Science Weekly
A weekly round up of scientific research for personal trainers. Join for free to get Science Weekly updates delivered straight to your inbox.
 This week's papers bring a variety of topics that are pretty intriguing for personal trainers and clients alike. From disease prevention through exercise links with cancer to sports science, everybody can find something they will find interesting. Let's see the highlights:
Bacterial metabolism of dietary soy may lower risk factor for dementiaA metabolite produced following consumption of dietary soy may decrease a key risk factor for dementia - with the help of the right bacteria, according to a new discovery. Source: University of Pittsburgh Obesity and disease tied to dramatic dietary changes The 'mismatch hypothesis' argues that our bodies evolved to digest the foods that our ancestors ate, and that human bodies will struggle and largely fail to metabolize a radically new set of foods. This intuitive idea is hard to test directly, but the Turkana, a pastoralist population in remote Kenya, present a natural experiment: genetically homogenous populations whose diets stretch across a lifestyle gradient from relatively 'matched' to extremely 'mismatched' with their recent evolutionary history. Source: Princeton University Artificially sweetened drinks may not be heart healthier than sugary drinks Research shows high consumption of both types of beverages associated with higher risk of heart disease Sugary drinks and artificially sweetened beverages are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, which suggests artificially sweetened beverages may not be the healthy alternative they are often claimed to be, according to a research letter. Source: American College of Cardiology Hard physical work may significantly increase the risk of dementia Men in jobs with hard physical work have a higher risk of developing dementia compared to men doing sedentary work, new research reveals. The researchers therefore urge the health authorities to make their recommendations concerning physical activity more specific. Source: University of Copenhagen The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences How exercise stalls cancer growth through the immune system People with cancer who exercise generally have a better prognosis than inactive patients. Now, researchers have found a likely explanation of why exercise helps slow down cancer growth in mice: Physical activity changes the metabolism of the immune system's cytotoxic T cells and thereby improves their ability to attack cancer cells. Source: Karolinska Institutet Exercising one arm has twice the benefits New research has revealed that training one arm can improve strength and decrease muscle loss in the other arm -- without even moving it. The findings could help to address the muscle wastage and loss of strength often experienced in an immobilized arm, such as after injury, by using eccentric exercise on the opposing arm. Source: Edith Cowan University Judges' decisions in sport focus more on vigor than skill Researchers analyzed almost 550 men's and women's mixed martial arts contests, using data collated for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and found the rate at which competitors fight is more likely to result in judges awarding victory than the skill with which they attack their opponents. Source: University of Plymouth World's first agreed guidance for people with diabetes to exercise safely An academic has helped draw up a landmark agreement amongst international experts, setting out the world's first standard guidance on how people with diabetes can use modern glucose monitoring devices to help them exercise safely. The guidance will be a crucial resource for healthcare professionals around the world, so they can help people with type 1 diabetes. Source: Swansea University Black soldier fly larvae as protein alternative for hungry humans Black soldier fly larvae contains more zinc and iron than lean meat and its calcium content is higher than milk. Less than half a hectare of black soldier fly larvae can produce more protein than cattle grazing on around 1200 hectares, or 52 hectares of soybeans. New research has identified the barriers for introducing fly protein into Western human diets as a sustainable, healthy alternative to both meat and plant proteins. Source: University of Queensland High-sugar diet can damage the gut, intensifying risk for colitis Mice fed diets high in sugar developed worse colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and researchers examining their large intestines found more of the bacteria that can damage the gut's protective mucus layer. Source: UT Southwestern Medical Center Social isolation puts women at higher risk of hypertension Researchers are discovering that social isolation affects the health of men and women in different ways -- including placing women at higher risk of high blood pressure.
Source: University of British Columbia |
