Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Box 593, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden. christian.benedict@neuro.uu.se. Abstract Context: There is growing recognition that a large number of individuals living in Western society are chronically sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation is associated with an increase in food consumption and appetite. However, the brain regions that are most susceptible to sleep deprivation-induced changes when processing food stimuli are unknown. Objective: Our objective was to examine brain activation after sleep and sleep deprivation in response to images of food. Intervention: Twelve normal-weight male subjects were examined on two sessions in a counterbalanced fashion: after one night of total sleep deprivation and one night of sleep. On the morning after either total sleep deprivation or sleep, neural activation … MORE→

According to a recent study headed by scientists from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the University of Granada, eating commercial baked goods (fairy cakes, croissants, doughnuts, etc.) and fast food (hamburgers, hotdogs and pizza) is linked to depression. Published in the Public Health Nutritionjournal, the results reveal that consumers of fast food, compared to those who eat little or none, are 51% more likely to develop depression. Furthermore, a dose-response relationship was observed. In other words this means that “the more fast food you consume, the greater the risk of depression,” explains Almudena Sánchez-Villegas, lead author of the study, to SINC. The study demonstrates that those participants who eat the most fast food and commercial baked goods are … MORE→

If you’re concerned that alcohol may be playing too significant a part of your life?  Here’s a 5 minute on-line survey that may help:  http://www.howdoyouscore.org/

Newswise — ITHACA, N.Y. – Obesity now accounts for almost 21 percent of U.S. health care costs – more than twice the previous estimates, reports a new Cornell University study.  The research, which is the first to show the causal effect of obesity on medical care costs, uses new methods and makes a stronger case for government intervention to prevent obesity, the authors say in the January issue of the Journal of Health Economics(http://bit.ly/uhcEDr). The study reports that an obese person incurs medical costs that are $2,741 higher (in 2005 dollars) than if they were not obese. Nationwide, that translates into $190.2 billion per year, or 20.6 percent of national health expenditures. Previous estimates had pegged the cost of obesity at … MORE→

Are you familiar with the Stanford University study that showed the ability to resist the temptation of a marshmallow resulted in lifelong success?  The concept of delayed gratification is a powerful trait, whether we’re talking healthy eating or saving for retirement.  This article, provided by Vanguard, makes the point well and provides tips for saving for your retirement as well: https://personal.vanguard.com/us/insights/article/predicting-success_032012?link=topStories&linkLocation=Position2