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  A multi-national study at King’s College, London has revealed that a gene named “KLF14″ linked to Type II diabetes and cholesterol acts as a ‘master switch’ that can control the behavior of other genes throughout the body including BMI, cholesterol, insulin and glucose levels.  As fat has become the focus for so many disorders ranging from obesity to heart disease and diabetes, this gene could be targeted in future treatments to curb this current medical epidemic.

Another genetic revelation came in the form of a study out of  the University of Scotland at Dundee. This study which focused on children, showed how the FTO gene commonly referred to as an ‘obesity gene’ can influence one to choose more calorie-dense foods, not neccessarily a larger quantity of food. This gene is found in roughly 74% of Americans of European origin and can make someone crave 200 more calories a day over someone without this gene giving credence to the idea of some people being more prone to being over-weight.

help is on the way

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 However, before you throw up your hands in defeat, another study involving over 200,000 adult subjects revealed that simply increasing physical activity can alleviate the obesity-causing effects by about 33% in adults with the gene.   The idea of controlling intake and increasing activity once again rings true.

So, while you enjoy a large family feast, you can focus on how to increase your activity level by remembering all the shopping and errand running that awaits you. Mall-walking and bargain-hunting takes on a whole new meaning. It’s easier to find the time by including your exercise activity in your daily routine. This takes some of the stress out of squeezing in a few hours of exercise and provides encouragement to those of us strapped for time.

a 40-minutes mall walk can burn calories.

Small things like parking the car farther out and walking a lap or two prior to shopping the box-store or mall can have favorable results.  My husband lost 40 lbs in 8 months just using this method along with watching his calories.  I shared in his ‘errand-running’ and  enjoyed an increased endurance in the process.

Approaching this winter with an encouraged outlook towards calorie-intake and activity can fuel a more successful New Year’s weight-loss resolution.  Just remember where you parked your car.

TwitterMoms asked for 10 tips towards a money saving vacation, but to make this challenge applicable to me, I needed to think of ten ways I could save money and tread lightly on the earth. Of course, as a mom to a one-year-old, I know that camping, although inexpensive and relatively earth-friendly, is simply out of the question for most families. Its a vacation, after all, not a punishment!

1. Calling all passengers. Flying by plane is faster, but these days that’s one of the only advantages to flying. Its expensive, you can barely bring anything with you, and there’s very little sight-seeing on the way. Depending on the size of your traveling group, consider trains or driving.

2. Here we are now, entertainers. Forgo movies or expensive shows this vacation, you’re family will enjoy and remember a $12 board game far more than a stuffy play. For that matter, forget buying games and DVDs for the car this year. If you have a smart phone. Library books and books on tape.

3. Taxpayer’s dollars. You pay for national forests, visitor centers, and even the roads you travel on, so enjoy them!

4. Pack and Pick your own food. For the dreaded travel itself, try not to buy snacks from gas stations or service stations along the way. Pack your own food ahead of time. This will decrease your impulse buying, and you’ll be able to plan ahead of time to pack the least greasy and more healthful foods.

5. Volunteering. Volunteering locally will allow you to get to know the people and culture you’re visiting. You’ll also most likely get a free keepsake to commemorate your trip (one less token to buy).

6. Collectables. Help your kids decide on a specific way they plan on commemorating their travels. Instead of allowing them (and yourself) to collect a mountain of brochures, ticket stubs, buttons, or mugs, decide what kind of memorabilia you’ll be willing to buy before entering the gift shop.

7. Capatalists. Capitol buildings, and national monuments, are usually free to the public. They’re educational,

8. When in Nebraska… Pick up the local newspaper (especially the Entertainment center or weekly publication) that comes out in the

9. Make friends. Whether its other vacationers or locals, two heads (or five or six) are always better than one. They’ll be able to suggest worthwhile things to do and see

10. Home Sweet Home. Be sure to turn off any faucents, lights, and air conditioners when you’re away. Tell a neighbor you trust how long you’ll be gone so they’ll keep a look out for anything fishy.

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the Toyota Sienna and TwitterMoms blogging program for a chance to get a $30 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” <a

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Its hard to find a downside to this amazingly versatile material!  The best part about the Cork Oak, indigenous to Northwest Africa and Southwest Europe, is that it lives for 200 years and the cork itself is sustainably harvested every nine years without any tree fatalities!  Whats better, this woody tissue is buoyant, fire resistant, impermeable and elastic. You may have unwitting used cork when playing a wind instrument, throwing a baseball, or using boating and fishing equipment.  Now that word is getting out about this amazing material, you can find all kinds of items made of cork.  At corkstore.com, cork luggage, serving trays, and even furniture are sold.  Although its traditionally known as a means to stop bottles and for bulletin boards, cork is quickly finding its way into our homes and local home improvement and supermarkets as flooring material.   While cork was recently awarded the most sustainable way to stop a bottle (compared to twist-off aluminum and plastic caps), cork flooring is actually a bi-product of cork bottling manufacturing, so its a completely recycled product.  It comes in a variety of colors, lengths and shapes.  One can buy a roll, tiles, or snap-together planks.  Its runs about the same price as a regular hardwood floor and comes with a 25 year warranty at Walmart, but its warm and soft on your feet on cold mornings like carpet, yet still bears a polished look!  Save your feet, give your floors a new, sustainable look and feel good about letting your two-year old play on cork floorboards!

While the program seems Utopian, there are some inevitable critics of the program, including car dealers, owners and non-owners.  Car dealers complain of losing money on so many new cars sold at lower prices and have attempted to withhold new cars from buyers due to some clunker applications being rejected.  However, the U.S. Department of Transportation has announced that car dealers are not allowed to ask buyers sign contingency agreements.  Clunker owners aren’t always pleased either because the system only gives them a rebate toward a new car, which many clunker owners can’t afford.  The system has actually been so effective that potential clunker owners, those looking in the $3000 category, now have fewer options and lower income families can’t afford to buy cars!  As a wise woman often said to me, “there’s no silver bullet when it comes to environmentalism.”

Still, some Americans are happy that the program was reinstated.  “I’m happy it was extened because it takes fuel-inefficient cars off the road and it helps America’s industries.  What’s better than that?” Says Lucas Belury (pictured above), owner of a 1987 Nissan Maxima.  He hopes to take advantage of this second chance to use the program.

I’m a little embarrassed to say that I have been an irresponsible user of my thermostat.  Granted, this is the first year I have used gas heating and that I actually have to pay my own utility bill and have lived in a place where snow sticks to the ground.  Still, our invoice this month was a little ridiculous.  Recalling my college professor’s numerous lectures on the subjected, I frantically rushed my husband to to the thermostat, which is thankfully programmable, and completely readjusted it.  Eager to do this as efficiently as possible, I turned to the EPA’s Energy Star program for guidance.  Along with simple table (seen below) and some useful pointers, I feel I am way on my way to utility bill that is at least less than $150!

While readjusting your thermostat is probably the easiest and cheapest way to save money on heating this winter there are other options!

1. Check and change your filters.  Air filters should be changed at least once every three months.  The dirtier your filters are, the harder your system has to work and it increases the chances of early system failure. (note: the same goes for your fridge’s filter too)
2. Seal your ducts. A more invasive project, but insulating your ducts and sealing all seams and connections could dramatically increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.
3. Wrap your water heater. Insulating blankets for your water heater cost anywhere from $15 to $40, but increases your energy efficiency by 10%.  You’ll probably make back the money in savings in a few months.

If you’re planning on changing your HVAC system system anyway, watch out for the Energy Star logo whether your buying a boiler, a furnace, a heat pump or you’re going solar.

Which is the most environmentally friendly choice?  Some would say paper because it decomposes quickly and can be recycled with your newspapers.  Others think that plastic bags are better because they have multiple purposes and they cost less energy to produce.  According to Institute for Lifecycel Environmental Assessment, U.S. demand for paper bags causes the felling of 14 million trees a year, while plastic bages use up around 12 million barrels of oil a year.  Its hard to compare the energy lost by using these resources, so instead of choosing between the better of two evils, there’s an altenative: keep a few cloth bags in your car and use them when grocery shopping.  These bags, for sale at most large grocery stores (HEB, Kroger, Whole Foods), last longer and hold more items.  In the mean time, plastic bags usually have longer life spans than paper bags and, according to a study done by Franklin Associates, are the greener choice compared to paper.

As Americans’ obesity continues to rise, our concerns are for the adults suffering from heart disease, diabetes, and other weight-related illnesses.  In the mean time, children’s obesity is increasing drastically as their parents’ largely sedentary lifestyles become their own. 

In 1976, 5% of children were overweight
In 2002, 23% preschoolers were obese or overweight
By 2010, it is predicted that over 50% of children will be overweight

In an effort to combat obesity and a lack of connectedness with the natural environmental in children, the Connecticut Department of Environmental protection founded the  No Child Left Inside initiative.  While the idea is to promote more family time spent outdoors, taking advantage of public parks, there are many health benefits and the catch phrase has spread across the nation.

For more on this topic check out Richard Louv’s book, “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder”!

Tuesday, November 27–Thursday, November 29, 2007
Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill
Washington D.C.

Exploring innovations in science and policy that support engaging in regular physical activity, eating a healthy diet, taking advantage of appropriate medical screenings, making healthy choices to avoid risky behaviors, and other healthy practices.

The main supporting agency, The Coordinating Center for Health Promotion (CoCHP), was created to bring us into the twenty-first century ways of knowing about health. Realization of the need to reduce the environmental and lifestyle causes of ill health, as well as emerging infectious diseases, terrorism, environmental threats (hurricanes, wildfires, toxic chemical spills) and an aging population make this health summit literally vital.

In our society, video games and media are the supreme rulers. We bow to the sacred game consoles and and beg for the latest brain rot (video game).

But now the Guitar Hero by Harmonix series is taking a new hold on the nation, an interactive game with a mini eletric guitar with 5 or 6 keys. It encourages players to get on their feet and rock out! At least it encourages me.

I don’t know if it’s healthy, but it makes you move more than the standard sitting-down-and-veggitizing game controler. The only things those things do is make your hands hurt.

Hit the corresponding buttons on a toy plastic guitar, and some familiar rock anthems, from Weezer’s “My Name is Jonas,” to Foghat’s “Slow Ride,” blare fluidly from your television’s speakers. Miss a note, and you’ll hear a loud clanking sound.

But even better than Guitar Hero is Dance Dance Revolution by Konami! Now thats a video game that really makes you move, I belive that any movment is healthy, but when its put to music and a T.V. kids will absolutly love it.

Sorry Guild Wars, but you suck! (I didn’t really mean that)