You may be hardwired to eat more than you should—but here’s how you can still reach your weight-loss goals Continue reading
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The Real Reason You Can’t Shed Pounds
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A New Reason to Love Tofu
Tofu packs way more than just a ton of protein—it also contains an ingredient that could help lower your cancer risk: Soybean peptides may slow cancerous growths, according to a new study published in the journal Food Research International.
Researchers from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville isolated soybean peptides (short chains of amino acids linked by a specific type of bond) by removing the oil, fiber, and carbohydrates from soybeans. They then added the peptides to well-developed cancer cells. The result: Soybean peptides slowed colon cancer cell growth by 73 percent, liver cancer cell growth by 70 percent, and lung cancer cell growth by 68 percent.
One possible reason for these cancer-fighting benefits: Soybean peptides might block one or more of the pathways in cancerous cells where the exchange of gases and nutrients the cell needs to grow and develop take place, says Navam Hettiarachchy, PhD, a professor of food science at the University of Arkansas and one of the study authors. And although these researchers used a concentrated form of soybean peptides, Hettiarachchy says it’s possible that consuming more soy might also help slash your cancer risk.
Up your intake by whipping up one of these tasty tofu recipes:
photo: Levi Brown
photo: Kurt Wilson
photo: Levi Brown
photo: Kate Mathis
photo: Mitch Mandel
photo (top left): iStockphoto/Thinkstock
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Another Reason to Love Organic Tomatoes
Bigger isn’t necessarily better—at least when it comes to tomatoes. According to a new study published in the journal PLOS ONE, organic tomatoes are smaller than conventionally-grown tomatoes. But what they lack in size they make up for in nutrients: Organic tomatoes are packed with more vitamins and minerals than their conventionally-grown counterparts.
Researchers from the Federal University of Ceara in Brazil evaluated both organic and conventional tomatoes (from 30 different plants each) at three different stages of maturity: immature, mature, and at harvesting stage. In the final state, they discovered that organic tomatoes contain 55 percent more vitamin C and 139 percent more phenolic content—compounds that may help fight disease. Exactly why this might be the case is unclear. “Conventional farmers use fertilizer and synthetic pesticides and herbicides, whereas organic farmers often rotate the crops, manage the weeds, and use environmentally-generated compounds,” says Lisa Young, PhD, RD, CDN, a nutritionist who was not involved in the study. All of these factors might affect the nutritional outcome of the crops, Young says.
The findings are a great excuse to load up on organic tomatoes the next time you hit the grocery store. Here are plenty of great recipes that’ll help you put them to good use:
Balsamic Tomato and Roasted Pepper Salad
Linguine with Fresh Tomato Sauce
Halibut with Tomatoes and Olives
Marinated Tomato and Mozzarella Pasta
Rustic Tomato and Roasted Corn Pizza
photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock
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Antioxidants: The 13 Healthiest Foods
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The Weird Reason You’re Starving
The next time you feel positively starving, consider this: you might just be starved for sleep. People feel hungrier and reach for larger portions when they skimp on sleep, according to a new Uppsala University study.
Researchers asked 16 men to select the ideal serving size of meals and snacks before and after they ate breakfast on two separate mornings: once after sleeping for eight hours, and again after they didn’t sleep at all. As it happened, the sleepy guys picked larger portions of all the foods before they ate breakfast. They also were more likely to reach for snack foods—even after a morning meal.
Previous studies have shown that when you stay awake all night, your body burns about 7 percent more calories. So it makes sense that sleep-deprived people compensate by eating a little bit more. But there’s another reason you’re likely to crave salty, sweet, or savory snacks instead of a wholesome meal when you’re tired: Sleep deprivation makes the brain more sensitive to the rewarding properties of food, says study author Pleunie Hogenkamp, Ph.D. Meaning: When your eyelids droop, temping foods seem much more delicious, so you’re more likely to want them in larger quantities.
The best way to prevent your eyes from becoming larger than your stomach is to get sufficient sleep. And when your work schedule (or Homeland marathon habit) interferes with your bedtime? Manage morning hunger pangs with a protein-rich, high-fiber breakfast that includes healthy fats, like quinoa with almond milk, a tablespoon of chopped almonds, and a hard-boiled egg on the side, says Women’s Health nutrition expert Keri Glassman, R.D.
photo: Africa Studio/Shutterstock
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Want a flatter belly, thinner thighs, and toned arms? To transform your body, buy The Spartacus Workout 2-DVD program now!
A New Reason to Sweat
Sweat: It’s hot, smelly, and, let’s face it, not exactly a good time. But according to a new study from the University of Michigan, sweat isn’t all bad: It might actually help your skin heal from cuts and burns faster. (Check out more ways Sweat Helps You.)
Researchers came to those conclusions by rounding up 31 brave participants, and then wounding them with lasers. When they biopsied the injured skin, the team found that one particular variety of sweat glands (called eccrine glands) had actually triggered skin-regenerating stem cells.
Here’s why that matters: Scientists had until now suspected that surface wounds healed from the outside in, thanks to new skin cells being created by existing skin cells around an injury. This new research upends that belief, instead suggesting that the millions of sweat glands lurking beneath the skin catalyze the production of those vital new cells.
(A little sweat is good, but too much can be the pits. Try these easy ways to stop excessive sweating.)
The discovery might one day yield better treatments for slow-to-heal wounds, like ulcers or bedsores. It might also be a great reason to hit the gym a little more often, especially the next time you’ve got a blister or a burn.
But before you decide to skip the shower after your next Zumba class, note that letting sweat linger isn’t going to do your skin any favors (it’s the production of sweat that matters). “Sweating can also trigger excess oil production, which can plug your pores and lead to acne,” says Alicia Zalka, MD, a dermatologist and founder of skin care website Surface Deep. ”Areas like the back, chest, and hairline—where there are a lot of sweat and oil glands—are affected the most.” To keep your skin clean post sweat sessions, opt for for cleansers that contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, says Dr. Zalka. As long as you don’t have sensitive skin, combine them for best results.
Image: Brand X Pictures/Thinkstock
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Reprogram your metabolism, and keep the weight off for good with The Metabolism Miracle. Order now!
The Real Reason for Your Itchy Eyelids (Hint: It’s Not Your Makeup!)
Are your eyelids ever itchy, red, or swollen? Chances are it’s contact dermatitis, an allergic reaction to an irritant. But …
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Healthy Headlines: Fake Sugar, Speedy Workouts, and a New Reason to Dislike Big Rigs
So Sweet: Addicted to diet drinks? The Times weighs the pros and cons of the most popular sugar substitutes. (The …
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