Move Like a Hunter-Gatherer, Live Longer

One of the best ways to reduce your risk of chronic disease and live a longer life may be to act like a hunter-gatherer.

Scientists recently analyzed the physical habits of our hunter-gatherer ancestors -- people who tended to engage in short bursts of physical activity (mostly outside) coupled with periods of rest -- and health experts agree we'd probably all be better off physically if we followed that example. In fact, our bodies may be genetically programmed for it.

Walk on the Wild Side
Our hunter-gatherer predecessors were pretty busy. Whether they were digging for roots and tubers; making tools; building shelters; hunting; or carrying logs, food, or small children, they were often on the move. All in all, they probably expended between 800 and 1,200 calories per day doing physical things -- most of them outdoors. But the average American today? We expend only a small fraction of energy doing anything physical. As a result, our stamina, muscle strength, and flexibility aren't maintained. What's more, our inactive ways cause us to miss out on yet more healthful habits enjoyed by hunter-gatherers -- socializing and outdoor living. Hunting and foraging in small groups provided our ancestors with a social outlet and an opportunity to be outside frequently -- both of which are natural mood boosters. (Related: Discover why outdoor workouts are better for your mood and your health.)

Get Back to Nature
Human beings lived for eons as hunter-gatherers, so it's not surprising that our bodies are built to thrive under physically demanding conditions outside. Ready to activate your hunter-gatherer genes? Here's a fitness plan that will help emulate the hunter-gatherer way:

Hit the trails. Researchers estimate that hunter-gatherers walked between 4 and 10 miles a day just to find necessities! While you might not be able to hit that lofty mark, you could probably do a lot more than you're currently doing. Find ways to walk more during everyday tasks, and bake a daily walk into your schedule as well. Try these three tricks to boost walking benefits.


Lift things. At least two to three times a week, you should do some strength training. Instead of carrying logs, carry groceries, laundry, kids, and pets. Instead of stacking rocks, lift weights at home or at the gym. Watch this video to see why strength training is so good for women's weight.


Get your flex on. Activities like yoga, dancing, tai chi, and gardening can help improve your flexibility -- something that hunter-gatherers had in spades. Here's an easy 12-point yoga pose you can do every day.


Do it outdoors. Exercising outside on natural surfaces (the ones we evolved with, like grass and dirt) works more muscles and boosts your balance.


Work out with a buddy. You'll get the added benefit of mood-boosting social interaction.


Mix it up. Once or twice a week, alternate short bursts of moderate- to high-intensity physical activity with periods of rest and recovery to challenge your heart and lungs. Follow harder workout days with easier workout days. Hunter-gatherers got lots of rest, relaxation, and sleep when recovering from physically demanding days. Here's another good reason to stay in bed.

One of the best ways to reduce your risk of chronic disease and live a longer life may be to act like a hunter-gatherer.

Scientists recently analyzed the physical habits of our hunter-gatherer ancestors -- people who tended to engage in short bursts of physical activity (mostly outside) coupled with periods of rest -- and health experts agree we'd probably all be better off physically if we followed that example. In fact, our bodies may be genetically programmed for it.

Walk on the Wild Side
Our hunter-gatherer predecessors were pretty busy. Whether they were digging for roots and tubers; making tools; building shelters; hunting; or carrying logs, food, or small children, they were often on the move. All in all, they probably expended between 800 and 1,200 calories per day doing physical things -- most of them outdoors. But the average American today? We expend only a small fraction of energy doing anything physical. As a result, our stamina, muscle strength, and flexibility aren't maintained. What's more, our inactive ways cause us to miss out on yet more healthful habits enjoyed by hunter-gatherers -- socializing and outdoor living. Hunting and foraging in small groups provided our ancestors with a social outlet and an opportunity to be outside frequently -- both of which are natural mood boosters. (Related: Discover why outdoor workouts are better for your mood and your health.)

Get Back to Nature
Human beings lived for eons as hunter-gatherers, so it's not surprising that our bodies are built to thrive under physically demanding conditions outside. Ready to activate your hunter-gatherer genes? Here's a fitness plan that will help emulate the hunter-gatherer way:

Hit the trails. Researchers estimate that hunter-gatherers walked between 4 and 10 miles a day just to find necessities! While you might not be able to hit that lofty mark, you could probably do a lot more than you're currently doing. Find ways to walk more during everyday tasks, and bake a daily walk into your schedule as well. Try these three tricks to boost walking benefits.


Lift things. At least two to three times a week, you should do some strength training. Instead of carrying logs, carry groceries, laundry, kids, and pets. Instead of stacking rocks, lift weights at home or at the gym. Watch this video to see why strength training is so good for women's weight.


Get your flex on. Activities like yoga, dancing, tai chi, and gardening can help improve your flexibility -- something that hunter-gatherers had in spades. Here's an easy 12-point yoga pose you can do every day.


Do it outdoors. Exercising outside on natural surfaces (the ones we evolved with, like grass and dirt) works more muscles and boosts your balance.


Work out with a buddy. You'll get the added benefit of mood-boosting social interaction.


Mix it up. Once or twice a week, alternate short bursts of moderate- to high-intensity physical activity with periods of rest and recovery to challenge your heart and lungs. Follow harder workout days with easier workout days. Hunter-gatherers got lots of rest, relaxation, and sleep when recovering from physically demanding days. Here's another good reason to stay in bed.

Read More

Feline Nutrition

Hewson-Hughes AK,Hewson-Hughes VL, Miller AT et al: Geometric analysis of macronutrientselection in the adult domestic cat, Felis catus, J Exp Biol 214:1039,2011. 

Nutritionists have investigated the diet and regulation of consumption in many species, including cats. In this study, investigators examined various dietary factors in cats fed different commercial cat foods with differing .nutrient composition. Cats appear to be limited in the amount of carbohydrate they can digest. High carbohydrate intake may in fact cause gastrointestinal problems in cats, and leads to reduced protein and fat intake. It is not clear how cats regulate their intake normally, whether through consumption or their metabolism. Further research is needed to determine which dietary factors contribute to the nutrient regulation in cats. [MK]

Related articles:
Zoran D: The carnivore connection to nutrition in cats, J Am Vet Med Assoc 221:1559, 2002.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

Hewson-Hughes AK,Hewson-Hughes VL, Miller AT et al: Geometric analysis of macronutrientselection in the adult domestic cat, Felis catus, J Exp Biol 214:1039,2011. 

Nutritionists have investigated the diet and regulation of consumption in many species, including cats. In this study, investigators examined various dietary factors in cats fed different commercial cat foods with differing .nutrient composition. Cats appear to be limited in the amount of carbohydrate they can digest. High carbohydrate intake may in fact cause gastrointestinal problems in cats, and leads to reduced protein and fat intake. It is not clear how cats regulate their intake normally, whether through consumption or their metabolism. Further research is needed to determine which dietary factors contribute to the nutrient regulation in cats. [MK]

Related articles:
Zoran D: The carnivore connection to nutrition in cats, J Am Vet Med Assoc 221:1559, 2002.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

Read More

Coffee May Lower Risk Of Deadliest Prostate Cancer

For a long time scientists have wondered whether coffee might lower the risk of prostate cancer.

Previous studies have been relatively small and have shown mixed results.

But now we have results from a Harvard study that followed almost 50,000 male health professionals for more than two decades. A lot of them drank a lot of coffee, which seems to have helped.

More than 5,000 of them got prostate cancer — 642 of them the most lethal form. "For the men who drank the most coffee, their risk of getting this bad form of prostate cancer was about 60 percent lower compared to the men who drank almost no coffee at all," says Lorelei Mucci, an epidemiologist at the Harvard School of Public Health and an author of the study.

When they saw the results, Mucci says, she and her colleagues said, "Wow, that's a lot!"

"Among risk factors that people have studied for lethal prostate cancer, this is one of the strongest," she told Shots.

The same group reported about a 50 percent reduced risk of dying from prostate cancer among men who exercised regularly — two or three brisk walks a week was enough.

The new study shows that getting a 60 percent reduction in risk of aggressive prostate cancer requires a lot of coffee — at least six cups a day. However, men who drank three cups a day had a 30 percent lower chance of getting a lethal prostate cancer, and that's not bad.

Only about one in 10 prostate cancers diagnosed these days is deadly. Most men get a less dangerous and curable kind. The study found no link between coffee drinking and overall risk of prostate cancer. Presumably previous studies didn't uncover the lowered risk of aggressive cancers because they didn't have enough of these cases.

Mucci says coffee drinkers got the benefit without getting buzzed on caffeine. "Whether they drank regular coffee or only decaffeinated coffee, there was the same lower risk of lethal prostate cancer," she says. "It's really the coffee; it's not the caffeine."

Another good thing is that it doesn't require decades of heavy coffee drinking to get the benefit. What mattered was how much they drank in the previous eight years.

The Harvard epidemiologist says the coffee effect persisted even after the researchers allowed for the effect of exercise, obesity, smoking and other factors that either raise or lower the risk of prostate cancer.

Neil Martin, a cancer doctor at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, was impressed with the new findings.

"Results like these are very appealing for people," he says. "It supports things that they do. ... And I guess I don't really see the downside of that. I think people should feel empowered about being able to change their risk of diseases."

And yes, in this case it is "diseases" — plural.

Earlier research suggests coffee reduces the risk of diabetes, liver disease and Parkinson's disease — possibly because of its insulin-lowering effects, its anti-oxidant qualities and other properties, including some yet to be discovered.

And just last week, Swedish researchers reported that women who drink at least five cups of coffee a day have nearly a 60 percent lower risk of a particularly aggressive breast cancer that doesn't respond to estrogen.

Mucci says more research is needed before officially urging people to drink coffee for its health benefits. Meanwhile, she says, "there's no reason not to start drinking coffee."

And no, she does not take money from the coffee industry.

For a long time scientists have wondered whether coffee might lower the risk of prostate cancer.

Previous studies have been relatively small and have shown mixed results.

But now we have results from a Harvard study that followed almost 50,000 male health professionals for more than two decades. A lot of them drank a lot of coffee, which seems to have helped.

More than 5,000 of them got prostate cancer — 642 of them the most lethal form. "For the men who drank the most coffee, their risk of getting this bad form of prostate cancer was about 60 percent lower compared to the men who drank almost no coffee at all," says Lorelei Mucci, an epidemiologist at the Harvard School of Public Health and an author of the study.

When they saw the results, Mucci says, she and her colleagues said, "Wow, that's a lot!"

"Among risk factors that people have studied for lethal prostate cancer, this is one of the strongest," she told Shots.

The same group reported about a 50 percent reduced risk of dying from prostate cancer among men who exercised regularly — two or three brisk walks a week was enough.

The new study shows that getting a 60 percent reduction in risk of aggressive prostate cancer requires a lot of coffee — at least six cups a day. However, men who drank three cups a day had a 30 percent lower chance of getting a lethal prostate cancer, and that's not bad.

Only about one in 10 prostate cancers diagnosed these days is deadly. Most men get a less dangerous and curable kind. The study found no link between coffee drinking and overall risk of prostate cancer. Presumably previous studies didn't uncover the lowered risk of aggressive cancers because they didn't have enough of these cases.

Mucci says coffee drinkers got the benefit without getting buzzed on caffeine. "Whether they drank regular coffee or only decaffeinated coffee, there was the same lower risk of lethal prostate cancer," she says. "It's really the coffee; it's not the caffeine."

Another good thing is that it doesn't require decades of heavy coffee drinking to get the benefit. What mattered was how much they drank in the previous eight years.

The Harvard epidemiologist says the coffee effect persisted even after the researchers allowed for the effect of exercise, obesity, smoking and other factors that either raise or lower the risk of prostate cancer.

Neil Martin, a cancer doctor at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, was impressed with the new findings.

"Results like these are very appealing for people," he says. "It supports things that they do. ... And I guess I don't really see the downside of that. I think people should feel empowered about being able to change their risk of diseases."

And yes, in this case it is "diseases" — plural.

Earlier research suggests coffee reduces the risk of diabetes, liver disease and Parkinson's disease — possibly because of its insulin-lowering effects, its anti-oxidant qualities and other properties, including some yet to be discovered.

And just last week, Swedish researchers reported that women who drink at least five cups of coffee a day have nearly a 60 percent lower risk of a particularly aggressive breast cancer that doesn't respond to estrogen.

Mucci says more research is needed before officially urging people to drink coffee for its health benefits. Meanwhile, she says, "there's no reason not to start drinking coffee."

And no, she does not take money from the coffee industry.

Read More

Exploding watermelons! Acres of crops erupt

Watermelon fields in eastern China are a mess of burst fruit after farmers used growth chemicals in an attempt to make extra money but ended up ruining their crops, state media reported Tuesday.

An investigative report by China Central Television found farms in and around Danyang city in Jiangsu province were losing acres of fruit to the problem.

The farmers sprayed forchlorfenuron, a growth accelerator, during overly wet weather and put it on too late in the season, which made the melons burst, CCTV said, citing agricultural experts.

White seeds
It said most watermelons sold at a wholesale market in nearby Shanghai were believed to have been treated with forchlorfenuron. Telltale signs are fibrous, misshapen fruit with mostly white instead of black seeds, it said.

Chinese regulations don't forbid use of the substance. It is also allowed in the United States for use on kiwi fruit and grapes.

But the report underscores how farmers in China are abusing both legal and illegal chemicals, with many farms misusing pesticides and fertilizers.

The government has already voiced alarm over the widespread overuse of food additives like dyes and sweeteners that retailers hope will make food more attractive and boost sales.

Watermelon fields in eastern China are a mess of burst fruit after farmers used growth chemicals in an attempt to make extra money but ended up ruining their crops, state media reported Tuesday.

An investigative report by China Central Television found farms in and around Danyang city in Jiangsu province were losing acres of fruit to the problem.

The farmers sprayed forchlorfenuron, a growth accelerator, during overly wet weather and put it on too late in the season, which made the melons burst, CCTV said, citing agricultural experts.

White seeds
It said most watermelons sold at a wholesale market in nearby Shanghai were believed to have been treated with forchlorfenuron. Telltale signs are fibrous, misshapen fruit with mostly white instead of black seeds, it said.

Chinese regulations don't forbid use of the substance. It is also allowed in the United States for use on kiwi fruit and grapes.

But the report underscores how farmers in China are abusing both legal and illegal chemicals, with many farms misusing pesticides and fertilizers.

The government has already voiced alarm over the widespread overuse of food additives like dyes and sweeteners that retailers hope will make food more attractive and boost sales.

Read More

Connect with Winn!

Winn's goal is to help "Every Cat, Every Day" and we can only do this with your assistance. Stay in touch with our activities and learn how you can become involved in the future of feline health.

Join over 3,500 other cat lovers on our Facebook page.

Follow us on Twitter and help spread the word!

Subscribe to our email newsletter - we promise, no spam :-)

Winn's goal is to help "Every Cat, Every Day" and we can only do this with your assistance. Stay in touch with our activities and learn how you can become involved in the future of feline health.

Join over 3,500 other cat lovers on our Facebook page.

Follow us on Twitter and help spread the word!

Subscribe to our email newsletter - we promise, no spam :-)

Read More

青年年脊椎侧弯的原因

时间：2011-3-3 16:46:08

　　核心提示：脊椎测弯原因及注意事项 青少年的脊椎受损大多与不良的生活习惯、学习姿势有关。脊椎的受损在治疗上难度较大，一般情况下，不能痊愈。青少年经常出现的有颈部酸痛、腰痛等诸多不适。如有的同学学习认真，长期坐在桌前看书写字，颈椎始终处于前倾位置，长期如此，会造成颈椎生理曲度改变，成年后重者出现骨质增生或骨刺、双...

脊椎测弯原因及注意事项 青少年的脊椎受损大多与不良的生活习惯、学习姿势有关。脊椎的受损在治疗上难度较大，一般情况下，不能痊愈。青少年经常出现的有颈部酸痛、腰痛等诸多不适。如有的同学学习认真，长期坐在桌前看书写字，颈椎始终处于前倾位置，长期如此，会造成颈椎生理曲度改变，成年后重者出现骨质增生或骨刺、双手麻木。

　　对青少年来说，学习是必要的。为了防止颈椎病的发生，最好的方法是在桌前学IJ 1个小时左l右，适当活动一下。如，做颈保健操，让颈椎有一个休息时间，这也是国家教育部门规定，每节课45分钟后中间需要休息10～15分钟的道理之一。在课间休息时，青少年不要继续坐在桌前学习。

　　有些青少年在看书或写字时坐位姿势不端正，喜欢趴着写字看书，这时的脊椎处于一个侧弯状态，两侧肢体受力不平衡。有些青少年为了追求时髦或其他原因，不喜欢使用双肩背包。由于现在学习用品重量大大超过或接近生理的负重能力，而单肩包只能一侧用力。为了负重，也就是说为了抵抗地球所产生的重力，只能耸高背侧的肩膀来取得平衡，脊椎就处在一侧用力状态，长此以往，就有可能造成腰椎侧弯。

　　有些青少年喜欢躺在床上看书，认为这样既可以休息，又能不耽误学习。其实，床上看书是一个很不好的习惯。床上看书一般都选用侧卧，并把头部抬高，这时的脊椎处于侧弯S形状态，脊椎的两侧受力是不均等的，这也是造成脊椎侧弯的重要原因之一。

脊椎通常称为脊柱，是人体重要的一组骨头，包括7个颈椎、12个胸椎、5个腰椎。在脊椎中间有脊神经通过。脊神经通导人体各部位运动和感觉的信号，连接着大脑。脊神经一旦受损就会出现截瘫，一经受压就会在相应部位出现麻木和诸多不适。

http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Scoliosis-Prevention-Treatment-Chinese/dp/1460965612/

时间：2011-3-3 16:46:08

　　核心提示：脊椎测弯原因及注意事项 青少年的脊椎受损大多与不良的生活习惯、学习姿势有关。脊椎的受损在治疗上难度较大，一般情况下，不能痊愈。青少年经常出现的有颈部酸痛、腰痛等诸多不适。如有的同学学习认真，长期坐在桌前看书写字，颈椎始终处于前倾位置，长期如此，会造成颈椎生理曲度改变，成年后重者出现骨质增生或骨刺、双...

脊椎测弯原因及注意事项 青少年的脊椎受损大多与不良的生活习惯、学习姿势有关。脊椎的受损在治疗上难度较大，一般情况下，不能痊愈。青少年经常出现的有颈部酸痛、腰痛等诸多不适。如有的同学学习认真，长期坐在桌前看书写字，颈椎始终处于前倾位置，长期如此，会造成颈椎生理曲度改变，成年后重者出现骨质增生或骨刺、双手麻木。

　　对青少年来说，学习是必要的。为了防止颈椎病的发生，最好的方法是在桌前学IJ 1个小时左l右，适当活动一下。如，做颈保健操，让颈椎有一个休息时间，这也是国家教育部门规定，每节课45分钟后中间需要休息10～15分钟的道理之一。在课间休息时，青少年不要继续坐在桌前学习。

　　有些青少年在看书或写字时坐位姿势不端正，喜欢趴着写字看书，这时的脊椎处于一个侧弯状态，两侧肢体受力不平衡。有些青少年为了追求时髦或其他原因，不喜欢使用双肩背包。由于现在学习用品重量大大超过或接近生理的负重能力，而单肩包只能一侧用力。为了负重，也就是说为了抵抗地球所产生的重力，只能耸高背侧的肩膀来取得平衡，脊椎就处在一侧用力状态，长此以往，就有可能造成腰椎侧弯。

　　有些青少年喜欢躺在床上看书，认为这样既可以休息，又能不耽误学习。其实，床上看书是一个很不好的习惯。床上看书一般都选用侧卧，并把头部抬高，这时的脊椎处于侧弯S形状态，脊椎的两侧受力是不均等的，这也是造成脊椎侧弯的重要原因之一。

脊椎通常称为脊柱，是人体重要的一组骨头，包括7个颈椎、12个胸椎、5个腰椎。在脊椎中间有脊神经通过。脊神经通导人体各部位运动和感觉的信号，连接着大脑。脊神经一旦受损就会出现截瘫，一经受压就会在相应部位出现麻木和诸多不适。

http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Scoliosis-Prevention-Treatment-Chinese/dp/1460965612/

Read More

用于iPhone的ScolioTrack

Scoliotrack是使用 iPhone加速表每月跟踪个人的脊柱侧弯状况的一种安全且新颖的方法，iPhone加速表正如医生用的评价脊柱测量仪。评价脊柱测量仪是用于评估一个人脊柱弯曲量的仪器。它也可在脊柱侧弯和脊柱畸形弯曲筛查或后续跟进中作为一种工具使用。

评价脊柱侧量仪是类似于放置在背部弯曲顶峰（顶点）处的水平仪。它比X-线更安全，可用于两次X-线检查之间。 

程序特点：

• 可用于多个用户，并可将他们的数据方便地储存于iPhone中以备将来检查

• 跟踪并储存个人躯干旋转角度（ATR），ATR是脊柱侧弯筛查和制定治疗计划的一个重要指标。

• 跟踪个人身高和体重——是患有脊柱侧弯症成长中的青少年和关注健康状况成年人的理想选择。

• 绘制脊柱侧弯进展图表，使用者很容易了解其脊柱侧弯每月的变化情况。 

• 显示有关脊柱侧弯的最新消息，使用户及时了解和更新。

• 具有全面的帮助，并且容易按照指南进行操作，因此任何人都可在舒适的家中跟踪他们脊柱侧弯的状况。

• 欲了解更多信息或安装用于iPhone、iPod或iPad的Scoliotrack，请访问iTune 网站。

热卖中
要在iTunes点击这里查看

Scoliotrack是使用 iPhone加速表每月跟踪个人的脊柱侧弯状况的一种安全且新颖的方法，iPhone加速表正如医生用的评价脊柱测量仪。评价脊柱测量仪是用于评估一个人脊柱弯曲量的仪器。它也可在脊柱侧弯和脊柱畸形弯曲筛查或后续跟进中作为一种工具使用。

评价脊柱侧量仪是类似于放置在背部弯曲顶峰（顶点）处的水平仪。它比X-线更安全，可用于两次X-线检查之间。 

程序特点：

• 可用于多个用户，并可将他们的数据方便地储存于iPhone中以备将来检查

• 跟踪并储存个人躯干旋转角度（ATR），ATR是脊柱侧弯筛查和制定治疗计划的一个重要指标。

• 跟踪个人身高和体重——是患有脊柱侧弯症成长中的青少年和关注健康状况成年人的理想选择。

• 绘制脊柱侧弯进展图表，使用者很容易了解其脊柱侧弯每月的变化情况。 

• 显示有关脊柱侧弯的最新消息，使用户及时了解和更新。

• 具有全面的帮助，并且容易按照指南进行操作，因此任何人都可在舒适的家中跟踪他们脊柱侧弯的状况。

• 欲了解更多信息或安装用于iPhone、iPod或iPad的Scoliotrack，请访问iTune 网站。

热卖中
要在iTunes点击这里查看

Read More