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For years, you’ve probably heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day if you’re trying to maintain a healthy weight. But new research suggests that’s not true. Eating a hearty breakfast doesn’t help people eat less later in the day, and those who have breakfast end up eating more calories each day, the review found. “We should not change diets to include breakfast eating in order to lose weight. Do what works best for you,” said review senior author Flavia Cicuttini. She is head of the musculoskeletal unit at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. “The evidence is that eating breakfast does tend to add to the overall calorie intake of the person and to overall weight gain,” Cicuttini said. But she also noted that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to eating breakfast. Some people like breakfast and some don’t. The results of the study were published online Jan. 30 in the BMJ. Tim Spector, author of an accompanying journal editorial, agreed that whether or not to eat breakfast should be based on personal preferences. Spector, himself a breakfast eater, said that “everyone has a unique metabolism, set of genes and very different gut microbes and will react to different foods. Don’t take standard guidelines as gospel. Experiment yourself [to learn] what is best for your body.” Previous studies have suggested that eating… read on >

E-cigarette use is surging among American teenagers, with millions of kids flirting with nicotine addiction by regularly vaping. Unfortunately, these kids are going to face a rocky road if they try to kick their nicotine habit, experts say. There are no tested or approved methods for quitting e-cigarettes, said Linda Richter, director of policy research and analysis at the Center on Addiction. “The science of vaping cessation hasn’t caught up with the tremendous rise in use,” Richter said. “There really isn’t much out there that’s been proven.” Teens addicted to vaping must rely on methods that have been shown to help tobacco quitters, but it’s not clear that those methods will be useful when it comes to e-cigarettes. “It’s shocking to a lot of people in the field that we were so close to, if not eliminating, then really reducing cigarette smoking and tobacco use among young people. They just aren’t interested in cigarette smoking,” Richter said. “This was really going to go away, and now we have this whole generation of kids addicted to nicotine again and we just don’t know what we’re going to do about it.” Nearly two of every five high school seniors have tried e-cigarettes during the past year, according to a federal survey. About 37 percent of 12th graders said they’d vaped within the past 12 months, compared to… read on >

(HealthDay News) — When a thin piece of wood, glass or metal gets embedded within the top layers of your skin, you know how annoying and painful a splinter can be. The U.S. Library of Medicine suggests how to remove a splinter safely: Sterilize a pin or needle by soaking it in rubbing alcohol or by placing the tip in a flame. Wash your hands with soap. Use the pin or needle to gently remove skin over the splinter. Then use the tip of the pin to lift the end of the splinter out. You may need to use tweezers to pull out the splinter after you lift it.

If you’d like to lighten up on carbs without compromising the taste of dishes you love, make cauliflower “rice” your go-to substitute ingredient. Cauliflower is among the healthiest of all vegetables, high in vitamin C, fiber and folate. “Ricing” it simply means pulsing it in a food processor until chunks become the size of rice grains. Then use them for dishes that call for rice, pasta and even potatoes. This recipe is a great substitute for traditional fried rice, and you can customize it with additional low-calorie vegetables of your choice. For a complete meal, toss in cooked shrimp or chicken cubes at the end. Cauliflower Fried Rice 1 small head cauliflower, cut into florets 3 tablespoons sesame oil, divided 4 carrots, chopped 1 red or yellow onion, peeled and chopped 2 tablespoons ginger, minced 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 cup corn kernels 1/4 cup chopped cilantro 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce 1 tablespoon hot sauce Place the florets in a food processor and rough chop in about 15 pulses (do this in a few batches for the most consistent “grains.”). Warm a large skillet over medium heat and add one tablespoon of the sesame oil. Add the cauliflower and cook four to five minutes, stirring well until the cauliflower starts to brown. Transfer to a large plate. Heat the remaining oil in the same… read on >

Slow and sneaky weight gain usually happens over time — on average one pound a year — so it’s not always obvious at first, especially if you don’t regularly weigh yourself. But if this weight creep goes unnoticed year after year, by middle age, your middle may lose the sleek look you had when you were younger. Several factors could be to blame. Maybe you’re exercising less because family and work obligations have gotten in the way of regular gym visits. Maybe you’re eating more, such as having a cookie with your daily afternoon cup of tea. Perhaps you simply don’t need as many calories as you used to because of the gradual shift in body composition that can happen with age. Having less muscle and more fat can slow your metabolism, making it easier to gain weight. But you can work to avoid or at least limit this type of weight gain. Start by doing a quick self-evaluation. Has your activity level gone down? Are you eating more than usual? If you answered yes to these questions, make the commitment to get back on track both with diet and exercise. To improve diet, studies that tracked people for 20 years found the key is to switch to a way of eating that emphasizes fruits and vegetables, whole grains and nuts. You can replace low-nutrient… read on >

The research is in its early days, but Chinese scientists say they’re using bartenders’ tricks to stir up a new, reversible male contraceptive. In experiments with rats, the method successfully kept sexually active males from impregnating females for more than two months. “The two most widely used male contraceptives are condom and vasectomy,” noted a team led by Xiaolei Wang, of Nanchang University. “A reliable and reversible medium-term [2 to 20 weeks] contraceptive method between the one-off condom and permanent contraception is urgently needed.” Their potential solution was inspired by the colorful layered cocktails often concocted by bartenders. In these mixes, liquids form distinct layers in a glass. But when stirred or heated, the layers combine into a uniform liquid. So, Wang’s group developed a form of male contraception in which layers of materials are injected into the vas deferens — the duct through which sperm travels from the testicle to the urethra — to block it. The blockage continues until heat applied to the blocked area causes the layers to mix, breaking them down and thereby unplugging the vas deferens. The Chinese group say they tested this method in male rats by injecting four layers of materials into the vas deferens. In sequence, the injected layers were: a hydrogel that forms a physical barrier to sperm; gold nanoparticles that heat up when irradiated with… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Cooking with your child will help build confidence in tasting the unfamiliar, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. By exposing your child to different types of food, you will boost the child’s willingness to try new dishes. The academy mentions these additional potential benefits: You can help your child boost senses besides taste. Use cooking as a way to teach concepts such as counting, measurement and fractions. The family meal can celebrate your cultural heritage. Teach your child the importance of staying safe while cooking. Show the child how to use kitchen tools safely, how to use oven mitts to protect hands, andhow to turn appliances on and off safely. Ask the child for input in planning meals.

(HealthDay News) — Bronchitis is typically caused by a respiratory virus, and much less frequently, by a bacterial infection, the American Lung Association says. Risk factors include having close contact with someone who has bronchitis, failure to get age-appropriate vaccinations, and exposure to tobacco smoke, fumes, dust and air pollution. The American Lung Association says symptoms of bronchitis typically include: Coughing up mucus that may be yellow or green. Runny and stuffy nose starting a few days before chest congestion. Feeling tired. Sore ribs from prolonged periods of coughing. Wheezing or a whistling sound while breathing.

Socializing with friends is great for physical and emotional well-being, but if all of your get-togethers are at restaurants or bars, it can be hard to stick to a healthy eating plan. Try these ideas for having fun without placing the emphasis on food. Both you and your friends will benefit. Turn your brunch group into an arts project. Whether you’re quilting, knitting or crafting, busy hands can’t reach for snacks. If you’d rather look at art than create it, try going to different museums rather than bar-hopping with your friends. Want to get even more physical? Grab a few friends or another couple and sign up for a 5K or 10K race, and hold your own training sessions once or twice a week until the big event. Or choose a charity and do volunteer work as a group on a weekend afternoon. If you’ve been sedentary, step up to exercise with a more relaxed activity by joining a bowling or softball league. These are also great bonding options to do with co-workers if you want to socialize outside the office. Take along healthy treats for refueling afterwards. When you do want to get together over food, it’s easier to control calories and portion sizes if you do the cooking. Grilled chicken and fish in warm weather, and hearty vegetarian chili and stews in cold… read on >

Tight control of your blood pressure won’t necessarily spare you from full-blown dementia, a new trial concludes. But it might lower the risk of slight declines in thinking and memory, a condition known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the researchers added. The clinical trial is the “first study in history to show that any intervention can reduce your risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, an early form of dementia,” said lead researcher Dr. Jeff Williamson. He is a professor of gerontology and geriatric medicine at Wake Forest School of Medicine, in Winston-Salem, N.C. “What is good for your heart in terms of blood pressure-lowering is also good for your brain,” Williamson added. He noted that the trial ended early, which likely affected the dementia result. “We just didn’t have enough dementia cases develop over time” in the group with less-restricted blood pressure, he explained. High blood pressure affects more than three-fourths of people over the age of 65, and it has been identified as a potential risk factor for MCI and dementia in observational studies, the study authors said in background notes. The new clinical trial focused on nearly 9,400 people, average age 68, who had been randomly assigned to treatment that would keep their systolic blood pressure at or below a goal of either 120 or 140 mm Hg. Participants were all at high… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Breakfast Not So Important to Weight Loss After All, Study Finds

As Millions of Teens Get Hooked on Vaping, What Works to Help Them Quit?

Health Tip: Safely Remove a Splinter

Cauliflower: The Versatile Substitute for High-Carb Veggies

How to Head Off Sneaky Weight Gain

‘Cocktail’ Approach Offers Early Hope for New Male Contraceptive

Health Tip: Cook With Your Child

Health Tip: Identifying Symptoms of Bronchitis

Bonding With Friends — Without Food

Can Strict Blood Pressure Control Lower Dementia Risk?