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Homelessness declines in Los Angeles; recession pave way for affordable housing

On any given night, an estimated 43,000 people are homeless in Los Angeles' Continuum of Care, according to the 2009 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Report (HC09), released today by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). The number of homeless people in Los Angeles, while still the highest in the nation, represents an estimated 38% decrease from 2007.

29 Oct 2009

Nanoparticles from antibacterial textiles could harm fish and other wildlife

Scientists in Switzerland are reporting results of one of the first studies on the release of silver nanoparticles from laundering those anti-odor, anti-bacterial socks now on the market. Their findings, scheduled for the Nov. 1 issue of ACS' journal Environmental Science & Technology, may suggest ways that manufacturers and consumers can minimize the release of these particles to the environment, where they could harm fish and other wildlife.

29 Oct 2009

Aerobic exercise not only prevents weight gain, but also inhibits regain of harmful visceral fat

A study conducted by exercise physiologists in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Human Studies finds that as little as 80 minutes a week of aerobic or resistance training helps not only to prevent weight gain, but also to inhibit a regain of harmful visceral fat one year after weight loss.

29 Oct 2009

Canadians should consider taking Vitamin D during fall and winter months

Changing our clocks on Sunday November 1 is an excellent time to consider taking a daily Vitamin D supplement, says the Canadian Cancer Society.

29 Oct 2009

End of COBRA subsidy rattles newly unemployed

Rick Schmitt reports for Kaiser Health News on how unemployed workers are faring with their COBRA subsidies. "In the past very few people could afford this option, but the government subsidies have changed that, and now enrollments appear to be growing sharply. Hewitt Associates, a Lincolnshire, Ill., consulting firm, recently estimated that the rate at which workers were opting for coverage under COBRA had doubled compared with pre-subsidy levels.

28 Oct 2009

Majority of parents want schools to limit students' access to high-calorie foods

The vast majority of parents want schools to limit students' access to high-calorie chips, sodas and candy and to offer them opportunities for physical activity throughout the day, a new survey by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation shows.

28 Oct 2009

Rural Oregons in poverty face tough choices between eating well and spending less money for meals

A new study by Oregon State University researchers shows that those in poverty in rural Oregon often know what kinds of foods they should be eating, but face tough choices between eating well and spending less money for meals.

28 Oct 2009

Guide for living a healthy and active lifestyle

Even though no-one wants to admit it, the countdown to Christmas is upon us, and if you want to look good at the ubiquitous Christmas Party then follow the realbuzz.com guide to a healthier you. You know that once the season is upon us, diet and healthy living go out the window, so now's the time to turn your body into a temple.

28 Oct 2009

Development of VLN cigarettes for use in smoking cessation continues: 22nd Century

22nd Century Limited, LLC is pleased to announce that it is continuing development of a very low nicotine cigarette for use in smoking cessation. Clinical trial results demonstrate that these cigarettes, also referred to as ‘nicotine-free’ and ‘denicotinized,’ may be more effective for quitting than FDA-approved therapies.

28 Oct 2009

Online weight management support for overweight teen girls and mothers

Professionals from the entertainment industry have teamed with leaders in obesity treatment to create the first web destinations that offer affordable and accessible weight management support to overweight teen girls and their mothers.

28 Oct 2009

Contrary to perception, teen childbearing is not limited to particular income group

Contrary to the perception of most Americans, the majority of teen parents are from households that are not in poverty and that are not headed by single parents. These findings and others were released today by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

28 Oct 2009

BPA-free Bornfree baby bottles reduce colic and middle-ear infections

Parents looking to protect their babies from potentially harmful chemicals are today being advised to buy BornFree(TM), the world's leading brand for baby bottles and feeding devices free from Phthalates, PVC and Bisphenol-A (BPA), which is now available across the UK.

28 Oct 2009

NRC guide recommends ways to foster science learning among all age groups

A great deal of science learning takes place outside of classrooms -- in museums and after-school programs, for example, and through TV programs, books, and online activities. SURROUNDED BY SCIENCE: LEARNING SCIENCE IN INFORMAL ENVIRONMENTS, new from the National Research Council, recommends ways museum professionals, media specialists, and educators can create experiences that foster science learning for people of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures.

28 Oct 2009

DiabetEZE, an energy bar designed and developed for diabetics launched

Innova Nutrition announced today the launch of "DiabetEZE," an energy bar designed and developed for diabetics, but great for everyone.

28 Oct 2009

Crushing virtual cigarettes reduces nicotine dependence

Smokers who crushed computer-simulated cigarettes as part of a psychosocial treatment program in a virtual reality environment had significantly reduced nicotine dependence and higher rates of tobacco abstinence than smokers participating in the same program who grasped a computer-simulated ball, according to a study described in the current issue of CyberPsychology and Behavior, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

28 Oct 2009

Want to shed more weight? Enroll a family member or friend

Enrolling in a weight loss program with a family member or friend appears to enhance weight loss among African Americans, but only if the involved partner attends sessions frequently or also loses weight, according to a report in the October 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

27 Oct 2009

New sports performance training course for athletes

The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), a global leader in sports performance training and personal training certification, today announced the release of an enhanced version if its Performance Enhancement Specialist (NASM PES) course, the "NASM Essentials of Sports Performance Training."

27 Oct 2009

UTMB researchers suggest efficient eating strategy for muscle-building

For thousands of years, people have believed that eating large amounts of protein made it easier to build bigger, stronger muscles. Take Milo of Croton, the winner of five consecutive Olympic wrestling championships in the sixth century BC: If ancient writers are to be believed, he built his crushing strength in part by consuming 20 pounds of meat every day.

27 Oct 2009

Canadian Cancer Society promotes smoke-free lifestyles in Ontario's lesbian, gay and bisexual communities

The Canadian Cancer Society in Ontario has developed a new information and awareness resource entitled "Facts about Tobacco for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People: Reasons and Resources for Quitting Smoking".

27 Oct 2009

Female teachers more likely to experience voice problems than male counterparts

Teachers tend to spend more time speaking than most professionals, putting them at a greater risk for hurting their voices -- they're 32 times more likely to experience voice problems, according to one study. And unlike singers or actors, teachers can't take a day off when their voices hurt.

27 Oct 2009