were significantly more apt to suffer from stress than people who enjoyed a low-fat breakfast such as dry cereal with nonfat milk and yogurt. The study compared two groups of young adults who, after eating either that fast-food meal or the low-fat breakfast, were given a variety of physical and mental stress tests. The drive-thru junkies experienced much higher levels of stress than the keep-it-simple cereal and yogurt eaters. So if you think you deserve a break today... buy yourself some high-fiber, low-fat cereal and nonfat yogurt for breakfast.

Sleep on It
Want another reason to get a good night's sleep? A variety of medical studies have shown that enjoying enough peaceful hours slumbering can help you maintain a healthy weight. Now here's yet another reason to turn off that late night TV show and head for bed: a Harvard Medical School neurologist says that you'll remember important information better if you study the details, go to sleep, and then take a test. Jeffrey Ellenbogen, M.D. compared several groups' responses to memory tests. Those who scored the highest had studied the material one day, went home for a full night's sleep, and underwent testing the next day. Those who scored the lowest studied the material but were tested at the end of the day. Ellenbogen concludes that sleeping seems to strengthen your memories. So if you've got a big test - or an important presentation at the office - forget about staying up all night studying and fortifying yourself with cookies and cappuccino. That type of cramming might hurt your odds of success. And it will definitely derail you from your diet!

TV Time Fattening
It's cartoon time on TV - and your kids are relaxed on the floor, eating big bowls of sugar-coated cereal as they watch. Sound familiar? Maybe it's time to hide that remote. A recent study by University of Liverpool psychologists revealed that overweight children increase their food consumption by more than 100 percent after watching TV food ads. Even kids who were normal weight ate an average of 84 percent more after viewing commercials for foods. Turn off the TV - and celebrate spring by joining your children on a jaunt to the park.

Speaking of children's snacks, your kids may receive more encouragement to eat nutritious food in school. The Institute of Medicine, which is part of the National Academy of Sciences, is urging new standards for both foods and drinks consumed in school. State and local school officials, as well as lawmakers, will now review those recommendations. I remember choosing fresh chocolate chip cookies washed down with chocolate milk for lunch when I was an overweight elementary and high school student. And although I may have enjoyed the temporary sugary pleasure, I also recall the pain of being the fattest girl in my class.

What do you think? Should school snacks and foods be more limited in choice?
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