The answer, “probably.” More specifically, intense aerobic exercise may improve memory, cognition, and actual brain size. The New York Times brings us 3 studies supporting the theory that exercise may make you smarter. First, a study in rats shows that more intense exercise can make those rats perform better in tests that require more brainpower. Another study on humans indicates that memory is better after aerobic exercise, as compared to resting or weight lifting. A third study, this one on aging humans, shows actual improvements in the brain itself, which “suggest[s] a strong biological basis for the role of aerobic fitness in maintaining and enhancing central nervous system health and cognitive functioning in older adults.”

Taken together, it seems likely that a good aerobic workout is not just good for your heart and lungs, but good for your brain too.

Every day, somewhere in the world, there is scientific research on health and medicine being published. And that research is in turn summarized and reported by the media. Regrettably, much of that research or its media coverage is misinterpreted or conflicting or even misleading. When the news reports that something is good for you one day, and the next week reports that the same thing is bad for you, it’s easy to give up altogether. Thankfully, Dr. Alicia White has thought about these issues and brings several tips to interpret the latest health and medical news.

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I’ve written about this before. In the 18 months since the Las Vegas Fox affiliate touted the amazing results that a local chiropractor has had with his patients and their amazing weight loss results little has changed here. Yesterday our generally better news station, the local CBS affiliate ran this piece which points to warnings from a local cosmetic surgeon about “black market HCG” or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin.

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While water is probably all you need during and after a light to moderate workout, once you get into long or vigorous workouts, you will need to consider your options more carefully. If you are burning several hundred calories at once, it is entirely reasonable to replenish your body with the fuel it needs to recover and prepare for the next workout.

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Someone once said that “Diet is Die with a T on the end.” That bad joke has become tragically true for Samantha Clowe, who went on a 500 calorie a day diet to avoid being a “fat bride.” She had lost 60 pounds over the course of 11 weeks. Her sad tale of diet failure should be a lesson to us all.

Just to be clear, Miss Clowe did not starve to death. Rather, the local coroner said her most likely cause of death was cardiac arrhythmia, who added that clinical obesity increases the likelihood of cardiac death.

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