Friday 18 January 2013

High Sugar Diet Can Kerb Learning

A study of rats by the University of California found that too much sugar can prevent learning, while omega-3 is thought to boost it. Two groups of rats were fed drinking water laced with a sugar solution. One group was also given flaxseed oil, which contains omega-3, the fatty acid that is found in oily fish. The rats were all given standard rat food to eat for five days before consuming the sugared water. Twice a day the rats were placed in a maze, fitted with markers to help them remember their route. After 6 weeks of testing and feeding them the solution, the study concluded that the rats that were given the flaxseed, navigated the maze much quicker than those that did not receive the omega-3 fatty acids. The rats that were on the sugar solution had a reduced ability to think clearly and to recall the route that they'd learned 6 weeks earlier. They also started to display insulin resistance, which was the most likely cause of their memory loss. This is because insulin helps to regulate how brain cells use and store sugar for the energy that is needed to process thoughts and emotions. So if you want to think more clearly, rather than grabbing an energy drink grab yourself a tuna sandwich or some susi instead!

Wednesday 9 January 2013

Benefits of wearing a sports bra during exerise

Up to 72% of women who exercise report breast discomfort while exercising, which can be caused by too much movement and skin chaffing, both of which can reduce performance. Research carried out has reported that 44% of women train in an ordinary bra rather than a dedicated sports bra. In a survey, 85% of women who wore a sports bra said it helped to improve their enjoyment of exercise. With the average 36C sized breast weighing in at 300 grams, uncontrolled movement caused by training in an ordinary bra may not only cause discomfort during exercise but could be damaging the fagile breast tissue, which over time can cause sag. Research has shown training in a sports bra helps to reduce breast movement by up to 38%. Sports bras are often made with performance enhancing materials such as breathable fabric that allows the skin to breath properly while exercising. This allows air to circulate to cool the body down and take sweat away from the skin to reduce rubbing. Often the material and fastenings are made stronger and are more durable than an ordinary bra. So if you are training regularly or are thinking of doing so soon, than investing in a sport bra could be a wise decision and help improve your sports performance.