FitRep for Dec. 26 - Off Duty, Military Health and Fitness - Navy Times

FitRep for Dec. 26

Get your head in the game

Muscle fatigue originates in the head, according to new research by Swiss scientists. Previous studies have focused on changes in the muscle itself, but ScienceDaily reports the Swiss team found neuronal processes that reduced muscle activity during muscle-fatiguing exercise. “Based on these studies, it won’t just be possible to develop strategies to optimize muscular performance, but also specifically investigate reasons for reduced muscular performance in various diseases,” said neuropsychologist and study leader Kai Lutz.

Cutting carbs for a few days

Switching to a low-carb diet for a couple of days a week may be better than a traditional diet for reducing weight and lowering blood levels of the cancer-promoting hormone insulin, a new study suggests. British research found the intermittent method was better than a standard, daily calorie-restricted diet for preventing breast cancer and other diseases, but further study is needed, the American Association for Cancer Research said in a release.

Athletes face ventricle damage

Some endurance athletes may suffer damage to the heart’s right ventricle, research shows, but the findings do not suggest that this type of exercise is unhealthy, and most recover a week after a race. The right ventricle is one of the four chambers in the heart involved in pumping blood. “Our study identifies the right ventricle as being most susceptible to exercise-induced injury,” said Dr. Andre La Gerche of the University of Melbourne, Australia. The findings were reported in the European Heart Journal.

Quick walk cuts snacking

British researchers say a 15-minute walk can cut snacking on chocolate at work by half, ScienceDaily reports. The study, published in the journal Appetite, showed that even under stress, workers eat only half as much chocolate as they normally would after a short burst of physical activity. The researchers think the exercise’s mood and energy boost is what helps curb the cravings.