A new study from the Lancet Child & Adolescent Health found that higher test scores for United States students aged 8 through 11 came down to three factors: a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity a day, nine to 11 hours of sleep a night, and no more than two hours a day of recreational screen time. Kids who did all of those things had test scores that were four percent higher. Of the 4520 students examined, only 216, or 5 percent, of them met that criteria.

Recommended: Myth of Moderate Alcohol Benefits Debunked, and How Science Gets Corrupted

Take Advantage of Synergy

All three of these factors amplify each other, making this a compelling study.

Of the three elements identified, more children were getting enough sleep and watched less than two hours of screens a day. Only 18 percent of kids were getting at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. Many adults are in the same boat, with the CDC reporting that only 23% of adults in the U.S. get enough exercise.

Getting enough exercise or physical movement can also affect sleep in profound ways. A study in the journal Sleep Medicine found that insomniacs got 85 more minutes of sleep a night after working out for four months. Sleep is especially important for young people. Another study recently found that high school students who got less than six hours of sleep a night were twice as likely to report drug use or poor decision-making skills.

One of the most commonly cited reasons for insufficient sleep? Screen time, especially before bed. Screens can delay bedtime. They also make it harder for kids to wind down and disrupt the body’s natural circadian rhythms. Excess screen time for children can lead to issues with cognitive functions, like language ability, memory, and task completion.

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In Combination

When you consider how intertwined all of these factors are, it makes sense that kids that get enough sleep, exercise, and avoid excess screens are scoring higher on tests. Our take? Check out their diet, too. While we’re all aware of the effect of too much sugar on kids and bedtime, getting the right nutrition goes way beyond that. This study examines the steps needed to set students up for success, and diet is absolutely the foundation.

Sources:

• Too much screen time, too little horseplay for kids: study – Digital Journal
• Associations between 24 hour movement behaviours and global cognition in US children: a cross-sectional observational study – The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health
• The Sleep and Exercise Connection That Can Change Your Life and Your Workouts – Shape
• Study flags later risks for sleep-deprived kids – Harvard Gazette
• New Study Shows Lack of Sleep in Teens Is Associated with Risky Behavior – Boston Magazine

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is responsible for as much as 70 percent of infertility issues in women. In fact, this disorder affects one out of every ten women of childbearing age, and yet, few women are aware of PCOS and its symptoms.

Common Symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Before we explore why PCOS happens and how we can reverse it, we must first get familiar with it. Here are the most common symptoms of PCOS:

• irregular periods
• amenorrhea (the absence of menstruation)
• trouble conceiving a child
• infertility
• fatigue
• mood swings
• low sex drive
• weight gain
• trouble losing weight
• acne
• hirsutism (excessive hair growth on the face, abdomen, chest, and back)
• thinning hair

From fatigue to infertility to unsightly hair growth, these symptoms are a random assortment of things that no man or woman would ever want to experience. Could these all be a part of one disorder?

Unfortunately, the answer is yes. However, there is a silver lining — all of the PCOS symptoms point to the same underlying cause.

Related Reading: Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones

What Causes Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?

To understand how PCOS happens, we must understand the nature of this disease.

When we dig through the research the first evidence we come across is that women with PCOS have an increased risk for:

• hypertension
• dyslipidemia
• insulin resistance
• obesity
• glucose intolerance
• diabetes

These conditions are all a manifestation of poor lifestyle choices (overeating and inactivity), but we cannot draw the same conclusion about PCOS by looking only at its associated risks. Let’s look a bit deeper into the cells of a woman with PCOS (I know it sounds a bit creepy, but bear with me here.)

Must Read: The Top 10 Supplements You Can Use To Reverse Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The common consensus among PCOS researchers is that most women with PCOS have higher levels of insulin and insulin resistance than normal women. This is an important clue that points us to the cause of PCOS.

How Insulin and Insulin Resistance Cause PCOS

You probably already know by now that insulin resistance has something to do with diabetes and obesity, but did you know that it can also cause infertility and other PCOS symptoms? Let’s find out how.

When cells are consistently resistant to insulin, insulin levels continue to rise. High insulin levels trigger the ovaries to produce more androgens, including testosterone. Insulin also decreases the production of sex-hormone binding globulin — a glycoprotein that prevents testosterone from freely entering cells.

Related: Diabetes, Endocrine Functions of the Pancreas, and Natural Healing

With more androgen production and less sex-hormone binding globulin, free testosterone freely floats through the blood and interacts with cells. This is not a good thing for a woman’s health, leading to mood swings, fatigue, low sex drive, acne, and other PCOS symptoms.

As androgen levels continue to increase, they stimulate 5-alpha reductase activity — an enzyme that converts testosterone to a more potent metabolite called DHT. (You may be familiar with DHT as one of the instigators of male pattern baldness and thinning hair.)

Although genetics play a role in PCOS as well, the disorder will not progress without the presence of high insulin levels and insulin resistance. To create a chronic state of insulin resistance and elevated insulin levels, it takes a combination of poor lifestyle habits that contribute to many common diseases.

The Seven Lifestyle Factors That Cause PCOS

If you want to prevent PCOS or reverse it (or improve your health rapidly), avoid these things:

• high sugar foods
• excess calorie consumption
• chronic stress
• inactivity
• too much exercise
• exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (e.g., Bisphenol A, Methylparaben, Nicotine, Sodium Fluoride, PBDEs/PCBs, etc. )
• having a high percentage of body fat (being overweight or obese)
• having a low percentage of body fat due to unhealthy calorie restriction

Each one contributes to PCOS in some way. High sugar foods, excess calorie consumption, and inactivity increase insulin levels and insulin resistance, making PCOS worse. Chronic stress, over-exercising, and having a low body fat percentage will increase cortisol levels, creating more insulin resistance.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals can also exacerbate PCOS symptoms. These chemicals can cause hormonal imbalances and cell damage, so it is important to avoid consuming them or putting them on your skin.

However, avoiding these PCOS contributors may not completely reverse the disorder. To get the best results, you need to follow a diet that addresses the underlying cause of PCOS — insulin resistance.

Is There a PCOS Diet?

The scientific literature on diets for PCOS is sparse. However, the researchers of a treatment review suggest that PCOS women will do best by eating complex carbohydrates and avoiding sugar. This suggestion was confirmed in one study on the effects of low-glycemic index diet in women with PCOS.

To find more convincing evidence for a PCOS diet, we must look at the diets that are most helpful for addressing the disorders underlying causes. After sifting through the research, the low-carbohydrate diet is the clear winner. It is more effective at reducing insulin levels and insulin resistance than every other diet it was put up against.

There is one important caveat. Carbohydrate restriction may cause stress and make PCOS worse for some women. This is why it is important for women with PCOS to follow the guidelines below.

Related: 80% Raw Food Diet

The New And Improved PCOS Diet

A low-carbohydrate diet can help many women reverse their PCOS. For some women, however, carbohydrate restriction may cause excess stress and keep them from getting results. This is why it is important to follow these guidelines to create the right PCOS diet for you:

1. Restrict Carbohydrate and Sugar Intake

Experts suggest that women should eat between 75 and 150 grams of carbohydrates to maintain fertility and improve insulin levels. It is important to avoid consuming refined sugar as well. The best way to do this is by sourcing your carbohydrates from whole plant foods like leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, root vegetables, and legumes.

Related: Are Low-Carbohydrate Diets Healthy for Women? How Do Carbs Affect Fertility and Pregnancy?

2. Eat High-Fiber Vegetables With Every Meal

High-fiber vegetables, like broccoli, kale, and spinach, can help combat insulin resistance and reduce inflammation. Have them with every meal for best results.

3. Eat Enough Calories to Achieve Your Ideal Weight

If you are overweight or unhealthily skinny, tracking your calories can help you reach a healthy weight. (I prefer to use MyFitnessPal to calculate calorie goals and increase my awareness of what I’m eating.) After about a month or so of tracking your calories, you’ll develop a greater intuitive sense of how to maintain a healthy weight.

By following these guidelines, you will be able to lower your insulin levels, balance your hormones, and reverse many of the PCOS symptoms. However, the wrong lifestyle can still get in the way of the right diet. This is why it is important to follow the lifestyle tips below to improve your health even further.

The Lifestyle That Helps Reverse PCOS

Combining a vegetable-rich sugar-free diet with exercise, sleep, and meditation is one of the most efficient ways to reverse PCOS.

1. Exercise

What kind of exercise should you do? It’s up to you. Many different types of exercise have been found to help women with PCOS including resistance training, aerobic exercise, and yoga.

Make sure you are getting at least 30 minutes of low to moderate intensity exercise, like yoga, cycling, or a brisk walk, every day. (Add in resistance training, three days a week, for even better results.)

It is also important to prioritize stress reduction as well. The more stressed you are, the more insulin resistant your cells will be. This will cause an increase in insulin levels and PCOS symptoms. The simplest way to reduce stress levels? Sleep and meditation.

2. Sleep

The most efficient way to reduce stress levels is with sleep. However, getting quality sleep may be more difficult for women with PCOS. In a review published in Human Reproduction, researchers found that “sleep disturbances were twice as common in women with PCOS,” and women with PCOS especially had difficulty falling asleep.

However, there is some good news for these women. Sleep disturbances will most likely be cleared up by the diet and lifestyle suggestions in this article so that they can finally get a restful sleep. For those that still struggle with sleep issues after following our suggestions, meditation will help tremendously.

3. Meditation

Studies have shown that meditation lowers cortisol levels and improves blood sugar levels, which creates a reduction in insulin resistance and insulin secretion. Meditating 30 minutes before you plan on going to sleep is a great way to improve sleep quality and reduce stress at the same time.

Putting it all Together — The Ideal Diet and Lifestyle for Women with PCOS

Here’s a simple breakdown of the diet and lifestyle that will help reverse PCOS:

• Limit sugar and carbohydrate intake
• Eat high-fiber, low-carbohydrate vegetables with each meal
• Eat enough calories to achieve your ideal weight (use MyFitnessPal to assist you with that)
• Exercise for at least 30 minutes every day
• Meditate every night before sleep
• Make sure you are getting 7-9 hours of sleep every night

and last but not least:

• If you need more help, consider using the natural supplements that you will find in this article to reverse PCOS. 

Editor’s Note:

Eliminate wheat, eliminate candida, and consider progesterone (I particularly like this Progesterone Plus with black cohosh and chasteberry) – but if the wheat and candida are eliminated you shouldn’t need progesterone (or any of the other aforementioned supplements).

Best Supplements To Kill Candida and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Fungal Infections

Recommended Reading:

• The Top 10 Supplements You Can Use To Reverse Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
• Are Low-Carbohydrate Diets Healthy for Women? How Do Carbs Affect Fertility and Pregnancy?
• Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones
• Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included

Sources:

• Insulin Resistance and the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Mechanism and Implications for Pathogenesis — Oxford Academic
• Polycystic ovary syndrome: etiology, pathogenesis and diagnosis — Nature
• Can My Diet Relieve Symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)? — Healthline
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) — Deep Dyve
  
• The effects of a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet on the polycystic ovary syndrome: A pilot study — BioMed Central
• Dietary Composition in the Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review to Inform Evidence-Based Guidelines — Science Direct
• No. 1 Cause of Infertility? Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome — Dr. Axe
• Cortisol-Induced Insulin Resistance in Man: Impaired Suppression of Glucose Production and Stimulation of Glucose Utilization due to a Postreceptor Defect of Insulin Action — Oxford Academic
• Abdominal fat and what to do about it — Harvard Health Publications
• State of the science of endocrine disrupting chemicals – 2012 — World Health Organization
• Effect of a low glycemic index compared with a conventional healthy diet on polycystic ovary syndrome — American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
• MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION IS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPROVED GLYCEMIC CONTROL IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS: A PILOT STUDY — ProQuest
• Effect of buddhist meditation on serum cortisol and total protein levels, blood pressure, pulse rate, lung volume and reaction time — Science Direct
• The effect of flaxseed supplementation on body weight and body composition: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 45 randomized placebo-controlled trials — Wiley Online Library
• The Effect of Flaxseed Supplementation on Hormonal Levels Associated with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Case Study — NCBI
• Sleep Duration, Exercise, Shift Work and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome-Related Outcomes in a Healthy Population: A Cross-Sectional Study. — NCBI
• Sleep disturbances in a community-based sample of women with polycystic ovary syndrome. — NCBI
• Effect of a yoga program on glucose metabolism and blood lipid levels in adolescent girls with polycystic ovary syndrome. — NCBI
• Effects of a holistic yoga program on endocrine parameters in adolescents with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. — NCBI
• Effects of supervised aerobic training on the levels of anti-Mullerian hormone and adiposity measures in women with normo-ovulatory and polycystic ovary syndrome. — NCBI
• Resistance Exercise Impacts Lean Muscle Mass in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. — NCBI
• Systematic review and meta-analysis of dietary carbohydrate restriction in patients with type 2 diabetes — BMJ

It sounds like the latest Star Wars movie or a villain from Marvel Comics, but this “phantom menace” is not fiction. It’s a deadly superbug with a twist. Classified as a Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE, this class of bacteria is not only antibiotic resistant to last-resort antibiotics, it has the ability to pass on its antibiotic resistance to other bacteria in the body. Like other superbugs, the phantom menace is associated with healthcare centers (like hospitals, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities) and results in a high mortality rate of 50% or more.

From 2010 through 2015, the CDC has confirmed 43 phantom menace cases in the U.S. from 19 states. The CDC reports that the majority of patients were exposed and infected outside of the United States. While 43 is a very small number, the CDC is concerned because they believe this is just the tip of the iceberg. These types of superbugs are believed to be on the rise and under diagnosed.

The phantom menace bacteria pass on antibiotic resistance through a plasmid, a small DNA molecule with the ability to replicate independently. It includes an enzyme that breaks down antibiotics. It is this plasmid that can transfer antibiotic resistance to other bacteria in our bodies. Basically, the non-superbug bacteria become infected with a resistant gene from the superbug bacteria and then continue spreading the resistant gene creating new strains of superbugs.

The worst-case scenario is not far fetched. The Washing Post quotes Lance Price, director of the Antibiotic Resistance Action Center at George Washington University’s Milken Institute of Public Health, as saying, “History shows that these mobile resistance genes can spread around the world quickly, silently riding in people, animals and food.”

The superbug gene, MCR-1, is becoming more common in China and has recently shown up in Demark, fueling the concern that it will spread worldwide. Researchers in China tested marketplace meats and slaughterhouse pigs looking for the gene. It was found in 20% of the pigs and 15% of the meat.

Once again this very real threat is man-made. Researchers have concluded that drugs given the pigs in China provided the breeding grounds for the bacteria. If we continue the inhumane and dangerous practice of factory farming, feeding animals both prophylactic and indicated antibiotics, we will continue to breed new threats to worldwide health.

If we as individuals continue to use antibiotics when they are not needed along with antibiotic soaps, hand wipes, and cleaning solutions, we are part of the problem. We are aiding bacteria in their natural progression toward antibiotic resistance.

Recommended Reading:

• Make Your Immune System Bulletproof with These Natural Remedies
• Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included
• How to Cure Lyme Disease, and Virtually Any Other Bacterial Infection, Naturally

Sources:

• Superbug known as ‘phantom menace’ on the rise in U.S. – The Washington Post
• Notes from the Field: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae Producing OXA-48-like Carbapenemases — United States, 2010–2015 – CDC
• A ‘superbug’ emerges in China to remind us that antibiotics won’t last forever – The Washington Post

Everybody knows that exercise is good for the whole body, and is an integral part of total wellness. Some studies have examined how exercise affects the brain, cognition, and even mental health, though they often focus on cardio. For the first time, scientists are taking a closer look at what happens to the brain when people embark on a weight lifting or resistance training regimen. Though more studies will need to be conducted, the preliminary results suggest more people should be headed to the gym if they want to beef up their brains.

Our Brains are Plastic and Malleable

The human body is absolutely remarkable, and when given the nutrients it needs, it runs efficiently. It fights infections, manages toxins, and even repairs the damage we subject it to. The brain does this, too, and continually sheds and adds connections and neurons throughout the course of our lives. This type of adaptability is why some people recover from strokes or brain injuries particularly well. When one pathway stops working, another will open up, and information continues to flow freely.  Generally speaking, a person who lives a healthy life and provides the brain with healthy nutrients while limiting toxins and avoiding damage, has a higher chance of recovery from a serious incident.

Unfortunately, the Brain’s Ability to Repair Itself Tends to Decline with Age

By late middle age, most people start to notice the effects of age on their bodies. Vision starts to fade, the skin loses some elasticity, and fine lines begin to form. One symptom people can’t see, however, are age-related brain lesions within the white matter. In more youthful years, these lesions or holes would likely repair themselves, but with age, they often widen or multiply. The white matter is responsible for passing messages from one section of the brain to another, so as damage progresses, memory begins to fade. While the presence of lesions does not necessarily mean that cognition has declined, studies have shown that those who have more lesions have less mental dexterity.

Previous Studies Have Shown  Aerobic Exercise Slows Cognitive Loss

Research has shown cognitive loss can often be prevented or at least slowed. Prior studies have shown that people who exercise regularly have fewer lesions, and those who begin an exercise routine can actually slow down the formation of new lesions. Professor Teresa Liu-Ambrose of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver likens the brain to muscles. Both tend to shrink with age, but if a person uses them, they will stay stronger.

People often notice the change in gait that comes with age, which is usually attributed to a loss of muscle mass. After all, it’s difficult to walk smoothly and steadily when muscles begin to shrivel. However, scientists have now discovered that there’s a link between gait and white matter lesions. Whether the loss of steadiness leads to a decline in brain health or both are symptoms of the same cause remains unclear. In any case, both cognitive ability and gait are improved with aerobic exercise.

The New Study Indicates that Resistance Training Helps Maintain Brain Health

Professor Liu-Ambrose hypothesized that if aerobics can help maintain brain health, perhaps weight lifting can, too. She gathered together a group of women between the age of 65 and 75 who already had lesions in their white matter. With the assistance of nursing care, each participant’s speed and gait were measured. A control group was instructed to engage in balance training and stretching. The rest worked both the upper and lower body with light weight training. Half of the weight training group worked out once a week; half worked out twice a week.  After a year, gait and speed were measured again, and another brain scan was performed. The control group experienced an all-around decline and developed more lesions. Weekly weight training participants also declined and developed more lesions. However, those who hit the gym twice each week developed fewer lesions. Their speed and gait was better than those in the other groups, too.

More research still needs to be done to see how much improvement can come from lifting weights. It’s possible that additional time at the gym can produce more dramatic results, though benefits might cap off at two visits per week.

Recommended Reading:

• How Candida Leads to Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, and Other Mental Disorders
• Increase your IQ with the Right Foods, Herbs, Vitamins, and Exercises for Your Brain
• The Glymphatic System – How Insomnia Leads to a Filthy Mind

If you want to maintain your health and wellness, the best thing to do is to move. Exercising can help prevent heart disease and other high-risk health conditions as it relieves back pain and stress. Lifestyle fitness shouldn’t be a big challenge. Exercising should be fun, and it shouldn’t be exhausting, even for the elderly.

Swimming Has Incredible Cardiovascular Benefits

Swimming is a wonderful workout for people of any age. It’s low-impact nature makes it suitable for adults. It is not a very heavy workout, but it can bring great benefits to your cardiovascular health. It builds up your body’s flexibility and strength and can relieve back pain.

Walking Is Simple but Very Beneficial

Walking can bring you many health benefits. It can improve your flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, and strength, and it helps you maintain mobility.  If walking is easy and very beneficial, why don’t people do it? Because it’s easy not to. Neglect will make you older. Walk around the block for 30 minutes and you will be  healthier. Lifestyle fitness is truly a matter of choice.

Weight Lifting Maintains Bone Density and Muscle Strength

You do not have to carry heavy dumbbells or barbells to do these exercises. You can simply carry light weights. As long as you do it on a regular basis, you will maintain or develop your bone and muscle health.

Tai Chi Is Very Beneficial To Your Health

Another gentle form of exercise is Tai Chi. Even though it has a gentle nature into it, it can give you a lot of health benefits. This is a wonderful workout for people. Known as “meditation in motion,” Tai Chi is as beneficial to your mental health as it is to your physical health. If you are used to fast-paced exercises, you must be a little bit more patient when performing Tai Chi routines. Its slow movement will improve your balance, strength, and flexibility. This can greatly benefit your spine, relieving back pain.

Stretching will Increase Overall Flexibility

Stretching is very important before you start any workout routine. It will develop your flexibility, which is very important to your overall physical health. Stretching is important to lifestyle fitness as it improves your mobility and motion as you grow older. Make sure you warm up before you stretch. Stretch on a regular basis at least every two to three days. You should hit all of your major muscle groups when you stretch.

Aerobic Exercises Are Great for Your Cardiovascular Health

You can do simple aerobic exercises at home. You can do them alone or with a friend. You can also choose to join an aerobics classes at the gym. There are a lot of variations on aerobic exercises that make workout routines extra fun and exciting. You may already be doing aerobic exercises in your daily activities, such as climbing the stairs or playing with children. This form of exercise is great for your cardiovascular health.

Stay Flexible with Yoga

Staying flexible is very important to ageing, and yoga can give you that. Yoga can help you improve your flexibility and develop your muscles throughout your body. Yoga can also help prevent osteoarthritis,  a disease of your joints. It will improves your posture, which means it will combat back pain. This ancient therapy can also promote confidence and reduce anxiety. People of all age can benefit from adding yoga to their workout routine.

Sources:

• Fitness – Consumer Health Digest
• Senior Exercise – MedecineNet.comm

Working out and dieting can be tedious, tiresome, and generally undesirable. But since treating our bodies with care is of the utmost importance, maintaining healthy exercise and eating habits is essential. Luckily, there are ways to add zest to the practices of working out and dieting, making both – dare I say it – fun.

The easiest way to enjoy healthy eating and exercising is to mix up your routine. Break out of your everyday rut of the same workout, same meals with new activities and new foods.

Spicing Up Your Workout Schedule

The gym is not the only place where you can achieve a decent workout. Challenge yourself to be creative and explore all the options around you.

1. Get outside.

Doctors started prescribing outdoor exercise for individuals suffering from a slew of medical problems. Why? It’s extremely beneficial, and, for some reason, people find it easier to adhere to a workout regimen when it takes place outside. Here are some outdoor exercises to include in your workout schedule:

• Trail running through a local park
• Biking to a destination (rather than driving)
• Playing tennis with a friend
• Surfing or skimboarding at the beach
• Jumping rope
• Lap swimming (or just swimming around) at the pool

2. Join a class.

Working out in a group is great. There’s increased motivation to keep going, accountability to show up to the session, and camaraderie that accompanies group activities. There’s always a chance of making new friends, too. Here are some classes/group activities to consider:

• Spinning
• Yoga or pilates
• Boot camp
• Running/walking group
• Zumba

Make Your Healthy Food More Fun

Dieting doesn’t have to be boring, limiting, or even a struggle. There are ways to make it more fun and satisfying. Just get creative.

1. Enhance Presentation and Appreciate Every Bite

No food reaches maximum satisfaction potential when it’s consumed in mere seconds in the standing position. Instead, put effort into your food’s presentation and take your time eating it. Dress up your table, light some candles, and beautify your meals as much as possible. Make sure you’re eating from a plate (or bowl) while sitting.

2. Explore New Foods

As with exercising, mixing up a routine adds fun to dieting. Without variety, you could become bored and stray off course. Sticking with just a few meal options also makes you feel limited. In reality, healthy eating offers a limitless number of meal possibilities. Ask fellow healthy eaters for recipes or peruse recipes online and try something new when you’re feeling bored.

3. Challenge Yourself on Paper

A healthy diet is one that’s balanced: made up of different colors, different vitamins, and minerals, different tastes. Make sure you’re getting all that you need by keeping a chart and documenting your consumption. Forget calorie counting and aim instead to achieve balanced, clean eating. You can even invite friends to do it with you, and make a competition of it.

• Doctors’ new prescription: Don’t just exercise, do it outside – the guardian
• How to Skimboard – Outdoor Board Sports 
• 3 Reasons It’s Better to Work Out With a Group – Active

We all know that exercise is good for our bodies. We’ve known it from our earliest school days when we were encouraged to take up sports and stay active. However, what many of us don’t know is just how deep this positive impact can go.

New research suggests exercise could have an effect that’s as far-reaching as our DNA. Rather than just honing our muscles and reducing our risk of illness, exercise could actually be changing the shape and functioning of our genes in a complex and dynamic manner.

The Study of Epigenetics

The human genome is fascinating. Far from being static, it experiences a continuous cycle of change, with genes constantly turning themselves on and off in response to biochemical signals from the body. The easiest way to understand this is to imagine these genes as traffic lights. When the green light is on, proteins are released, catalysing physiological responses throughout the body.

It has long been understood that exercise can cause these “traffic lights” to switch on or off, becoming more or less active as it impacts the body. However, the exact cause of these fluctuations had always remained a mystery until the study of epigenetics. Epigenetics refers to a process whereby the DNA remains unaltered, yet the operation of the gene is changed. These modifications occur on the outside of the gene, via an event called methylation. This is where methyl groups – essentially clusters of atoms – attach to the exterior of the structure much like molluscs on a rock. As a result, the gene is rendered more or less able to receive and respond to the biochemical signals it receives.

The Effect of Exercise on Methylation Patterns

One of the main catalysts for changing methylation patterns is lifestyle. This means that environmental factors, from certain food types to chemicals that we’re exposed to, can cause these ‘traffic lights’ to become more or less likely to show green or red in response to stimuli, thus affecting the likelihood of certain proteins being expressed. Depending on the exact changes that take place, this can affect our health or our chances of developing some diseases.

The exact impact of exercise had not been fully explored until recently. Interestingly, the first tentative research suggested that a single bout of exercise was capable of causing immediate changes to methylation patterns of some of the genes in our muscle cells. It’s thanks to these findings that scientists from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm were inspired to carry out a more in-depth study into the effect of long-term physical training on gene structures.¹

The Karolinska Study

The scientists in Stockholm decided to answer their questions with a specially formulated study. They recruited 23 young men and women and asked them to undergo a series of physical performance and medical tests in a laboratory environment. They were then asked to go away and exercise their lower bodies for a period of three months.

In order to rule out other environmental causes for altered methylation patterns, it was requested that they only exercise one leg so that the two limbs could be compared.  Each participant became both a test subject and a member of the control group.

The changes discovered within the cell structures were intriguing. Genomic analysis revealed more than 5,000 altered methylation patterns in the genomes of the muscle cells they biopsied.

A large number of these changes were on parts of the genome known as enhancers, which are responsible for exaggerating the expression of proteins by genes. Most were identified as influencing energy metabolism, insulin response, and muscle inflammation i.e. the level of health for the muscle.

What Does This Mean?

Although further research will be required to fully understand the impact of exercise on our genes, the message should be enough to encourage all of us to review our lifestyles. As Malene Lindholm, one of the progenitors of the study so succinctly puts it, “Through endurance training  – a lifestyle change that is easily available for most people and doesn’t cost much money – we can induce changes that affect how we use our genes and, through that, get healthier and more functional muscles, which ultimately improve our quality of life.”

Could it be time to break out your exercise gear and step your fitness regime up a notch?

Contributor’s Recommended Products:

• Keeping hydrated for exercise

OLM Recommended Supplements:

• Fitness Nutrition

Further Reading:

• Four Things Gym Goers Usually Do Wrong
• 80% Raw Food Diet
• Yoga – A Beginner’s Guide
• What to Expect When You Hire a Personal Trainer
• Total Nutrition – Make your own Homemade Multivitamin and Mineral Formula

Sources:

1. An integrative analysis reveals coordinated reprogramming of the epigenome and the transcriptome in human skeletal muscle after training – NCBI
2. Long-term endurance training impacts muscle epigenetics – Karolinska Institutet