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3 surprising habits that can make you obese (and have nothing to do with diet)
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You probably don't realize these three little habits are causing you to gain weight. - photo by McKenna Park
Are you hitting roadblocks while trying to reach your weight loss goals? Were told over and over again that the key to weight loss is a healthy diet and regular exercise, but that's not all there is to it. While those two habits are very much responsible for your overall weight, many people eat healthily and regularly exercise but still struggle to lose weight (which is both bewildering and frustrating). These three habits are surprisingly influential when it comes to weight loss, and might be the reason the scale refuses to budge:

1. Not drinking enough water

Water is extremely important for your overall health, but is also important when it comes to weight loss. Water helps support good digestion and helps you feel full. Many times, when you feel hungry, your body is actually just thirsty! Reaching for a snack instead of a glass of water could be standing in your way of reaching your weight-loss goal. A good way to tell if you're hungry or just thirsty is to just drink a glass of water before reaching for a snack or eating a meal. If you dont feel hungry any more after drinking, youre good to go.

Staying hydrated can also help. According to a study researching the hydration habits of 10,000 adults, people who drank too little water daily had a 50 percent increase in their odds for obesity. Additionally, "those who were inadequately hydrated had higher body mass indexes (BMIs) than those who were adequately hydrated," said study leader Dr. Tammy Chang, an assistant professor of family medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School.

Health experts suggest adults drink about eight cups of water a day, and more while exercising.

2. Sitting still for too long

We know exercise is essential to fighting obesity, but what about the health-hazardous practice of sitting still for too long? According to Mayo Clinic, health risks related to prolonged sitting aren't even significantly offset by moderate to rigorous workouts.

In other words, pushing yourself on that gym elliptical doesn't "make up" for sitting eight hours a day at your desk job (though it is still beneficial). If youre sitting around for long periods of time during the day, youre at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer, weight gain and even death.

Luckily, theres an easy fix. According to a study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, standing up every half hour and doing an easy exercise for two minutes, like walking, will dramatically offset the negative effects of prolonged sitting. So the next time youre at a desk job, watching TV or studying, set a timer to go off every thirty minutes. You dont have to do anything thatll get you sweaty or out of breath; a simple walk to the water fountain or around the house will do. That little two minute walk might be the key to losing those extra pounds.

3. Too few zzzs

A study on sleep and weight found that people consume (on average) 300 additionally calories a day when they are sleep deprived versus when they have gotten adequate sleep thats because sleep loss affects your cortisol levels: a hormone that regulates appetite. Additionally, your body responds to sleep loss by increasing fat storage.

The correlation between sleep and weight gain can also shed some light as to why people tend to gain wait during certain life stages: college students and new parents are likely to miss out on much needed sleep, and may see weight gain as a result.

Health experts suggest adults get 7-8 hours of sleep every night to be adequately rested.

It sounds too simple to be true, but things as little as a glass of water, an easy two minute and a restful sleep session could make all the difference to reaching your weight goals.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.