Common Diabetes Drug May Cut Weight in Autistic Kids

A drug commonly used as the front-line treatment for Type-2 diabetes may also be effective in reducing weight in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), finds a study. ASD is a serious developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact. Individuals suffering from autism spectrum disorder take atypical antipsychotics drugs to treat symptoms of irritability and agitation. These drugs often increases their appetite as well as weight, thus raising a long-term risk of diabetes. The study explored the effectiveness of metformin drug in counteracting weight gain…

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Balanced Combination of Diet, Exercise May Prevent Heart Problems

Shedding those extra kilos through a balanced combination of diet and exercise may provide strong protection against heart disease for people suffering from obesity, a new study has found. According to the study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a combination of healthy eating and exercise is the preferred roadmap to a healthy heart. “For men and women with excess body weight, modest weight loss provides powerful protection against cardiovascular disease, regardless of whether weight loss is achieved by using exercise, a healthy low-calorie diet, or both,” said…

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11 Important Tips to Achieve Your Fitness Goals

Getting fit seems to be the craze right now, and for all the good reasons. Not only is it a great way to improve your health, but also to stay happy and lead an active lifestyle. However, it is equally important to go about it the right way.Below are some of the key points to keep in mind before you embark on your fitness journey. 1. Get a Medical Clearance Before you start any fitness regime, it is important to find out how your body is from within, and if…

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Why It’s Bad to Skip Prescribed Medications After a Heart Attack

Many patients who have clogged arteries or survive a heart attack don’t consistently take medications prescribed to prevent life-threatening complications, a study confirms. Taking drugs at least every four out of five days lowered the odds death, heart attack, stroke or surgery to restore blood flow, the study found. But less than half of patients took their meds that often. “We have effective, safe inexpensive drugs that prevent stroke, death and heart attack but they don’t work unless the patient chooses to take them,” said Dr. Marie Brown, a researcher…

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Getting Enough Omega-3 May Cut Risk of Diabetic Retinopathy

For adults with type 2 diabetes, following a Mediterranean diet including at least two servings of fatty fish per week may lower the risk of diabetic retinopathy, according to an observational study from Spain.The researchers analyzed data on people participating in a larger randomized trial known as PREDIMED, which ran from 2003 to 2009 in Spain and tested a Mediterranean diet with added extra virgin olive oil or nuts against a usual comparison diet for preventing heart problems over time. About 3,600 adults aged 55 to 80 who took part…

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Regular Nibbling On Nuts Linked To Low Inflammation

Eating a handful of nuts five times per week may reduce inflammation, a condition that contributes to heart disease, diabetes and many other chronic illnesses, say the authors of a recent U.S. study.This inflammation-dampening effect might be the secret to the health benefits of nuts, the study team writes in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Past research has linked eating nuts to lower rates of heart disease and diabetes, but the exact reason was unknown, senior study author Dr. Ying Bao, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School…

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