This study helped to reinforce previous findings that soda consumption negatively impacts upon bone health. Drinking soda was found to increase the risk of bone fractures in teenage girls by a factor of 3 to 5 times, with more physically active girls being at a much greater risk.
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 2000;154:610-613.
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Exercise Protects Blood Vessel Walls
Researchers have found that regular physical activity helps to maintain vascular health, at least in part, by maintaining the ability of the vascular endothelium to produce nitric oxide (NO), which promotes blood vessel relaxation and protects the vessel wall from the development of atherosclerosis and thrombosis. This effect, which seems to be associated with long-term training, may be mediated through the prevention of oxidative stress and the production of free radicals.
"Cardiovascular disease can be prevented," says a spokesman for the American Heart Association. "Exercise is the most important modifier of risk that we have."
Circulation 2000;101:2896.
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Heart Risk Factors Linked to Intrauterine Environment
Children of mothers with diabetes are more likely than those born to non-diabetics to have abnormalities in weight and glucose tolerance. The new findings support the hypothesis that life in the uterus may impact upon later risk for chronic diseases including hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and atherosclerosis.
On average, body mass index was significantly higher, systolic blood pressure was 8 mm Hg higher, arterial blood pressure was about 4 mm Hg higher, and 2-hour glucose and insulin levels were significantly higher in children with diabetic mothers than in those with non-diabetic mothers.
Journal of Pediatrics 2000;136:567-569,587-592.
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