Pregnant women often deny smoking

Overall, about one in four women who smoke while pregnant deny it, a new study hints. The numbers could be even higher in certain groups of women, like those in their early 20s.

In the United States, smoking by moms-to-be is one of the most common preventable causes of illness and death among infants, Dr. Patricia Dietz from the division of reproductive health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and colleagues note in their report.

In their study, they estimated how many pregnant and nonpregnant smokers aged 20 to 44 years did not disclose their habit on a health questionnaire.

How did they catch the deception? They took blood samples from the women to measure levels of cotinine -- a byproduct of nicotine that serves as a marker of exposure to tobacco smoke. Their analysis included 994 pregnant women and 3,203 nonpregnant women.

Overall, 13 percent of pregnant women and 30 percent of nonpregnant women were active cigarette smokers. The pregnant smokers smoked an average of 11 cigarettes a day, while the nonpregnant smokers averaged close to 14 cigarettes a day.

According to the investigators, far more pregnant than nonpregnant smokers failed to disclose their habit - 23 percent versus nine percent - and were identified by their cotinine concentrations.

For a variety of reasons, such as the fact that pregnant women's bodies break down cotinine faster, the researchers think the results "likely underestimate" the true number of pregnant women who smoke and don't say so.

Among both pregnant and nonpregnant smokers, those most likely to keep this information to themselves were women aged 20 to 24, as well as those with Medicaid or other source of government-funded health insurance and those with less than a high school education.

Race also factored in. Pregnant smokers who failed to report their habit were most likely to be non-Hispanic black. In women who weren't pregnant, nondisclosure was most common among Mexican-American women and non-Hispanic blacks.

Writing in the American Journal of Epidemiology, Dietz and her colleagues say their findings may have important implications for researchers studying how smoking during pregnancy affects the developing baby, as roughly one in four pregnant smokers, and one in 10 nonpregnant smokers, deny smoking.

Studies and surveillance systems that rely on people to accurately state their smoking status may get inaccurate information, "especially among pregnant women," they warn.

SOURCE: http://link.reuters.com/tux34r American Journal of Epidemiology

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Posted in: Pregnancy,Women's Issues

Bottled water: 6 Things you should know

Trying to purchase bottled water can leave you feeling more confused than ever. With the myriad of choices out there, how do you pick one that provides you with hydration, MINUS the hype? Water companies make fancy claims, but think about it: These companies are competing for your attention in a market where there is really no need for additives. Devise a game plan for water that makes waves!

1. Choose water without artificial sweeteners or added. Terms like Aspartame (brand name Nutrasweet), Sucralose (brand name Splenda), are artificial and have no place lurking in your water! Add lemon, lime, a slice of orange or even cucumber to your beverage for refreshment. Or, choose a bottled water like Metromint (www.metromint.com) that uses mint essence and natural flavorings. Create a splash of flavor by freezing blueberries and raspberries in ice cube trays. Add the frozen berries to sparkling water and serve in fancy glasses for a special occasion.

2. Become Ingredient Savvy. Just as an embellished “beverage” at your local coffee joint can set you back more calories than a hamburger, flavored waters can have calorie and sugar levels that rival soda. Check the ingredients and look for the term “water” without a list of lots of other ingredients.

3. Beverages aren't Real Food. With the exception of soups and smoothies, beverages do not provide us with a feeling of fullness or satiety, the way a meal does. For example, an ounce of almonds contains 160 calories, 3 gm fiber and 6 gm protein, and can help tide us over between meals. But sip a 160 calorie sugar-infused water and you’re likely to be just as hungry as you were before, if not more. The sugar causes your body to secrete insulin and you may find yourself on a high/low blood sugar rollercoaster.

4. Steer clear of terms that belong in your science textbook. In other words, many waters use coloring, flavors and preservatives that are anything but natural. If you can’t decipher the terminology on the bottle, cruise on to clearer waters. It may surprise you, but preservatives such as sodium benzoate (known to be carcinogenic or cancer-causing) are still used in beverages you find on the grocery store shelf. Scary, huh?

5. Bottled isn't always Better. Interestingly, bottled water is not necessarily any healthier than tap water, despite what water companies would have you believe. "20/20" took five bottles of bottled water plus a sample of tap water and sent them to a microbiologist to test for bacteria. Surprisingly, there was no difference between the tap water and the bottled waters. To help the environment, you might also think about investing in a permanent water bottle such as Camelbak.

6.Sail past the waters with hyped up health claims. Because it is difficult for one water company to distinguish itself from another, companies use clever packaging and fancy words to compete for consumers’ attention. They convince you that you will feel younger, more invigorated, soothed, energized, beautiful, etc. if you drink their water. Now, let’s be realistic. If there exists a fountain of youth, it is simply this: Eat Well, Get Adequate Rest and Exercise and Take Care of Your Spirit.

Sometimes less is more, and with water, this is the case, plain and simple. How do you enjoy water?

Written by Brooke Benlifer, R.D.

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5 Reasons Why You're Not Getting Healthy

Do you primarily try to be healthy, but have occasional slip-ups? Do you wonder what's getting in the way? It's the holidays and it's getting colder by the minute (depending on your location) forcing our discipline to fly out the window when it comes to certain indulgences. Once you realize the mistakes you are making then it'll be easier to get back on track. Here are five major things that are getting in the way of your healthy lifestyle:

1. Comfort foods
We tend to load up on these as the temperature starts to drop. Instead, realize that you just might need to put on more layers of clothing (not fat) to keep content. Try drinking a hot cup of tea instead of coffee and snack on veggies or nuts instead of chips and cupcakes. If stress is a problem for you, read How to Avoid Stress Eating, because combating it is half the battle.

2. Smoking
This clearly doesn't apply to everyone, but did you know that smoking to lose weight is a myth...it doesn't actually work. So if that's you're reason for smoking then you should probably quit. Plus we all know what long-term effects it can have on us: cancer.

3. Drinking
A social comfort that isn't just a part of the holidays. Try limiting yourself to one or two glasses of wine or light beer and make it last (no chugging). Alcohol easily packs on unwanted pounds and dehydrates you (duh) making you more susceptible to catching a cold or the dreaded swine flu.

4. Lack of exercise
Exercising is a must for a healthy lifestyle! It's easier then you think to fit into your daily life. Don't skip out on this; you'll feel more energized and, of course, burn more calories!

5. Lack of sleep
Lastly, make sure you are getting the doctor recommended eight hours of sleep per night. WIthout it, it can cause disorientation, lack of focus and fatigue and no one wants to deal with that on a day-to-day basis!

By Style Caster

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Are You Addicted To Food? 6 Steps Out Of Food Addiction

Is it time to step up to the plate (so to speak), take an honest and courageous look at your life, and make a commitment to loving yourself? Are you ready to let go of belief systems and habits that no longer serve you? Are you ready to step into a healthier 2010?

Is your weight stopping you from moving forward? Might you be a food addict? Please take an honest look at the following questions and answer, 'yes' or 'no.'

1. Do you find that you have no 'stopping mechanism' and even though you want to 'stop' eating, you can't?

2. Are you obsessed with food? Think about food all the time? And your weight too?

3. Have you attempted one diet plan after another, with no lasting success?

4. Do you binge and/or purge?

5. Do you eat in secret? Are you a closet eater?

6. Are you an emotional eater? Do you use food to escape your feelings?

7. Do you eat even when you are not hungry?

8. Do you eat and then exercise excessively to burn it off?

9. Do you eat, and then feel shame or guilt for about the foods you've just eaten, and then beat yourself up for doing so?

10. Have you put your life on hold until you lose weight? Do you say, "When I lose weight, then I will _________?"

What do you think? Are you a food addict? And if yes, are you ready to do something about it now? If not now, when?

Since it all starts with our thoughts, here are
6 Steps Toward Healthy Thinking! A good start!

Step 1: The Truth. Keep it honest. When we tell the truth, we unleash the forces of positive change. Being in denial, coming up with excuses, rationalizations and untruths may feel like it's working in the short run, but it comes with a great cost. It limits the possibility of change.

Step 2: Be Aware of Your Thoughts. The first step to being in control of your eating habit patterns is to begin to be aware of your thoughts and gain control of your mind. That's right ... you are controlling your mind. No one else!

Step 3: Commit. Commitment is about pledging, promising, taking a vow. It's about being loyal, dedicated, having allegiance to and faith in oneself.

I never thought I'd be quoting football coaches, but as football legend Bill Parcell's points out, "Commitment is about giving your all to every play. It's about choosing the right path; not the easiest one."

Step 4: Practice Awareness/Mindful Eating. Although many of us are intellectually aware of what 'consciousness' refers to, we have not yet made the leap that integrates this type of awareness into our own mouths! In order for 'consciousness' to permeate our lives, we need to experience it (as opposed to intellectualizing it).

Step 5: Seek Support. No man is an island unto himself. Ask for help from friends, family, and/or support groups! Join the Kick in the Tush Club!

Step 6: Motivate Daily. Zig Ziglar said it best, "People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily." Stand in front of the mirror each and every day and remind yourself that you can do it!

By Janice Taylor

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2-Minute tricks that beat stress

The next time you’re having a bad day (or week or month) take heart: you can perk up your mood quickly and simply. According to experts, life circumstances account for only 10% of happiness. Half depends on your genetic “set point,” which is kind of like the weight your body bounces back to after a crash diet. And about 40% of your happiness is influenced by what you do deliberately to make yourself. Here are a few easy tricks to try:

1. Flip through Old Photos
When you’re feeling down, break out your kids’ baby albums or pics from your favorite vacation. It may actually make you feel happier than a square of chocolate would! That’s what researchers at the United Kingdom’s Open University found after they examined how much people’s moods rose after eating a chocolate snack, sipping an alcoholic drink, watching TV, listening to music, or looking at personal photos.

The music and chocolate left most people’s moods unchanged; alcohol and TV gave a slight lift (1%), but the winner by a long shot was viewing pictures, which made people feel 11% better. To keep your spirits high at work, upload your favorite pics to your computer and set them as a rotating screensaver. Or splurge on a frame that flips through digital photos; amazon.com has plenty of options at a wide range of prices.

2. Munch on Nuts
Or sneak salmon into your salad for lunch. They’re both packed with omega-3 fats, which may make people less prone to depression—and easier to get along with, say researchers from the University of Pittsburgh. They measured the blood levels of omega-3 fats (a reliable indicator of consumption) of 106 healthy adults and gave them psychological tests. Those with the highest omega-3 blood levels scored 49 to 58% better on the tests than those with the lowest blood levels.

3. Inhale a Calming Scent
In an Austrian study, researchers wafted the smell of oranges before some participants and lavender before others. The two groups felt less anxious, more positive, and calmer when compared with participants who were exposed no fragrance at all. Add a few drops of either oil to a room diffuser (we like the Scentball, available at amazon.com) and use in your office on stressful days.

4. Open Your Shades
To feel happier in seconds, let the sunlight stream in when you first wake up. One study of more than 450 women found that those who got the most light, particularly in the morning, reported better moods and sleep. Got more time? Eat breakfast near a window that gets plenty of daylight, and put exercise equipment near a bright view. Some researchers speculate that combining exercise with morning light exposure may amplify light’s beneficial effects on mood, sleep, and alertness, says Anthony Levitt, MD, a University of Toronto light researcher.

5. Clear Away Clutter
For some, “clutter is a reminder of things that should be getting done but aren’t,” says Elaine Aron, PhD, author of The Highly Sensitive Person. “It can make you feel like a failure.” For a quick fix, straighten up a few surfaces in your office or in the areas of the house where you spend the most time. “It’s when every bit of space is messy that it’s most disturbing,” says Aron. Don’t bother to organize unless you have a chunk of time. Instead, arrange papers, books, and other detritus of daily living in neat piles or store them in baskets. “Just the illusion of order is enough to ease the mind,” she says.

6. Think Fast
Turn your thoughts into a race—it can lift the blues in minutes, says Princeton University psychologist Emily Pronin, PhD. For example, when your mother-in-law is driving you crazy, give yourself 30 seconds to make a list of all the ways she’s been helpful to you in the past—you’ll feel better fast. (If nothing nice comes to mind, quickly jot down other ways she bugs you; speed thinking negative thoughts can still improve your mood, Pronin found.) Researchers believe that rapid thinking may release feel-good brain chemicals—or it could just be a helpful distraction.

7. Cue Up YouTube
Stanford University researchers literally saw this on fMRI scans, where they traced changes in brain activity to a region called the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), which rewards behaviors such as eating and sex (and laughing) by releasing dopamine, a natural opiate. When stress builds up or you feel as though you may snap at any minute, make yourself giggle: Watch a funny video clip online, or stop by the office of a wisecracking pal for a quick chat.

8. Put On a Happy Face
Studies show that even muscular changes in your face can elevate your happiness, as can good posture, says Lyubomirsky. Call it the blush effect: To apply blush to your cheekbones properly, you need to smile. Smiling works, she says, because “if you act like you’re a happier person, you can experience all these positive social consequences. You make more friends. People are nicer to you. And these things can have real consequences.”

by Liz Vaccariello, Editor-in-Chief, PREVENTION

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V-Shape Shortcuts

Prep for a spring show-off by working your upper body.

By the Editors of Men's Health

If you're going to work your vanity muscles (nothing wrong with that!), choose exercises that provide fast results. This routine uses overhand, underhand, and neutral grips, which combine to demand more of your biceps and triceps. Also, the multimuscle moves will build your chest, back, and shoulders, says Matt McGorry, C.F.T., who created the routine. (And if you want to ignite new growth, be sure you work these six muscles you ignore—but shouldn't.)

1. Bench press

Lie on a flat bench. Using an overhand, shoulder-width grip, hold a barbell straight above your sternum, lower it, pause, and press it back up. Keep your elbows tucked so that when you're in the down position, your upper arms form a 45-degree angle to your body.

2. Chinup

Hang from a chinup bar using an underhand, shoulder-width grip. Pull your chest to the bar. Once the top of your chest touches the bar, pause, and then slowly lower yourself.

If chinups are too hard, try a pulldown machine instead, and use an underhand grip.

(Not seeing the results you want from your workout? Try these eight weightlifting fixes for more muscle.)

3. Seated dumbbell shoulder press

Sit at the end of a bench with your torso upright. Hold a pair of dumbbells just outside your shoulders with your palms facing each other. Press the weights up until your arms are straight, and then slowly lower them to the starting position.

4. Barbell row

Grab a barbell with an overhand grip that's just beyond shoulder width. Keeping your back naturally arched, bend at your hips and knees and lower your torso so it's almost parallel to the floor. Let the bar hang, and then pull it toward your upper abs. Pause, and slowly lower the bar.

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Posted in: Fitness,Muscle Building

6 Muscles You Can't Ignore

By: Ted Spiker

Where would we be without our supporting cast? Peyton Manning wouldn't have time to throw, captains would be swabbing their own decks, and the Dunder Mifflin paper company's brainstorming meetings wouldn't be considered entertainment. Success typically depends on behind-the-scenes help, and your body is no different. While your abs and biceps receive all the glory, here's a secret: It's the little-known muscles that make the big ones stand out. The problem is, working the muscles you can't see—like the ones deep inside your core, hips, and shoulders—can be a difficult process. But target those areas, and your whole body benefits. Not only will you look better, but you'll also have more strength and suffer fewer injuries.

These six muscles may never earn top billing, but they may rejuvenate your workouts and ignite new growth.

Supraspinatus and Subscapularis

Know them: The supraspinatus is one of the small muscles at the top of your shoulder that makes up the rotator cuff; the subscapularis is a large muscle on the front of your shoulder blade. Blame your desk job for weak shoulders: If your upper body is rounded, it's most likely because your chest is tight, which means the opposing muscles in your shoulders are weak. Strengthen the stabilizing muscles, and you'll see improvement on your bench press and in overhead sports like swimming or tennis, as well as in your overall upper-body power.

Test them: Bring your arms straight out in front of you at about a 45-degree angle, your thumbs pointed up—like you're about to hug someone. Have a friend stand in front of you and push your arms downward with moderate pressure. (The friend's hands should be positioned above your wrists on your forearms.) If you feel soreness in your shoulders or can't resist the pressure, you probably need to strengthen your supraspinatus, Plasschaert says.

Improve them: "A lot of people think they need to work the rotator muscles like crazy," says Scott. But a simple move is all you need, says Robertson. Stand holding a light pair of dumbbells in front of your thighs, palms facing each other. Keeping your thumbs pointed up, raise your arms up at a 30-degree angle to your torso until just above shoulder height. Hold for 1 second, and lower to the starting position. Do 2 sets of 8 to 10 repetitions. The exercise will help you add pounds to your bench by improving the stability of your shoulders.

Tensor Fasciae Latae

Know it: This muscle (also known as the TFL) starts along the outer edge of your hip and can affect lateral movement (abduction), which is movement away from your body. A tight TFL can mean you're at increased risk for lateral knee pain, because it attaches directly to your ilio-tibial band--tissue that runs vertically along the outsides of your thighs to help stabilize your knees. Weak or tight abductors means you're constantly getting beat off the dribble, or you're late getting to the ball on the tennis court.

Test it: Try old-fashioned leg lifts. Lie on your side with your legs straight, and raise your top leg to about a 40-degree angle. Then lower it. You should be able to lift your leg in a straight line, without your hip or thigh moving forward, says Jeff Plasschaert, C.S.C.S., a strength coach based in Gainesville, Florida. Make sure you're using hip strength, though; many people substitute motion from their core and lower back to finish the movement.

Improve it: Stretching the TFL is the secret to improving your performance, say Robertson. To stretch your left TFL, stand with your left hip adjacent to a wall. Cross your right foot in front of your left foot. From this position, contract your core and left glute, and then push directly into your left hip. Don't let your hips move backward, and instead make sure your left hip pushes to the side. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds, and then switch legs so your other side faces the wall. Perform 2 or 3 reps on each leg every day.

Psoas

Know it: The psoas (so-az) muscle runs through your hips to connect the lower portion of your back to the top of your thigh. It's one of your body's main back stabilizers and hip flexors (the muscles that line your hips and allow you to bring your knees toward your chest). If you sit all day, the psoas becomes rounded like a banana; then, when you stand up, the psoas pulls on your back, making you more prone to pain and lower-back injury. "A weak psoas also means you'll end up with assorted knee issues, because other secondary hip flexors take over and cause pain," Robertson says.

Test it: Lie on your back and pull one knee to your chest. Keep your other leg straight. If the psoas is of normal length, your straight leg will rest on the floor. If your leg sits above the floor, your psoas is either stiff or shortened, says Bill Hartman, C.S.C.S., a strength coach based in Indianapolis.

Improve it: The only way to strengthen a weak psoas is by bringing your knee above 90 degrees. Sit with your knees bent on a low box or bench (6 to 10 inches high) (3). Maintaining good posture and keeping your abs tight, use your hips to raise one bent knee slightly higher than your hips. If you lean forward or backward, you're not performing the exercise correctly. Hold for 5 seconds, and return to the starting position. Complete 3 sets of 5 repetitions per leg. Also, to help release some of the pressure you may feel, use your thumb to press on your hip flexor; it'll be on your side and a little lower than your belly button.

Piriformis

Know it: This muscle near your gluteal (butt) region helps with thigh rotation and tends to suffer from overuse. Why? Because weak hamstrings and glutes force the piriformis to take on some of the work those big muscles should be doing, says Keith Scott, C.S.C.S., a strength coach based in New Jersey. This creates back and hip pain, and weaker lower-body performance.

Test it: Sit on a chair and cross one leg over the other, with the crossing ankle of one leg resting on the bent knee of the other. If you can't get your top leg parallel to the ground, your piriformis is probably tight.

Improve it: Increase your mobility with windshield wipers, says Robertson: Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet placed wider than shoulder-width apart on the ground. Press your knees together, and then return to the starting position. Do 2 sets of 10 to 15 repetitions. Now add some soft-tissue work: Sit on a foam roller with your weight shifted to your right butt, and place your right ankle on your left knee. Roll your right glutes from top to bottom, working any painful areas. Continue for 45 to 60 seconds, and switch sides. Do this daily.

Serratus Anterior

Know it: This muscle, located on the side of your chest along your ribs, attaches to and allows you to rotate your shoulder blade (a.k.a. scapula). It plays a vital role when you raise your shoulder to flex your arm and move it away from your body; that's why it's prominent in boxers but not your average guy. The reason? Blame the bench press. Because of the support provided by the bench, the serratus anterior doesn't receive much direct challenge during this popular exercise, says Mike Robertson, C.S.C.S., a strength coach in Indianapolis.

Test it: Do a pushup without wearing a shirt and have someone look at your back during the move. If you have a winged scapula, your shoulder blade will stick out; this means your serratus is weak, says Robertson. A strong one suctions your scapula in during the movement, eliminating the winged look.

Improve it: Standard pushups strengthen the muscle, but doing pushup variations is the quickest way to correct a weakness, says Robertson. Use a power rack to perform incline pushups on a barbell. Start with your body at the lowest incline that doesn't allow your shoulders to wing—which means placing the bar relatively high. Perform 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions. As you become stronger and learn to control your scapular motion, work your way down the rack until you're doing regular pushups with perfect body alignment.

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Posted in: Fitness,Muscle Building