Calories

For a country in which about 200 million people are overweight or obese, scientists have discouraging news: Even those who maintain a healthy weight probably should be eating less. Evidence has been mounting that the practice of caloric restriction - essentially, going on a permanent diet - greatly reduces the risk of age-related diseases and even postpones death. It has been shown to extend the lives of yeast, worms, flies, spiders, fish, mice and rats. Now, in a study funded by the National Institutes of Health and released today, many of the same benefits have been demonstrated in primates, the best evidence yet that caloric restriction would help people.

Baltimore-based Under Armour hosted a press event in New York City Tuesday to introduce what the company has dubbed "its biggest ever global marketing campaign. " While the new "I Will" campaign recalls the old "Will you protect this house?" commercial that first helped the company become popular -- the respondents always answered "I will!" -- the new spot released Tuesday focuses on an area that has become increasingly important: high-end technology and innovation. Let's just say that the commercial ends with a woman adjusting the composition and color of her clothing by using a touch screen built into her sleeve.

A half hour is all you need to maintain proper weight, get your blood flowing and improve health, according to the Society for Vascular Surgery, which forwarded us a list of calories burned by various winter sports from Livestrong.com. In one hour, a 155-160 pound person can burn: +511 calories cross country skiing +365 calories downhill skiing +563 calories playing ice hockey +511 calories ice skating +400 calories shoveling snow by hand There hasn't been any snow here so far this winter, so how about burning : +281 calories bicycling +329 calories carrying golf clubs +211 calories walking the dog “Welcome 2012 as your year to become physically fit and keep your vascular system healthy,” said Dr. Anil Hingorani, a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery.

The Ravens and 49ers will be the main attractions for today's Super Bowl. But many of us will also eagerly take in the clever, witty, emotional or otherwise notable commercials on what is the biggest advertising day of the year. And we can be sure that in between the on-field hits, our television screens will pummel us with commercials advertising unhealthy products. Two of the most prominent Super Bowl advertisers are Coca-Cola and Pepsi, and both will be well represented this year.

Last week, I testified in the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates in support of legislation that would require restaurants to post calories alongside prices on menu boards, similar to the laws in New York City and elsewhere. Polls show that customers want this information, and studies show consumers will use it to make healthier choices. Now even the restaurant industry claims to support calorie-disclosure requirements. That's why I doubt the Maryland bill will pass. Let me explain.

A nd now they're coming after our Chicken McNuggets Happy Meals (520 calories), our Venti Double Chocolatey Chip Frappuccinos with whipped cream (670 calories), our Unlimited Soup, Salad and Breadsticks (600 to infinity). Is there no end to the government takeover of our health system? Apparently not, because there it is, in the massive health care reform bill that was just passed, hidden amid other abominations like banning insurance companies from denying coverage to sick children and closing a gap in the prescription drug program for the elderly: In the case of food that is a standard menu item that is offered for sale in a restaurant ... that is part of a chain with 20 or more locations ... the restaurant or similar food establishment shall disclose in a clear and conspicuous manner ... the number of calories contained in the standard menu item.

What are we doing with all that bread and milk, Baltimore? Statistics say three-fourths of women fail to meet the RDA for calcium (largely from milk). Why is it we crave milk during a snowstorm?Did we eat more during the "Blizzard of '96"? Did we need to?What happens when national weight loss month coincides with a blizzard? Do we keep losing or reverse the trend?Did we stock our larders out of irrational fear of being stranded for several months? Or did some primal urge prompt us to pile on the food (and the body fat)

Q: I am trying to have a healthier diet. I recently saw on a cooking show an instructor line a baking pan with wax paper. Can this help eliminate the calories from greasing with butter and then flouring?A: It's most likely the baking pan was being lined with parchment paper, which is now used more frequently than waxed paper to prevent sticking in baking. This treatment can reduce the fat and flour calories that are used to prevent baked goods from sticking. However, you still need to use some Bakers Joy or vegetable spray coating to prevent sticking.

Do you believe that you can't gain weight on a high carbohydrate diet?This modern nutrition idea becomes myth-information when carried to extremes.Recently, the Gatorade Sports Science Institute sponsored a discussion among four experts in the area of exercise, weight control and nutrition.Their responses were based on research which suggests that, while there are many advantages to a high carbohydrate diet, too much of even that good thing will result in unwanted weight gain.William D. McArdle, textbook author and professor of health and physical education at Queens College of the City University of New York, summed it up this way: " . . . it is much more efficient to store calories from dietary fat as body fat than to store an excess of carbohydrates as fat. . . . However, I still think it should be stressed that excess calories, regardless of the source, will ultimately be stored as fat."

Probably the best thing about holiday time is the food. It also can be the worst thing. A traditional dinner of turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes and other dishes can exceed 2,500 calories, according to Weight Watchers International. And it's not surprising that those calories translate into unwelcome pounds. Weight Watchers offers these suggestions to help keep weight in check: Be realistic. During the holidays it should be sufficient to maintain your present weight, not lose weight.

This time of year, people have weight loss on their minds. According to a 2012 survey published in the University of Scranton's Journal of Clinical Psychology, losing weight is the No. 1 New Year's resolution. For some Baltimore residents, working toward that goal by eating healthfully has gotten easier over the past year, thanks to the introduction of healthy snacks in their office or school vending machines. In December, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman signed an executive order banning the sale of high-sugar drinks in county buildings and at county-sponsored events; Baltimore City is exploring similar initiatives.

Meet Donna Wasserman and the self-proclaimed "Y Ladies" (and some male participants, too) who meet Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at the Towson YMCA for cardio dancing. The class, divided into eight-week sessions, matches choreographed routines with a wide variety of music - Irish, country, hip-hop, big band, classical, R&B and more - for a low- or high-impact workout. Cardio dancing has been offered by the YMCA for more than 30 years, and some of the regulars have been jumping and twirling together for just as long, dancing their way through hip and shoulder replacements, marriages and remarriages, and the losses of loved ones.

Each week a nutritionist from the University of Maryland Medical Center provides a guest post to The Baltimore Sun's health blog Picture of Health (baltimoresun.com/pictureofhealth), which is printed here. This week, Amy Reed weighs in on coconut drinks. Coconut products, such as coconut water and coconut cream, are among the hot new items hitting grocery store shelves. Are these drinks beneficial for your health? Coconut water is the liquid inside a young coconut. One cup of coconut water contains about 50 calories and no protein or fat. Coconut water is low in calories, although the amount varies depending on added ingredients such as sugar or juice.

Each week a nutritionist from the University of Maryland Medical Center provides a weekly guest post. This week, Anna Bondy, dietetic intern, weighs in on summer smoothies. When the weather gets warmer, there is nothing more refreshing than a summer smoothie. But not all smoothies are created equal. You may be surprised to find caffeine, sugar or even herbal supplements in some versions. Whether you're buying a smoothie at your gym, in the mall or as a meal replacement, be an informed consumer.

Can golf be part of a serious fitness routine, or is it simply a recreational pastime highlighted by driving an electric cart and swinging a club every five minutes? And can golfers even be considered "real" athletes? Now you've got us started. If you want to use your round of golf for health benefits — in addition to dropping your score and having fun — here's how to do it. Give up the cart "It's how you decide to make golf healthy or not," says Joe Plecker.

Each week a nutritionist from the University of Maryland Medical Center provides a guest post to The Baltimore Sun's health blog Picture of Health (baltimoresun.com/pictureofhealth). This week, Christine Dobmeier offers nutrition lifestyle tips. The second leg of the Triple Crown, the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes, takes place this Saturday. With Memorial Day right around the corner, it's also the "home stretch" as you get yourself healthy for the summer season. When running the race to good health, look to the "Triple Crown" of nutrition tips: Include more vegetables and fruits, be mindful of portion sizes and become more active.

The best weight-loss book might be the one you write yourself. Keeping a food journal is one of the keys to success for many people who have lost weight and maintained their healthy lifestyles, research shows. "It helps them to see where their downfalls are and the times that they eat more," says Diane Greenleaf, a registered dietitian in Wichita, Kan. Knowledge is power when it comes to weight loss. Recording everything you eat and learning proper portion sizes and calorie counts helps you stay on track.

Whether you're counting calories, tallying points, cutting carbohydrates or sweating it out at the gym, dieting is a tough road to navigate. What's even worse is when you sabatoge your own efforts by making some classic diet-busting mistakes you might not even be aware of. Here are seven behaviors that may cause you to fall off that I-wanna-lose-weight wagon — and advice from experts on how to stay on it. The diet-buster: Drinking too...

Happy Leap Day. We're carpaying this extra diem, how about you? For its Leap Day celebration , B&O Brasserie is offering 29-cent National Bohemian beers and house-made pretzels with stout-cheddar sauce on Leap Day from 5 to 7 p.m. Anyone who checks in on Facebook with two or more other people for dinner will receive 29 percent off food. All guests at the table must order dinner. Down in Fells Point, Kooper's is offering $2.90 Yellow Tail Ale, and its sister restaurant, Slainte , is offering $2.90 Heavy Seas Classic Lager.