Womens' Health: Alcohol?

(Editorial comment: In the interest of seeing my hypertension and my weight better-controlled, I've worked to cut back my beer intake to no more than two a day. That, tracking my food intake, and continued running...fingers crossed for better results when my lab work comes back after the new year. MB)


I Gave up Drinking Alcohol (Mostly)—Here’s What Happened
One woman explores how the “mindful drinking” movement is helping people get high on being dry. Joy Manning/Women’s Health/December 27, 2017


A glass of wine at the end of a workday. A cocktail before a social event. For 20 years, my drinking had been moderate. But maintaining moderation was a struggle. There were plenty of nights I’d promise myself I wouldn’t imbibe but end up indulging, or have four drinks instead of the planned one.


These behaviors are red flags for problem drinking, and they’re alarmingly common. Between 2002 and 2013, the number of women engaging in high-risk drinking (four or more in a night) rose by nearly 60 percent. The spike may be driven in part by the quest for gender equality: keeping up with men in politics, careers, and even alcohol consumption, says psychologist Sharon Wilsnack, Ph.D., a professor of behavioral science at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. That's dangerous, since women are more vulnerable to alcohol-related health problems...


(Link to article)

Rodale: But I LIKE The Cookie...

Here’s What Just One Day of Binge Eating Does to Your Body
Is that “6-day day diet / 1-day gorge” method putting your health at risk?
By Christa Sgobba/Men’s Health, September 13, 2017

If you eat healthy six days out of the week, you’re allowed to go crazy on the seventh, right? Not exactly: Just one day of binge eating on high fat food can mess with your body, a new study in the journal Nutrients suggests.

In the study, researchers recruited 15 healthy volunteers and gave them a pretty pleasant task: For one day, eat a diet full of tasty, high fat foods—like sausage, bacon, fried eggs, burgers, and cheesecake—totaling 78 percent more total calories than their normal daily requirement. Then, they measured their blood sugar readings and compared it to their levels before their feast...

(Link to Article)

What's Good For A Hundred Might Not Hurt For Less

Seven Steps to Recovery After Running 100 Miles
Jason Koop, CTS/June 27


I just returned home from supporting athletes at the 2017 Western States Endurance Run, and I’m tired. I need a recovery week and I didn’t even run the race! Congratulations to everyone who toed the start line, fought through their individual rough patches, and persevered to the finish. It was an exciting race, full of inspirational stories and great displays of sportsmanship. Now that it’s over, or when you reach the end of your 100-mile ultramarathon, it’s time to recover.


The biggest misconception about recovery after a 100-miler is that it happens quickly, and the biggest mistake athletes make is getting back into structured training too soon. To be a healthy ultrarunner and continue racing or participating for a long time, it’s essential to give your body and mind a significant break between events. For many athletes, running is an integral part of your lifestyle, which means the recovery period following a 100-miler requires patience and an unfamiliar change to your routine. It’s worth it, and here are some tips for optimizing recovery so you can continue to run strong...


(Link to Article)