It’s impossible to eat too healthfully. A good diet will help you lose weight, stay fit, and feel great. Can’t argue with that!

But eating a healthy diet might also improve how well you think.

Published in the journal Hypertension, researchers found people who eat right had better cognitive function.

For the study, scientists followed 124 men and women with high blood pressure, age 52, and a minimum of 15 pounds overweight.

Depending on their grouping, individuals were either instructed to continue eating as they normally do or switch to a healthy diet.

And when given tests to assess mental function – in this case crossing off specific digits on a piece of paper as quickly as possible – individuals on a healthy diet did 30% better than individuals on a normal diet.

Regular exercise also contributed to the group’s success.

Researchers add that the diet and exercise groups lost an average of 19 pounds and lowered their blood pressure.

Via HealthDay News.

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Carrying around a lot of extra weight has to be murder on your legs. It must wreak havoc on your knees, ankles, and joints.

Turns out it does, especially in kids. Overweight or obese children are twice as likely to sprain something as normal weight kids.

Writing in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found obese children tended to suffer more lower body injuries, while thinner – more active – kids endured more sporting injuries, like lacerations and bumps on the head.

Data on 23,000 children, ages 3 to 14, revealed the obese children – one in six of the kids studied – had more lower extremity injuries with a 30% risk, compared to an 18% risk for normal weight children.

And obese kids had a 10% risk to suffer head or face injuries, while thinner children only had a 18% chance.

Researchers point out that both obese children and adults take longer to recover from physical injuries.

Via Reuters.

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If you’re overweight, odds are you don’t feel that good about yourself. And most likely if you’re depressed, you’re a wreck too.

A lot of people use food as a drug; junk food is an awesome cure-all.

So it should be no surprise that researchers found a link between depression and obesity – and vise-versa.

Published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, scientists found a “bidirectional” association; meaning obese people had a 55% risk of developing depression, and depressed individuals were 58% more likely to become obese.

Other then the obvious – feeling bad and eating too much – the scientists attribute inflammatory effects of obesity to depression, social pressure to be thin, and the chemical effects of depression and depression medication may interfere with the endocrine system.

So the researchers suggest doctors monitor depressed people’s weight and obese individuals mood.

Via HealthDay News.

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Heart disease doesn’t just happen. Diet, exercise habits, and genetics all contribute to risk. So does obesity.

And not just overweight or obese adults, even young children – like six year olds – can begin to show signs of cardiovascular disease.

Published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found higher levels of C-reactive protein – a marker for artery inflammation and heart disease – among obese children.

High C-reactive protein levels were evident in overweight children ages 6 and 9.

Here’s the problem. Adults know – because they are bombarded with messages – that being overweight, not exercising enough, and eating poorly aren’t healthy, but young children are more oblivious.

So the researchers say obtaining C-reactive protein levels in obese children could help motivate parents and doctors to intervene.

Via HealthDay News.

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Nobody wants to lose their marbles when they get old and gray. Good thing there’s something you can do about it.

Stay active. Published in the Archives of Neurology, experts found doing moderate intensity exercise, like walking, swimming, and yoga, at middle age helped reduce the risk of thinking problems later in life.

Researchers studied 33 adults with mild cognitive impairments, with twenty-three of them exercising on a treadmill or stationary bike for 45 to 60 minutes, four times a week for six months.

Ten participants, serving as a control group, only did stretching.

After the six months, people doing the aerobic exercise had improved cognitive abilities, plus better concentration, organization, planning, and the ability to multi-task. While the ten not exercising continued to show mental decline.

Looks like big dumb jocks aren’t so dumb after all.

Via Reuters.

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It’s hard to resist back-to-back episodes of Sanford and Son, but too many marathons of TV watching may shorten your life, especially if you endlessly channel surf every day.

Published in the journal Circulation, scientists found each hour spent sitting in front of the television raised a person’s risk of dying prematurely from heart disease.

For the study, experts tracked the lifestyle habits of 8,800 adults; such as smoking, diet, exercise, waist measurement, and high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Data showed every hour spent in front of the television was associated with an 11% higher risk of dying from all causes; 9% higher risk of cancer death; and an 18% increased risk of death due to cardiovascular disease.

And people watching more than four hours of TV each day had a 46% higher risk of death from all causes and an 80% higher risk of heart disease related death.

So if you take in a little too much boob-tube every day, you’ll be doing the Fred Sanford chest grab for real.

Via Reuters.

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