Stars who knock back whisky, wine or beer in a movie are an invisible but potent force in prompting youngsters to experiment with alcohol or binge-drink, a large US study published on Tuesday suggests. Major exposure to scenes of alcohol consumption in movies is a bigger risk for teen drinking than having parents who drink or if booze is easily available at home, it says. Unprecedented in its scope, the probe entailed a confidential telephone survey … full story

Women who drank two large glasses of milk daily after their weight-lifting routine gained more muscle and lost more fat compared to women who drank sugar-based energy drinks, says a new study. “Resistance training is not a typical choice of exercise for women,” says Stu Phillips, professor in kinesiology (study of human movement) at McMaster University. “But the health benefits of resistance training are enormous: It boosts strength, bone, muscular … full story

Women who drank anywhere from a few alcoholic drinks a month to more than three a week in the year leading up to a heart attack ended up living longer than women who never drank alcohol, according to a US study. The findings, which focused on more than 1,000 women and were published in the American Journal of Cardiology, add to mounting evidence that alcohol, regardless of the type of drink, can be good for the heart. "One thing that was interesting … full story

Proline, a simple amino acid that recurs at the centre of proteins found in tooth enamel, makes teeth stronger and more resilient, according to a new research. University of Illinois-Chicago (UI-C) researchers compared proline repeats in amphibian and animal models and discovered that when the repeats are short, such as in frogs, teeth will not have the enamel prisms that are responsible for the strength of human enamel. Conversely, when the proline … full story

The recommendation to drink six to eight glasses of water daily to prevent dehydration is a “thoroughly debunked nonsense”, says an expert. There is currently no clear evidence of benefit from drinking increased amounts of water, according to Margaret McCartney, medical expert with the National Health Service (NHS), yet the “we-don’t-drink-enough-water” myth has endless advocates. The NHS Choices website states: “Try to drink about six to eight … full story

Boys seem to get a greater kick out of caffeine than girls, according to the results of a double-blind study. Boys also credited caffeine with having a positive effect on their athletic performance, not so girls. The study, conducted by Jennifer L. Temple, neurobiologist and assistant professor of nutrition sciences at the University at Buffalo in the US, is the first to show how genders respond to caffeine consumption. “We are hoping that our … full story

Drinking coffee boosts women’s brainpower but addles that of men. While sipping a cappuccino or quaffing an espresso boosts women’s performance, the same drink impairs men’s memories and slows down their decision-making. And given that Britons alone down 70 million cups of coffee a day, the implications are significant, reports the Journal of Applied Social Psychology. Psychologist Lindsay St. Claire, Bristol University, who led the study, said: … full story

Binge drinkers are at twice the risk of a heart attack than those who consume the same amount but spread it over a week. Researchers, led by Jean-Bernard Ruidavets from the Toulouse University in France, examined almost 10,000 healthy men aged between 50 and 59 and tracked them for 10 years. It was found that the men who “binge” drink had nearly twice the risk of heart attack or dying from heart disease compared to regular drinkers over the 10 … full story

For people with gout the uric acid level in the blood is so high that uric acid crystals form and put in joints and other tissues. This causes the joint lining to become inflamed, resultant in sudden and severe attacks of pain, softness, redness and warmth. Either way, gout treatments may include medication to lower the uric acid level or a special gout diet to decrease the amount of purine ingested. Symptoms of Gout: - * Indigestion *Excessive … full story

Water is the most needed chemical compound of our body. Without the daily necessary amount of water our body functions would be forced to shut down. The human body is anywhere from 55% to 78% water depending on body size. To function properly, the body requires between one and seven liters of water per day to avoid dehydration; the precise amount depends on the level of activity, temperature, humidity, and other factors. Most of this is ingested … full story