Researchers at Oregon State University in Corvallis found that adults who logged at least 300 minutes a week (an average of 42 minutes daily) of light activity had 37 percent lower levels of C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation linked to obesity), plus significantly less body fat and slimmer waist than less active peers. Study author Brad Cardinal, Ph.D., advises finding easy ways to move, like pacing while on the phone. And though 42 minutes may seem like a lot, it does not have to be all at once. Says Cardinal, “It all adds up!!

If you tend to have high cholesterol levels and have a serious Grande-cappuccino habit, you may want to switch brews. The oil in coffee beans, both regular and decaf contains cafestol, a potent cholesterol booster. Even though paper filters absorb almost all of the compound, but oil drops can pass through metal filters, so espresso, French press coffee, and brews made with a permanent gold filter all contain cafestol (an average of 2 to 2.6 milligrams per 5 ounces of coffee or 1 to 2 ounces of espresso). In studies, consuming 10 milligrams of cafestol daily for four weeks raised people’s cholesterol by a scary 8 to 10 percent. Bottom line: You don’t have to worry if all you drink is a cup or two of coffee for breakfast (even if your “cup” is a large mug). But if you routinely consume several big containers of non-paper-filtered java, including French press style, cappuccinos, lattes, or several cups of espresso, and you have been told to watch your cholesterol, switch to a paper drip.

- Good Housekeeping -

Half of all women suffer from sleep apnea, and now a study in the journal of Menopause reveals a surprising clue to help women detect the problem early: nocturnal enuresis (nocturnal leaks). In the study of 2,789 women ages 50 to 79, subjects who struggled with leaks were 38% more likely to have sleep apnea. Why? The “sucking motion” that occurs during a gasp for air triggers the release of a protein that increases urine production.

A research at Connecticut’s University of Bridgeport showed that salt increases urinary calcium excretion – but the milk ensures the lost of calcium comes from food, not your bones. Enjoy an 8 oz glass of milk with your munchies.