The Full Nutrition Beauty

Flawless skin, glossy hair and neat nails are three features that are conducive to our impression of ‘beauty.' We spend hundreds if not thousands of pounds every year on keeping our manes thick and shiny and our nails shaped and polished. Simply keeping our skin cleansed, exfoliated, toned and moisturised as well as anti-aged is becoming an expensive full time job!

When you dash to your local beauty counter and reach for the latest miracle serum, stop for a moment and consider what you are putting inside your body... After all, our skin, hair and nails are the windows of our wellbeing. They reflect how happy our body is inside. If skin is dull, blemished or ageing prematurely, if hair is lifeless and if nails are brittle - perhaps it is your local food market that should receive an emergency visit, not the beauty department!

Our skin, hair and nails reflect how well we are nourished and common deficiencies can lead to blemishes, thinning hair and broken nails – no matter how much you spend on your manicure!

Despite the commonly held view that those white flecks on your nails are due to a calcium deficiency, it is in fact a lack of zinc which sprinkles unsightly white spots on your talons! Zinc is a significant beauty mineral. Not only is it important for strong nails but also for skin repair and maintenance. Foods rich in zinc include oysters, liver, eggs, pumpkin seeds and mushrooms.


Thinning hair is a common beauty complaint, especially given the current ‘big' hair trends! Protein is an essential hair nutrient, as it contains amino acids - important components of keratin which helps make up the hair's matrix. Keratin is also an important feature of the skin and nail structure. Good beauty-boosting proteins include eggs, lean poultry, fish, legumes and seeds.

Blemishes on the skin are an expression of inflammation. Whether this is due to hormonal imbalance, nutritional deficiencies or stress – the anti-inflammatory pathways in the body require support. Reducing red meat and dairy intake is advisable as these are pro-inflammatory foods. Support your body's anti-inflammatory pathways with plenty of omega-3 rich foods like oily fish, nuts and seeds, as well as fresh garlic, ginger and turmeric. Omega 3 is also a nutrient celebrated for its anti-ageing properties.

A poorly functioning liver often chooses to express its struggle on your face. Drinking plenty of fluids is the first step to supporting your detoxification organ. 2-3 litres of fluid a day is recommended. The trick here is variety, who wants to be sipping plain water all day long?! Get your liquid from fruits and vegetables, (especially watermelon, pineapple and other juicy delights) dilute fresh fruit juices and choose from delicious herbal teas like rooibos, green and ginger varieties. Staying well hydrated is shown to help keep hair naturally shiny and complexion lines less visible.

A high level of toxicity in the body puts strain on the skin as it is an organ of detoxification. Getting plenty of high fibre foods in your diet is important for the removal of toxins from the system.  Include beans, lentils, pulses, oat bran and prunes in your diet as well as plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit. Always wash your fresh produce thoroughly and go for organic choices where possible.

A wide range of factors influence the appearance of our skin, hair and nails. Poor digestion, constipation, sun exposure, weakened immunity and hormonal imbalance are just some examples of why you may not be looking your best. A nutritional consultation could help to identify the underlying reasons as to why your external features are exhibiting weakness. A nutritional programme would then be designed to meet your unique requirements and help develop an inner harmony that makes your nails strong, your hair shine and your skin glow.



By: Food Fairy Nutrition Ltd
Posted: Nutrition

The Right way to Have Proper Nutrition

Humans are complex organisms that need nutrients to sustain the bodily requirements in order to have health and function properly and food is the most essential requirement for human survival as it is a substance that is either eaten or drunk to supply nourishment to the body or for pleasure purposes. The required nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins or minerals found in food that comes from other living organisms such as plants and animals or products, produce energy, replenish old cells, stimulate growth and keep homeostatic life.

To comprehend better we should know the difference of macronutrients from micronutrients and Macronutrients are nutrients that are consumed by humans in large quantities and categorised into smaller substances through digestion and provide bulk energy and are consisting of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

Carbohydrate - are made of units of sugar and they are the main supply of energy for building power for human body.
Fats - are generally triesters of glycerol and fats which store energy, give insulation to the body and assist in the transmission of nerve impulses.
Proteins - are chains of amino acids which provide the building material for the growth and repair of tissue and they also act as enzymatic catalyst. Amino acids are classified into two groups; essential and non- essential amino acid. Essential amino acid - are the ones we must obtain in our diet, because our body can't make them. Non essential amino acid - are the ones our body can produce and manufacture.
Vitamins and minerals on the other hand are examples of micronutrients which are required by humans and other living things throughout life in small quantities.


Vitamins - are nutrients needed in small amounts by an organism which has diverse biochemical purposes that are essential to our health.
Minerals - are important nutrients for growth and maintenance of structures of our body

Now, here are a few tips to obtain proper Nutrition:

Note: Eat smart; opt for healthy and nutritious food.

• Eat at regular intervals to keep sugar levels stable, skipping meals won't do any good.
• Drink adequate amount of water, aim for 6-8 glass of water, this will keep you hydrated.
• Eat a lot of fish like tuna and mackerel as they contain omega 3 oil.
• It is not necessary to avoid meat in our diet, instead eat only the leaner part.
• Eat lots of vegetables and fruits as this will aid digestion and nourish the body.
• Buy probiotics as this will help in restoring good bacteria in our body that aids in digestion.
• Buy low fat versions of dairy products such as milk and cheese as dairy products are high source of fat and cholesterol contents, but provide nutritional benefits.
• Avoid alcohol and nicotine from cigarette smoking.
• Avoid as much as possible processed foods, especially junk food.
• Exercise regularly; exercise helps and enhances physical fitness and over all health and wellness.
• Get plenty of sleep and relaxation to minimize fatigue and stress.
• Practice Good hygiene as regular Bathing and Hand washing reduces the risk of getting sick.
• Take food and vitamin supplements because this will aid in maintaining good functioning of the body.
• Health is wealth so if you wish to be rich, eat the right kind of food to have Proper Nutrition.

By: Proper Nutrition

You May Be Fat and Not Even Know It

By CHAI WOODHAM


There's more to fat than meets the eye. Literally. While most of the population obsesses over that which wiggles and jiggles, research suggests it's the fat we can't see that's of greater concern. And it's not just about how much fat you have, but where you tend to store it that worries most doctors.

There are two types of fat: subcutaneous and visceral. Subcutaneous fat is located beneath the skin in places like the abdomen, thighs, hips, and buttocks. You know it, you see it, you hate it. Visceral fat, better known as belly fat, is located deep within the midsection, surrounding the liver, heart, lungs, and digestive tract. And it's invisible to the naked eye. "People are self-conscious about the fat they can see," says Heather Hausenblas, associate professor of exercise and health psychology at the University of Florida's College of Health and Human Performance, but "hidden fat, in people of any size, poses the bigger threat." Why? Visceral fat churns out inflammatory substances called cytokines that can wreak havoc on the body's organs.


Subcutaneous fat—that roll of fat you can pinch between your fingers—patiently sits beneath the outermost layer of skin, and while unsightly, it's not as dangerous as visceral fat. A 2004 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that the removal of subcutaneous fat through liposuction —nearly 23 pounds of it—in obese women had no effect on their blood sugar, blood pressure, or cholesterol levels after three months. Visceral fat, on the other hand, is very active metabolically. It constantly releases substances that travel to the liver and influence the production of blood fats. "[It] supplies a feeding tube to your vital internal organs, messing up the blood that is sent to those organs," says Hausenblas. That's why the subcutaneous fat on your thighs, she explains, doesn't matter as much to your health as the visceral fat in your belly.


Visceral fat makes the body more vulnerable to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, high blood pressure, Alzheimer's disease, and even certain types of cancer. A recent laboratory study, for example, suggests that visceral fat may promote the spread and growth of ovarian cancer. Says Ernst Lengyel, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Chicago who led the research: "Cancer cells can feed from visceral fat and," he adds, "there isn't necessarily a connection to obesity because lean women also get ovarian cancer." Other cancers such as breast, gastric, and colon, research shows, may also be fueled by visceral fat.

So who accumulates visceral fat? "Everyone," says John Morton, associate professor of surgery and director of bariatric surgery at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Men have more visceral fat than women, although after menopause, women tend to gain more visceral fat than subcutaneous fat. Genetics can also play a role. "Some ethnic minorities like Hispanics and Native Americans are more prone to collecting visceral fat," says Morton. If we all have it, how do you know if you should be concerned? To find out, doctors say you need nothing more than a mirror and a tape measure.

The most precise way to gauge visceral fat is through an MRI or CT scan, but these procedures can be costly and inaccessible. MRIs and CT scans have shown that waist circumference is an indicator of abdominal fat. So simply take a good look at the shape of your body. Those with an apple shape have a large percentage of their total body fat concentrated above their waist. They're more likely to have more abdominal fat, and therefore more visceral fat, than those with a pear shape, or larger lower body, where body fat settles primarily below the waist. Also measure your waist. Studies show that women with a waist circumference of 35 inches or more and men with a measure of 40 inches or higher have dangerous levels of visceral fat.


What can we do to keep it from reaching unsafe levels? "One of the most effective treatments for targeting visceral fat is exercise, maybe more so than diet," says Kerry Stewart, a professor of medicine and director of clinical research exercise physiology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. "You will see a reduction in waist size, which includes both a loss in subcutaneous and visceral fat, but the visceral fat will go down even more so than the subcutaneous fat." Cardiovascular activities like running, biking, or rowing count more towards visceral fat loss, says Stewart, since they burn more calories than other types of exercise. Still, most doctors will say, something is better than nothing.

Don't discount your diet though, which can help you lose visceral fat and body weight in general. Melina Jampolis, a physician nutrition specialist with practices in San Francisco and Los Angeles, stresses the importance of cutting back on sugar, "especially sugary beverages and refined white carbohydrates," since they're high in calories and nutritionally empty. Replace them with lean protein like skinless poultry and fish or healthy fats like olives, nuts, seeds, and avocados. Eat more fiber; this includes oats, beans, and barley. High-fiber foods can help you feel full longer so you're less likely to overeat. The Institute of Medicine's daily recommendation of fiber for adults under 50 is 38 grams for men and 25 grams for women. It's suggested that men and women 51 years and older eat 30 grams and 21 grams a day, respectively. To achieve this, increase your consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains—"three servings of whole grains per day have been linked with lower levels of visceral fat," says Jampolis.

Last, but not least, consider your sleep habits. A 2010 study from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine showed that too little sleep—five hours or less—or too much sleep—eight hours or more—was related to increases in visceral fat. And while diet and stress may also have played a part, researchers say sleep itself appeared to be a risk factor.

When all is said and done, shedding fat for those who are overweight, whether it's subcutaneous or visceral, is a win-win situation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines overweight adults as having a body mass index, or BMI, between 25 and 29.9, while those who have a BMI of 30 or higher are considered obese. It should be noted that BMI correlates with body fat but does not measure it directly. To determine your BMI, simply take your weight in pounds, divide by your height in inches squared, and then multiply by 703. For example, if your weight is 200 pounds and your height is 6 feet, the calculation would be: [200 / (72)²] x 703 = 27.

Losing weight—through diet, exercise, and other behavioral changes like meditation to relieve stress—can help stave off a host of problems including heart disease, stroke, cancer, gallbladder disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, infertility, and depression. Now that's something we can all live with.

The need for a good night’s rest

Written by:Sara Celik

We all recognize the importance of good quality sleep, particularly considering today’s fast paced world. Demands have increased both at home and in the workplace, resulting in increased stress, anxiety and poor sleep patterns. Studies show that insomnia is a major health problem in North America that should be taken seriously because it can quickly lead to other, more serious health issues.
If you’re experiencing sleep difficulties, even if they seem minor, speak with your health care professional or consult with your Naturopathic Doctor (ND). Your ND will do a full assessment to find out the reasons you’re not getting adequate sleep and will provide you with natural, effective treatment options.


Reasons for insomnia vary, but the root cause is important to identify in order to provide individualized treatment and the best care possible. Simply masking the symptoms with medication won’t solve the problem, nor is this approach good for your body in the long term. Some reasons for sleep disturbances include a lack of routine, stress, chronic pain, menopause, anxiety, use of stimulants or a poor diet. When you’re sleep deprived, your body and your brain simply cannot operate at their full capacity. However, the most concerning aspect is that sleep issues can lead to serious health concerns such as depression and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Lack of deep, restful sleep usually leads to low energy, depressed mood, anxiety and irritability. Although there’s no quick fix to long-standing sleep issues, there are some good natural health care products available to provide temporary relief. Pascoe has two great health products that work to naturally improve sleep – Pascoe Calm and Pascoe Neurapas. I’ve used both successfully in my practice, and they’re both available at your local health food store. I also frequently prescribe Trancor by Metagenics, another great mood stabilizer and calmer that can treat mild insomnia.
If you’ve struggled with poor sleep for more than one month, it’s important to consult your health care professional to find the root cause of your issues and diagnose the severity of your condition. Here are some helpful tips to improve the quality of sleep for you and your family:

1. Eliminate all stimulants
Such as caffeinated beverages and sugary treats (especially after noon). It’s also a good idea to reach for a healthier alternative to biscuits and black tea before bed. In order to allow for proper digestion, consume your last meal before 7 p.m. Many people often ask me what foods they can eat to increase energy or improve their sleep. Eating a well-balanced diet is essential when it comes to maintaining good energy levels throughout the day, but which foods should you consume to improve sleep? The best answer is foods that are rich in tryptophan, which include nuts, seeds, legumes and soy.

2. Exercise may help
Induce regular sleep and improve the quality of sleep, too. Exercise not only uses up energy, it’s also energizing. If you’re not engaging in regular physical activity, ensure that you’re walking for 20 minutes a day at the very least.

3. Before turning in
Write down your To Do list. This allows your mind to let go of the things you must do the next day. If you go to bed feeling anxious about what you have to do tomorrow, you’re likely going to have some difficulty falling or staying asleep. Hot baths are very calming at night – a perfect opportunity for you to release stress. Some calming essential oils are lavender and chamomile. I suggest massaging the oils around your temples and between your eyebrows before bed.

4. Avoid using
Your iPod, television, computer or telephone within one hour before bedtime. This allows your body to unwind from all stimulation. Also, turn clocks away from your bed. Other than alarm clocks, remove all electronics from your bedroom. The bedroom should be used for rest, relaxation, intimacy and sleep. It’s also a good idea to read, listen to calming music or do some form of meditation before bed.

5. Lastly, make sure!
The room that you’re sleeping in is dark by drawing all blinds and curtains shut and turning off all the lights in your bedroom. The body produces a hormone called melatonin when it’s dark which regulates the sleep cycle. It’s a good idea to avoid taking melatonin in supplement form for long periods of time. I have prescribed it to patients when necessary, but the goal is to only use it short term. You want your body to naturally make this hormone on its own, as melatonin is your body’s way of communicating that it’s time for bed.

One of the questions on my patient intake form is, “Do you feel well-rested in the mornings?” Ask yourself this question – and if your answer is no then it’s time to evaluate the reasons why. With adequate sleep (not too much and not too little), you should feel well rested upon rising. Your performance at work should improve, your energy levels should increase and your mood may improve, too. Remember, sleep is the time for your body to recover and heal. After all, every bodily function depends on it!

How to Master Muscular Anatomy Fast & Avoid the 5 Most Common Anatomy Mistakes

How to Master Muscular Anatomy Fast & Avoid the 5 Most Common Anatomy Mistakes

Anatomy = Foundation of Exercise Science

Learning anatomy as a fitness professional is like learning to build a foundation as an architect; it supports everything else! This knowledge will also support your personal training business success!

Everything else is built on top of it!

Personal training is super dynamic and intimate, so I suppose you could make the same claim about personality being foundational; if the client doesn't want to spend time with you because of your bad attitude or bad communication skills, it really doesn't matter how much you know!

But that is why we break up personal training skills into categories.  Because training is so dynamic, it is helpful to break up the various skill sets into 3 key mega-competencies: interpersonal skills, exercise science, and business acumen.

Anatomy and biomechanics are the very foundation of exercise science, with physiology secondary.  (What is physiology anyway, except your anatomies response to forces/mechanics?  Feel free to disagree in the comments, I know this isn't a popular perspective, but I think it is one worth examining.)

It really doesn't matter how much you know about other areas of exercise science, if you don't have a strong foundation in biomechanics and anatomy, you will not be able to accurately and safely apply your knowledge.

Types of Anatomy

Within anatomy, there are multiple focuses; neural anatomy, bony anatomy, muscular anatomy.  As a trainer, it is VERY important to keep in mind how many other structures there are in the body that affects its performance and health.

Yes, initially we should be focused on muscular anatomy, but as fitness professionals, we have to keep in mind that we tend to be too focused on muscles sometimes.  Often, a tight muscle will tighten because of a fascial restriction!  Everything is connected to everything through the fascial network.  Just keep this in mind when you are problem solving and studying.

As you advance, more time should be spent on learning more advanced anatomy like fascial anatomy, and the anatomy of the tendons, ligaments, and how they attach to bony surfaces.

Practice Makes Perfect

There are a lot of great tools out there to learn anatomy.  Use these tools, the first one is free, and practice with other trainers.  Make cards, quiz each other, and try to link the specific names to your own exercise routine when you workout.

http://www.getbodysmart.com - This website is AWESOME!  It is a digital animation of the muscular system. Click and drag a little slider under each joint, and it will build the muscular support system around it from the most deep to the most superficial.  Very cool and definitely worth checking out, you can also click to see each muscles action, which is good but very simplified. (Be sure to read "Most Common Anatomy Mistakes" below). And it's free!  Also, you can take a quiz on the site.  Every new fitness professional should know about this site and spend time on it, it is great.





Atlas of Human Anatomy DVD Set -This dvd set is AMAZING!  I have watched all but one of the dvds (the 6th one is about the organs). While it is on the pricey side to get all 6 at once, it is a great reference for anyone who wants to take their anatomy to the next level.  They basically build a fresh cadaver in front of you, with precise animation to show each origin and insertion.  They start with the bony anatomy, and then build the muscles from deep to superficial on top, show the tissues from 360 views.  Then they show the vascular and neural anatomy, and have quizzes between each section.  You can also start with just one DVD at a time, and watch just 10 minutes a day.  It is fascinating!  All these intricate structures are the bodies evolutionary reaction to FORCE! DVD 1, 2, and 3 are most important for newer trainers, as they are upper extremity, lower extremity, and trunk/core.

Strength Training Anatomy Book - This is a great book. Detailed, colorful, and just plain fun to look at.  The muscles illustrations are very much of a jacked body builder, it is not what you will normally find in a general population client, but it is a cool guide to basic anatomy.  There is not as much attention to anatomy of the "passive structures" (bones, ligaments, tendons) and spinal anatomy.

Cadaver Course - One of the best ways to learn is to get your hands dirty!   I went to this class and it was AWESOME! We are so used to thinking of these tissues as separate, as they appear in books, but they are all intertwined together!  It was eye opening to see the fibers of the rhomboid fan into the fibers of the Serratus!  It looked like one muscle!  This is a link to the RTS website.  They have a cadaver class in Pittsburgh and in Connecticut.  If you are in another part of the world, you should be able to find a cadaver class at any university with related courses. The cool thing about the RTS anatomy elective is you can get continuing education credits, and it is a requirement for your Resistance Training Specialist certification. But don't let it stop you if you are not in CT or Pittsburgh, find a class and get your hands dirty!

Most Common Anatomy Mistakes!

These are the BIGGEST mistakes that fitness professionals AND BOOKS make about anatomy:

1. The action of the muscle tissue is entirely dependent on its position! Yes, your hip adductors move your legs inward toward each other if they are abducted, BUT they will extend the hip if  the hip is fully flexed, and flex  the hip if the hip is already fully extended.  If you are just starting out, don't get confused, just focus on the most obvious muscular action, but keep in mind that each muscles function is positional, and will change based on the position of the joints.

2. Each muscle has some kind of function in every plane, and it has an eccentric action, concentric action, and isometric action.  Oh, and by every plane, I don't mean all 3 planes because there is an INFINITE # of planes (another major yet common anatomy mistake.)  What plane is cutting a diagonal with your arm? If this blows your mind, I recommend taking the RTS certification ASAP!

3. We tend to focus on superficial muscles and anterior muscles because they are easier to see and appease our vanity!  Do not make this mistake with your own body or your clients; without balance, symmetry, and the deeper/smaller stabilizers, you WILL become a cripple sooner or later!

4. Do NOT try to impress your clients with your knowledge of anatomy!  Naming the deep 6 hip rotators will not impress your prospect!  Unless they are a doctor, they will only be confused and maybe intimidated!  ALWAYS talk to your client in a language they understand; this is better for communication and sales. Yes, as you build a relationship, you should expand your client's knowledge so they take control of their fitness, but even then, focus giving them practical knowledge and not Latin names.  In the beginning, if they say "I want smaller arms, they look like old lady arms", you say "Well this program will specifically target those granny arms."  You will sell more packages guaranteed.

5. One other quick note on language.  At all costs, avoid using the word "Functional" where ever you want just to sound knowledgeable.  Yes people like it, and it is a buzz word, but buzz words are often very ineffective at communication.  Instead of "functional" say "exercise or program xyz will help you function better at ABC or perform better at ABC or transfer over to activity ABC". Major pet peeve of mine! Don't just sound smart when you can be smart!

• How did you learn anatomy?
• What is the hardest part?
• What mistakes have you made?

Until next time, keep your business fit.

Johnny Fitness

PersonalTrainingBusiness



By: Jonathan Angelilli
Posted: Anatomy

Detox Diet

A detox diet is a dietary regimen involving a change in consumption habits in an attempt to detoxify the body by removal of toxins or other contaminants.

It is claimed to improve health, energy, resistance to disease, mental state, digestion, as well as aiding in weight loss.
Detox diets usually suggest that fruits and vegetables compose a majority of one's food intake.


Limiting this to unprocessed (and sometimes also non-GM) foods is often advocated.

Limiting or eliminating alcohol is also a major factor, and drinking more water (which helps curb appetite) is similarly recommended.

Critics point out that the human liver, kidneys, lungs and skin have evolved to adequately expel environmental contaminants and are perfectly equipped to continue to do so unassisted.

It has been posited that some fruits and vegetables may actually contain more natural toxins than animal substances such as meat, fish, and milk.

This article is referenced from sciencedaily.com

Compounds Dramatically Alter Biological Clock and Lead to Weight Loss, Animal Study Suggests

Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have synthesized a pair of small molecules that dramatically alter the core biological clock in animal models, highlighting the compounds' potential effectiveness in treating a remarkable range of disorders -- including obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and serious sleep disorders.

            The study was published on March 29, 2012, in an advance, online edition of the journal Nature.
The study showed that when administered in animal models the synthetic small molecules altered circadian rhythm and the pattern of core clock gene expression in the brain's hypothalamus, the site of the master cellular clock that synchronizes daily rhythms in mammals; circadian rhythms are the physiological processes that respond to a 24-hour cycle of light and dark and are present in most living things.

When given to diet-induced obese mice, these same small molecules decreased obesity by reducing fat mass and markedly improving cholesterol levels and hyperglycemia -- chronically high blood sugar levels that frequently lead to diabetes.

"The idea behind this research is that our circadian rhythms are coupled with metabolic processes and that you can modulate them pharmacologically," said Thomas Burris, a professor at Scripps Florida who led the study. "As it turns out, the effect of that modulation is surprisingly positive -- everything has been beneficial so far."

Burris stressed that these compounds were first generation -- the first to hit their targets in vivo with room for improvement as potential treatments. "In terms of therapeutics, this is really the first step," he said.
In the new study, the team identified and tested a pair of potent synthetic compounds that activate proteins called REV-ERBα and REV-ERBβ, which play an integral role in regulating the expression of core clock proteins that drive biological rhythms in activity and metabolism.

In the study, the scientists observed clear metabolic effects when the synthetic compounds were administered twice a day for 12 days. Animals displayed weight loss due to decreased fat mass with no changes in the amount of food they ate. The animals followed the human model of obesity closely, eating a standard Western diet of high fat, high sugar foods, yet still lost weight when given the compounds.
In one of the study's more striking findings, both synthetic compounds were shown to reduce cholesterol production. Cholesterol in the blood of treated animal models decreased 47 percent; triglycerides in the blood decreased 12 percent.

The circadian pattern of expression of a number of metabolic genes in the liver, skeletal muscle, and in fat tissue was also altered, resulting in increased energy expenditure, something of a surprise. In the study, the scientists observed a five percent increase in oxygen consumption, suggesting increased energy expenditure during the day and at night. However, these increases were not due to increased activity -- the animals displayed an overall 15 percent decrease in movement during those same time periods.

In addition to its impact on metabolism, the two compounds also affected the animals' activity during periods of light and darkness, suggesting that this class of compound may be useful for the treatment of sleep disorders, including the common problem of jet lag.

The first authors of the study, "Regulation of Circadian Behavior and Metabolism by Synthetic REV‐ERB Agonists," are Laura A. Solt and Yongjun Wang of Scripps Research. Other authors include Subhashis Banerjee, Travis Hughes, Douglas J. Kojetin, Thomas Lundasen, Youseung Shin, Jin Liu, Michael D. Cameron, Romain Noel, Andrew A. Butler, and Theodore M. Kamenecka of Scripps Research; and Seung‐Hee Yoo and Joseph S. Takahashi of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

This article is referenced from: sciencedaily.com