From cake to cankles, here’s the health news you need to read this week.
JULY 28, 2009Have Your Cake and More Birthdays, Too
The American Cancer Society now has an official birthday cake, and it’s a healthy take on red velvet. (Hint: The dessert includes roasted beets and dried cherries.) The recipe won the “Taste More Birthdays Cake Contest,” hosted by the ACS and Culinary Institute of America to find a delicious and nutritious alternative to traditional fat and sugar-heavy birthday cakes.
American Cancer Society. Click here for the press release and recipe.
Don’t Call It a Comeback
Professional athletes around the world are older, wiser, and beating their younger counterparts. Forty—even thirty—used to be considered elderly for athletes, but pros like cyclist Lance Armstrong, swimmer Dara Torres and marathoner Haile Gebrselassie continue to win, even as they age. The likely reason? Older athletes are more mature and train smarter.
CNN, July 16, 2009. Click here for the full story.
Smiling at the DIY Options
Everyone’s looking for ways to whiten and brighten their smile, especially options that cost less than the hundreds of dollars dentists charge. Consumer Reports tested eight home whitening kits on a panel of 82 staffers, and Crest Whitestrips Supreme performed the best. Check out out more of the results as well as tips for whitening in The Washington Post’s piece.
The Washington Post, July 21, 2009. Click here for the full story.
Can’t Get Over Cankles
The newest body obsession isn’t a slim waist or firmer butt; it’s narrow ankles. Women are targeting the area to avoid “cankles” (combination of “calf” and “ankle”), which occur when the calf doesn’t taper to meet the foot, with exercise moves and even plastic surgery. As if we didn’t have more important things to focus on, Gold’s Gym has even dubbed July “Cankles Awareness Month.”
The Wall Street Journal, July 23, 2009. Click here for the full story.
Weighty Matters
Will the weight of Obama’s pick for Surgeon General affect her fate in the post? A recent Fox News segment involved a debate as to whether Dr. Regina Benjamin is “too fat” for the job. “The bottom line is it's a symbolic position and obesity is the number one issue facing our country in terms of the health and wellness,” says one guest, gym owner Michael Karolchyk, who wore a shirt saying “No Chubbies” in the interview.
