The latest research has suggested that the secret to losing weight may be as simple and pleasurable as a good night’s sleep.

Scientists at the European Centre of Taste Science found that people who had eight hours of sleep at night ate less than those who had four hours of sleep a night. Feeling tired increased appetite and made people want to eat less healthily than those who woke feeling refreshed and energetic. It sounds too good to be true, but it really does seem that it might be possible to boost weight loss by getting a good night’s sleep.

 

Another study from Maastrict University in Holland found that people who slept for less during their teenage years than they did as children gained more weight than those whose sleep patterns did not change when they got older.

Exposure to sunlight may reduce the risk of older people developing heart disease and diabetes, according to researcher released in May from the University of Warwick. The scientists found that pensioners who got out and about into the sunshine had higher levels of vitamin D than those who preferred to stay indoors. 

Low levels of vitamin D can trigger metabolic syndrome – a condition that affects one in five people and is more common in the elderly. Metabolic syndrome affects the body’s ability to produce insulin and can significantly increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes. When we get older our skin becomes less efficient at forming vitamin D naturally and this study certainly seems to suggest that older people should spend more time outdoors to stimulate the same levels of vitamin D that they had when they were younger.

An alarming report published and released by the government recently suggests that chemicals in food, cosmetics and cleaning products may be ‘feminising’ unborn boys and increasing their risk of cancer and infertility in later life.

It appears that so called ‘gender bending’ chemicals – which block the action of the male hormone testosterone, or mimic the female sex hormone oestrogen, and which are found in everyday substances – may be linked to increasing rates of birth defects and testicular cancer and to falling sperm counts. These chemicals may be harmless on their own, but their cumulative effect could have devastating consequences for a developing foetus and women trying for a child are urged to avoid them.

 

Research is preliminary and ongoing, but ‘gender bending’ chemicals that all pregnant women are urged to avoid include:

 

–          Parabens found in cosmetics, creams, lotions and deodorants.

–          Phthalates found in shower curtains, solvents, vinyl flooring, PVC and plastics.

–          Tricloslan found in soap, toothpaste and chopping boards.

–          Bispehnol A found in clear plastic baby bottles, tin cans and mobile phone castings.

–          PCBs found in electrical circuits, paints and brake linings.

–          Linuron/diuron found in herbicides used to control weeds on roads and farms and forests.

–          Vinclozolin, a fungicide found on imported fruit and vegetables.

–          Prochloraz, a fungicide used on fruits and vegetables.

–          Procymidone, a fungicide found in beans and breakfast cereals.

 

Until more is known about the effects of these chemicals my advice to all pregnant women is to keep cosmetic use to a minimum, choose unscented products, stop using perfume and avoid colouring hair, gardening and DIY. You can go to www.naturalhealthpractice.com Natural Lifestyle Products or call 9845 8800915 to get a brochure showing which cosmetics, toiletries and household products are available that do not contain these ‘gender bending’ substances.