Subtle goal reminders, known as primes, can offset hedonic effects of food and facilitate health behavior

ScienceDaily (July 10, 2012) — Research presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior (SSIB) introduces novel cost-effective strategies to facilitate healthy eating among weight-conscious consumers. A number of experiments, by Esther Papies and colleagues of Utrecht University, The Netherlands, now suggest that simply adding words related to health and weight on posters, restaurant menu's, or recipe cards can stimulate healthy food choices among dieters and overweight individuals, in a variety of real-life settings.

See Also:Health & MedicineDiet and Weight LossObesityStaying HealthyMind & BrainDieting and Weight ControlNutrition ResearchConsumer BehaviorLiving WellReferenceSouth Beach dietOverweightDietingFast food

Affecting the choices of these individuals is especially relevant since their eating behavior is heavily influenced by attractive food temptations which abound in our daily lives. The current living environment in most Western societies makes weight control a difficult enterprise for health-conscious individuals. Numerous studies have now revealed that conscious intentions for healthy eating and dieting are not sufficient for healthy eating pattern -- rather, consumers are heavily influenced by their eating habits, and by food temptations in their environment. Furthermore, people struggling with their weight are especially susceptible to the effects of such easily available food temptations. Chronic dieters and overweight people show strong hedonic responses to tasty, high-calorie food cues in both behavioral and neuro-imaging studies, and easily overeat when they are around attractive food. Thus, it is especially important to bolster these individuals against these detrimental effects of our "obesity promoting environment."

Previous research by Papies and colleagues has shown that priming methods can help dieters eat fewer high-calorie tasty snacks. In a field experiment, customers of a local butcher store were observed on days when a poster announcing a dieting recipe had been mounted on the door, and on other days when the poster was not present. When the diet recipe reminded dieters of their health goal, they ate less of the bite-size meat snacks the store offered than on other days. Customers who were not concerned with controlling their weight were not affected. Thus, goal priming is an effective strategy to help weight-concerned individuals translate their intentions into behavior, especially when faced with temptation .

More recent experiments have replicated this finding in different settings. A study now under review shows that subtle goal primes incorporated into the menu of a restaurant lead overweight and weight-concerned individuals to order more healthy meals, such as salads.

Most recently, this priming method was applied in a field experiment in a grocery store. Here, overweight and diet-concerned individuals who were handed a recipe flyer with health-related words before shopping bought less unhealthy snacks, such as chips, cookies, and cake. Interestingly, this was hardly affected by how much attention participants said they had paid to the recipes. It seems very little conscious awareness is needed for such primes to affect health behavior. Although preliminary, these findings are especially promising: food decisions made in the grocery store affect eating behavior at home, and that means the whole family could benefit.

This technique has great potential as an intervention to help weight control -- it is unobtrusive, easy to implement and low in cost making it attractive to policy makers.

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Energia Wrinkle Cream Has Great Moisturizing Effects

June 30, 2012 by admin

Everyone knows how important it is to have moisturized skin whether you are young or old. This is the main goal of the makers of Borghese Energia Firming Wrinkle Cream. This product is made with their unique Acqua di Vita Complex that makes it a very effective product. It can really moisturize the skin making you look younger as the wrinkles are minimized.

Moisture is a very important component of the skin. It is able to keep the skin healthy and resistant to the formation of wrinkles. In addition to this, any imperfections and rough spots on the face will be removed. Moisturized skin will be smoother and more flawless.

Having said that, you can rely on Acqua di Vita Complex to keep the skin hydrated 24/7. If you are afraid of dry skin, then this is what you need. A simple product like Borghese will give you enough moisturizing effect on the skin. You will keep the skin soft and supple unlike before. You can expect the skin to improve its condition.

As a consumer, you do not only have to use a product with moisturizing properties. There are other factors that you have to consider when you use a wrinkle cream. If you want to eliminate wrinkles, you should look for more reliable ingredients. With this wrinkle cream, you will find more ingredients uses for this.

Its main ingredient used for fighting against wrinkles is Ceramide 2. One problem with this is that Ceramide 2 also relies on its hydrating effects to eliminate wrinkles. Because of this, it does not seem like a very reliable ingredient when it comes to eliminating wrinkles.

If you want a better ingredient used in this, you will find that there is a whole range of antioxidants incorporated in the formulation. It contains Vitamins A, C and E which can do good to the skin. The free radicals which may have formed will be destroyed by these. Plus, you can guarantee that the skin will be protected from any free radicals.

Another significant ingredient that you will find in Borghese is the hydroxyl acids. These are exfoliants that remove the dead skin cells from the face. It can lessen the wrinkles and regenerate new skin cells. Slowly, when the skin starts to exfoliate, the wrinkles will then become less obvious. You will start notice that you will get beautiful and glowing skin.

The Borghese Energia Forming Wrinkle Creams is a fairly good product that you can consider. If you Acqua di Vita Complex want to prevent your skin from drying, this is what you need. You will be able to protect the skin from any additional damages that it can have. But as an anti-wrinkle cream, this may not be the best product to choose. You will find other products that may have better anti-wrinkle ingredients.

Anti Aging

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Effects of High Blood Pressure Drug May Mimic Celiac Disease

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See Visible Effects With Anti Wrinkle Cream

May 22, 2012 by admin

Many of us have purchased an Anti Wrinkle Cream in the past that promised to deliver the whole world but fell flat when the time came to deliver.

Sometimes the manufacturers say that only prolonged usage will bring visible results. But, is it really a question of time or is there something that we need to know? I guess the latter is true. Some characteristics of wrinkle creams actually deliver. It takes more than reducing wrinkles to see visible effects. The product must be able to help in many ways to treat wrinkled skin completely.

Here are a few:

Discoloration: Anti Wrinkle Face Creams should also be able to treat discoloration. Apart from wrinkles, discolorations and blemishes on the skin are also due to the aging process. They are not very visible in the early stages but they become a menace later on. Depending on what stage you are, your Anti Wrinkle Cream must be able to prevent and reverse discoloration if it is to produce effective results in the long run. A wrinkle free face with discoloration will not give you too much beauty or confidence.

Sun Damage: The aging process is also amplified by sun damage. Sunrays can increase production of melanin in some localized spots leading to darker color for your face than other parts of your body that are not exposed to sunrays. There are spots on the skin with excess pigmentation. This is where wrinkle creams should focus. Of course, to fully cure sun damage, you will need a separate treatment but top-notch creams are known to work to reduce this damage and gave a better overall appearance to the user.

Corner of Eye Problems: Many people have wrinkles at the corner of their eyes. These are known as crows feet and occur due to excessive stress of todays lifestyle. Once again, the anti wrinkle cream must work towards lightening them and removing their effects. Having wrinkles at the corners of your eyes can make you look older than you actually are.

The perfect wrinkle cream is one that offers a complete anti aging solution rather than an isolated treatment for wrinkles. Some companies understand this. They understand that they are in the business of making customers look and feel better, giving them confidence and improving lives. Mere removal of wrinkles will not have that effect.

So, the next time you go to the store to buy an anti wrinkle cream, check whether or not it is a complete solution. It may even be worthwhile to discuss this with your dermatologist before you make your final choice.

Anti Aging

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Anti-Aging Cures: Life Changing Secrets to Reverse the Effects of Aging

Are you tired of searching for the fountain of youth? Well, look no more. In this book, Nevada medical oncologist Dr. James Forsythe, one of the world’s leading anti-aging experts, reveals how to slow and even reverse the aging process. Based on meticulously researched clinical evidence, this book provides an account of revolutionary anti-aging treatments that can prevent the health conditions associated with getting old.The key to youth, good health, and vitality as we age comes from our body’s Master Hormone that naturally produces human growth hormone (HGH ). As we advance in years, the body produces less and less of this vital hormone and we begin to see and feel symptoms of the aging process.By rejuvenating the Master Hormone gland using a range of safe and natural Bio-Stimulators, as this book shows, we improve the quality and duration of the human lifespan, prevent heart disease and obesity, and maintain optimal health as we mature. The medically documented and proven benefi

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Many Primary Care Docs Don't Know Long-Term Effects of Chemo: Survey

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US warns two drugs may have sexual side effects

The Merck Pharmaceutical Company …

Two Merck drugs for treating male baldness and enlarged prostate will now carry extended labels to add more possible sexual side effects, US regulators said.

The changes involve Propecia and Proscar, both of which contain the active ingredient finasteride, after patients reported additional adverse effects that were not apparent at the time of the drugs' approval, the US Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

The new Propecia label will include "libido disorders, ejaculation disorders, and orgasm disorders that continued after discontinuation of the drug," the FDA said. Propecia is a drug to treat male baldness.

Proscar, which treats symptoms of enlarged prostate, will now have a label that adds "decreased libido that continued after discontinuation of the drug."

In addition, both labels are being revised to "include a description of reports of male infertility and/or poor semen quality that normalized or improved after drug discontinuation," the FDA said.

FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Yao said the drugs were previously known to cause adverse sexual events in a small number of patients, and that information was included on labels at the time of approval.

The latest labeling change "expands the list of sexual adverse events reported to the FDA postmarketing," she told AFP, adding that "no new clinical studies were reviewed to evaluate these adverse events."

Proscar was approved for the US market in 1992 and Propecia in 1997. In 2011, both drugs' labels were "revised to include erectile dysfunction that continued after drug discontinuation," the FDA said.

Last year, labels for Proscar and Propecia were also changed to advise of the possibility of an increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer.

The agency noted that even though "clear causal links between finasteride (Propecia and Proscar) and sexual adverse events have NOT been established, the cases suggest a broader range of adverse effects than previously reported in patients taking these drugs."

Since these side effects may be important to some patients, doctors were urged to discuss them with patients when deciding on treatment options.

In the case of Propecia, clinical trials showed 3.8 percent of men had reported one or more adverse sexual experiences, compared to 2.1 percent who were taking a placebo.

"Propecia and Proscar are generally well tolerated and effective for their respective intended uses in accordance with their approved product labeling," Merck said in a statement.

The company added that "a causal relationship between the use of Propecia or Proscar and continued sexual dysfunction after discontinuation of treatment has not been established," and expressed support for ongoing monitoring of adverse event reports.

ksh/mk

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US warns two drugs may have sexual side effects

The Merck Pharmaceutical Company …

Two Merck drugs for treating male baldness and enlarged prostate will now carry extended labels to add more possible sexual side effects, US regulators said.

The changes involve Propecia and Proscar, both of which contain the active ingredient finasteride, after patients reported additional adverse effects that were not apparent at the time of the drugs' approval, the US Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

The new Propecia label will include "libido disorders, ejaculation disorders, and orgasm disorders that continued after discontinuation of the drug," the FDA said. Propecia is a drug to treat male baldness.

Proscar, which treats symptoms of enlarged prostate, will now have a label that adds "decreased libido that continued after discontinuation of the drug."

In addition, both labels are being revised to "include a description of reports of male infertility and/or poor semen quality that normalized or improved after drug discontinuation," the FDA said.

FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Yao said the drugs were previously known to cause adverse sexual events in a small number of patients, and that information was included on labels at the time of approval.

The latest labeling change "expands the list of sexual adverse events reported to the FDA postmarketing," she told AFP, adding that "no new clinical studies were reviewed to evaluate these adverse events."

Proscar was approved for the US market in 1992 and Propecia in 1997. In 2011, both drugs' labels were "revised to include erectile dysfunction that continued after drug discontinuation," the FDA said.

Last year, labels for Proscar and Propecia were also changed to advise of the possibility of an increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer.

The agency noted that even though "clear causal links between finasteride (Propecia and Proscar) and sexual adverse events have NOT been established, the cases suggest a broader range of adverse effects than previously reported in patients taking these drugs."

Since these side effects may be important to some patients, doctors were urged to discuss them with patients when deciding on treatment options.

In the case of Propecia, clinical trials showed 3.8 percent of men had reported one or more adverse sexual experiences, compared to 2.1 percent who were taking a placebo.

"Propecia and Proscar are generally well tolerated and effective for their respective intended uses in accordance with their approved product labeling," Merck said in a statement.

The company added that "a causal relationship between the use of Propecia or Proscar and continued sexual dysfunction after discontinuation of treatment has not been established," and expressed support for ongoing monitoring of adverse event reports.

ksh/mk

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New evidence on effects of green coffee beans in weight loss

ScienceDaily (Mar. 27, 2012) — Scientists have just reported striking new evidence that green, or unroasted, coffee beans can produce a substantial decrease in body weight in a relatively short period of time.

See Also:Health & MedicineDiet and Weight LossObesityFitnessPlants & AnimalsFoodAgriculture and FoodMiceLiving WellReferenceSouth Beach dietZone dietHealth benefits of teaOverweight

In a study presented at the 243rd National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society, Joe Vinson, Ph.D., and colleagues described how a group of overweight or obese people who consumed a fraction of an ounce of ground green coffee beans each day lost about 10 percent of their body weight.

"Based on our results, taking multiple capsules of green coffee extract a day -- while eating a low-fat, healthful diet and exercising regularly -- appears to be a safe, effective, inexpensive way to lose weight," Vinson said at the ACS meeting, being held in San Diego the week of March 26.  He is with the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania.

The study involved 16 overweight or obese people aged 22-26 years who took capsules of the extract or capsules containing a placebo, an inactive powder, for a total of 22 weeks. The subjects alternated between a low dose and a higher dose of the extract. The low dose consisted of 700 mg of the coffee extract, and the high dose was 1,050 mg. It was a so-called "cross-over" study in which people cycled through the two doses and the placebo, each for six weeks. Such studies have advantages because each person serves as his or her own "control," improving the chances of getting an accurate result.

All of the participants were monitored for their overall diet (calories, food eaten, etc.) and exercise over the study period. "Their calories, carbohydrates, fats and protein intake did not change during the study, nor did their exercise regimen change," Vinson said.

Participants lost an average of 17 pounds during the 22 weeks of the study. It included an average of a 10.5 percent decrease in overall body weight and a 16 percent decrease in body fat. Vinson noted that weight loss might have been significantly faster, except that participants received the placebo and the lower dose of green coffee extract for part of the study period.

Vinson pointed out that previous studies have shown weight loss with green coffee. But this was the first to use higher amounts of the coffee extract and the first to measure the response to various doses. Based on those studies, Vinson believes that green coffee beans' effects likely are due to a substance called chlorogenic acid that is present in unroasted coffee beans. Chlorogenic acid breaks down when coffee beans are roasted (usually at a temperature of 464-482 degrees Fahrenheit). Roasting gives coffee beans their distinctive color, aroma and flavor. Green coffee beans, in contrast, have little aroma and a slightly bitter taste.

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