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How do you encourage people to eat their greens? A new study shows that naming vegetable dishes with adjectives that promote their flavor increases positive thinking about healthful eating. For some, a healthful diet means having to tolerate eating bland tasting, unsatisfying foods, which can seem like a punishment rather than an enjoyable eating experience. New research, appearing in the journal Psychological Science, shows that giving healthful dishes a more enticing description can significantly increase the uptake of healthful options. In the long term, this means that people are more likely to maintain good eating habits, leading to a sustainable, healthful diet and a better quality of life. Indeed, if healthful foods are generally more expensive than unhealthful foods, it stands to reason that dropping the prices of healthful foods to be more in line with those of unhealthful foods might further boost the increase in the uptake of healthful foods with taste-focused names. This issue may be something that researchers will want to look into in the future. The two studies together have shown that emphasizing tasty and enjoyable attributes increases vegetable intake in a world where these healthful meals are competing with more overtly tempting options. In the long run, the research team hopes to enable real-world change and have a broad effect on eating habits.
(Credits: www.medicalnewstoday.com)

It is well-known that exercise is good for cardiac health, but older adults tend to fall through the cracks when it comes to rehabilitation programs. Now, a study has shown that these individuals have the most to gain. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, being responsible for 1 in 4Trusted Source deaths. Every year, approximately 610,000 people in the U.S. die of heart disease, while about 735,000 people have a heart attack. Adults over the age of 65 years are more likely than younger people to have heart disease because the heart changes with age. Heart disease is a significant cause of disability, according to the National Institute on Aging, who note that it affects the ability of millions of older people to be active and have a good quality of life. Now, a new study has confirmed the benefits of exercise for both physical ability and mental health, regardless of a person's age. In fact, older people can benefit the most. The study, which features in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, showed that seniors gain the most physical and psychological benefits from rehabilitation programs, and yet they receive the least representation. The reason for this may be that doctors are less likely to refer older people to rehab centers and encourage them to be physically active. The scientists found that although all of the participants improved within weeks not only in their physical ability but also psychologically it was those who had the greatest physical impairments at the outset who benefited the most. Exercise also proved particularly beneficial for those over the age of 65 years who were experiencing symptoms of depression.
(Credits: www.medicalnewstoday.com)