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http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/05/22/Sunshine-reduces-heart-diabetes-risk/UPI-31591243048393/
Published: May 22, 2009 at 11:13 PM

WARWICK , England, May 22 (UPI) — British researchers say sunshine helps reduced heart disease and diabetes risks in older people.

Dr. Oscar Franco of Warwick Medical School in England and colleagues investigated the association between vitamin D levels in the blood and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in 3,262 people ages 50-70 in China.

The study, published in Diabetes Care, found a high correlation between low vitamin D levels and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. They found 94 percent of people in the study had a vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. The results showed 42.3 percent of these people also had metabolic syndrome — a risk factor for diabetes and heart disease.

“As we get older our skin is less efficient at forming vitamin D and our diet may also become less varied, with a lower natural vitamin D content,” Franco, the study leader, said in a statement.

“Most importantly, however, the dermal production of vitamin D following a standard exposure to UVB light decreases with age because of atrophic skin changes. When we are older we may need to spend more time outdoors to stimulate the same levels of vitamin D we had when we were younger.”

Jois, who studied ashtanga yoga from the age
of 12, is credited with popularising in the West one of the most
rigorous forms of yoga. He died on Monday.

Jois,
whose grandson Sharath is co-director of the yoga institute in Mysore,
taught ashtanga yoga to his first western student in 1964.

He
visited the United States first in 1975, and also took his brand of
yoga - which focuses on synchronising postures with breathing and
claims to cleanse the body by heating the blood - to Europe.

Study involving DY meditation could have wide-ranging implications

THURSDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) — A certain type of meditation may help the brain retain images for short periods, says a new study on visual-spatial abilities.

When people view an object, they usually retain a clear picture of it in their visual short-term memory for only a few seconds before the details fade. An experiment by George Mason University researchers, though, found that people who practice Deity Yoga (DY) do much better at visual-spatial tasks shortly after they meditate.

The study’s authors, writing in a recent issue of Psychological Science, said the finding may have “many implications for therapy, treatment of memory loss and mental training.”

Practitioners of DY meditation zero in on an image of their deity, conjuring up a vivid, three-dimensional mental picture of it while honing in on the deity’s emotions and environment.

In the experiment, led by psychologist Maria Kozhevnikov, meditation and non-meditation practitioners performed two visual-spatial tests: imagining the rotation of a 3-D object and viewing an image, then trying to identify it from among several other similar images. After a first round of tests, the participants spent the next 20 minutes either meditating or performing non-meditative tasks before being tested again.

All the subjects had similar scores on the first round of tests, suggesting that meditating in general causes no overall, long-term improvement in visual-spatial skills.

However, those who performed DY meditation between rounds did much better on both tasks in the second phase of tests than those who did non-meditative activities or practiced Open Presence (OP) meditation. OP practitioners, rather than focusing on a specific thing, try to achieve awareness by contemplating a wider array of experiences, images or thoughts that may come to them.

The study authors concluded that further investigations should be done to see if other visual meditation techniques can produce similar improvements in visual-spatial memory or if the results are specific to DY meditation.

More information

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has more about the health benefits of meditation.

– Kevin McKeever

Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
Last updated 5/21/2009

http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release-rss/local-fitness-expert-reveals-how-to-eat-healthy-during-the-economic-crisis-100918.php

FOLSOM, CA
May 21, 2009

24-7PressRelease — Val Fujii, a local Folsom fitness expert and certified personal trainer believes that eating healthy is often determined to be too expensive for the average American. “Fast food and foods loaded with fat and sugar tend to be inexpensive and always at hand,” Fujii says. “Too many people think they can’t afford to eat healthy, especially during this economic crisis. Today, I’m going to share with you some tips for healthy and affordable eating. It is called my Nutritional Bailout Plan.”

“My first healthy eating tip is to choose seasonal fruits. Out of season fruits can add a good chunk to any grocery bill, so this will be a huge savings for you,” Fujii points out.

Fujii’s second healthy eating tip is to buy in bulk and freeze what is not needed. “This is very easy to do with meats. For example, when buying ten chicken breasts it lowers the cost per pound of chicken. Freeze the chicken that isn’t going to be eaten within the next few days and then thaw out what is needed for your next meal. Same goes for beef and hamburger.”

Fujii’s third and final tip is to pay attention to sales. “Many times, eating healthy can be easily accomplished just by focusing on special offers and coupons,” Fujii adds.

By applying these three healthy and affordable eating tips you will be sure to not only save money, but lose weight, too. It’s a win-win situation for you and your family!

About Superwomen Boot Camp

Val Fujii, NASM CPT, PES is a local Folsom and El Dorado Hills fitness boot camp instructor and real world fat loss expert. To book him to speak at your local Folsom and El Dorado Hills’ company, club, or organization please contact him by email at superwomenbootcamp@gmail.com or by phone at 916-337-3-4780. For a FREE one-week trial to his boot camp to experience the best personal training in the Folsom and El Dorado Hills area please visit http://www.SuperwomenBootCamp.com

Forbes
2009-05-20 06:55:03 GMT

http://english.sina.com/life/2009/0519/242543.html

Meghan Rovelli, 28, always had an athletic build, but to prepare for her sleeveless wedding gown, she wanted more definition in her arms and upper body.

After seeing Hillary Swank’s lean pecs and sculpted triceps in the film Million Dollar Baby, the New York City-based publicist decided to try boxing. Enjoying the workout, Rovelli devoted herself to training well past her 2007 honeymoon.

After about six months, however, it occurred to her that she was putting on too much muscle. She says she walked by a mirror and was startled by just how bulky she had become. Blazers that once suited her 5′3″ frame were becoming uncomfortably tight. Friends were also telling her she looked big. She wanted to look lean, she says, and not like a “weight lifter.”

For Rovelli, that meant quitting boxing and starting a program that was right for her own body type: yoga and Pilates. Though boxing was right for Swank’s lean body type, it was bulking up Rovelli’s already athletic frame. “I always thought these exercises were poor man’s workouts because you weren’t sweating,” says Rovelli about the two holistic fitness techniques. “But it started working. I lost bulk and became more streamlined.”

Like Rovelli, many women who try popular workouts find they are not one size fits all. Certain types of exercises will be more effective–and safe–depending on your body type.

Generally, people fall into three body types. Endomorphs tend to store more fat than the other body types and are sometimes called pear- or apple-shaped. Ectomorphs, the so-called “string beans,” tend to be thin, long-limbed and have difficulty putting on fat and muscle. Mesomorphs have athletic builds, characterized by high muscle mass and little fat.

“The ratio of fat to lean muscle has a significant impact on how many calories you burn,” says Cedric Bryant, Ph.D., a physiologist and chief science officer at the American Council on Exercise, the organization that certifies professional trainers. All other things being equal, the higher your ratio of lean muscle to fat, the higher your metabolism will be. Though body types are genetically predetermined–and most of us will fall into one of the three categories–this ratio can be altered with the right exercise and a healthy diet.

Endomorphs

While endomorphs have a harder time than other body types in losing fat, even in the most extreme cases they can be just as fit as other body types. As evidenced by the NBC show The Biggest Loser, “when they lose the weight, they are skinny people like anyone else,” says Cindy Bailey, Ph.D., faculty at Mount St. Mary’s school of physical therapy in Los Angeles.

For endos, who usually carry extra fat around the lower abdomen, hips and thighs, the key is to start with a program that burns calories instead of a lot of strength training. The extra weight they carry can cause increased pressure on joints and bones, so it is important for endos, at first, to avoid engaging in exercises that can add stress to these areas, says Dr. Mark Klion, an orthopedic surgeon at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. That means trading high-impact exercises like tennis, jumping rope or other activities that involve intense and repetitive movements for low-impact cardio workouts like walking or biking.

For endomorphs with larger breasts, some adjustments may be in order. Instead of riding a regular bike, for example, top-heavy endos might want to try recumbent bikes, which will prevent them from hunching over. Light weight lifting is also recommended to increase mid- and upper back strength

Another concern for endos is the psychological aspect of beginning a workout routine. Jay Cardiello, a trainer who helped rapper 50 Cent achieve his famous physique, recommends non-competitive team sports. Seeing thin or fit people at the gym can often be discouraging. With league activities, like volleyball, “you have someone next to you who is in the same position you are in,” says Cardiello.

Ectomorphs

This psychological component can be even tougher for ectomorphs. Many scoff at ectomorphs’ burden of being too skinny, but they often find themselves being called geeky, flat-chested or even accused of being anorexic. “For an ecto to gain weight is harder psychologically than for an endo to lose,” says Bailey. “They have to eat more, but everything in the media tells them not to.”

The goal for this thin body type is to gain tone or muscle mass. The same cardio exercises that work well for their pear-shaped friends will just exacerbate the beanpole look for ectos. While their long arms and legs are well-suited to activities like long-distance running, women in this category looking to build muscle tone are advised to lessen the cardio and increase resistance training.

Ectos looking for more curves should take up swimming because the water provides resistance and the body will often provide extra fat insulation for skinny bodies that do regular pool workouts, says Bailey. Resistance training can also help build both muscle tone and bone density, which is important for ecto women, who often have small fragile bones prone to osteoporosis.

Mesomorphs

Common belief is that mesomorphs, like the publicist Rovelli, have it made with their strong and athletic builds, which are neither too fragile or too flabby, but many women with this body type sometimes find themselves getting bulky too easily.

“Mesos are going to have an easier time putting on muscle mass,” says Bryant. But “many women find that unattractive.”

For these body types, Bryant suggests the movement, posture and breath control of yoga and Pilates because it provides muscular conditioning in a routine less likely to create a bulky look. Rovelli says that since starting yoga, her husband has told her she looks thinner even though she is working out a lot less than she did during her boxing days. “I should keep this routine for a while,” she says. “It’s working.”

(Chaniga Vorasarun, Forbes.com)

Written by: Victoria Iarocci, Canoe.ca
May. 20, 2009
http://chealth.canoe.ca/channel_health_news_details.asp?news_id=28045&rss=67&rid=999999&news_channel_id=159&channel_id=159&rot=3

Fitness is a burdensome chore for some. To others, it’s a fully embraced lifestyle.

Women are often inundated with information - from friends, from news broadcasts, from magazines - about how their bodies function. But much of the information gets muddled over time, or simply was never true to begin with. The top ten misconceptions have been tabled and clarified by Geoff Girvitz, owner of Bang Fitness in Toronto. This athletic centre offers personal training, group classes and conditioning for athletes, so Girvitz has seen his fair share of confused clients.

Misconception #1:

“Too much protein, especially when ingested in powder form, bulks up women.”

“It’s seldom that I even meet a female who takes adequate amounts of protein, let alone excessive. Considering that it takes about a gram of protein per pound of bodyweight per day just for maintenance — never mind muscular development — this is no surprise. Without taking androgens, male hormones, it is very rare for a woman to get big — even when she wants to.” Girvitz believes that the reality of females gaining muscle is an insult to bodybuilders. “[Professional bodybuilders] will often work out twice a day, five to six days a week to gain gain their size”. Also, fat gain in women tends to be localized in the hips and thighs and bottom area. “If you look down and notice that your thighs are bigger, ask yourself, is it the dead lifts or the Haagen-Dazs? Must be the dead lifts,” he chuckles.

Try out this protein calculator
http://www.healthcalculators.org/calculators/protein.asp to determine
the right amount for you.

Misconception #2:

“You are supposed to do weights after cardio.”

“These are the people who actually believe that a fat burning switch is
flipped after working out for a specific period of time. This is wrong,”
says Girvitz. “You need to be as rested as possible to optimize strength
and power development. If you are already fatigued before lifting
weights, you’re increasing your risk of injury and diminishing your
outcome. The cons to placing cardio after strength training are far, far
fewer.”

Misconception #3:

“Biking through the city is enough cardio if you are trying to trim up.”

“First thing first: for weight loss, nutrition is #1, and believe it or
not, strength development is #2. Biking through the city isn’t enough.
As far as health benefits beyond weight loss, low intensity exercise
doesn’t strongly improve the body’s use of oxygen. Maybe if you are
biking in from Ottawa it is possible to lose weight, but unlikely.”

Misconception #4:

“Cereal bars, rice cakes and other low calorie, processed snacks are
good to snack on throughout the day, as you won’t eat as much at meal
times.”

“These snacks are problematic! Out of all the things people should be
eating, processed carbs are at the bottom of the list,” says Girvitz.
“Anything from a cereal bar, even a granola bar, in theory should be
great, but it is packed with sugar. People need healthy fats, fruits,
protein and vegetables. If you are on a calorie-restricted diet,
processed carbs are at the bottom of the list, right above deep-friend
Mars bars.”

Misconception #5:

“As you get older, muscle mass diminishes and fat is gained no matter
what you do.”

“Hormonal changes have an impact on all these things. However, people
regard statements like this as foregone conclusions, especially in the
sedentary population that we live in. Dramatic loss of muscle mass and
fat gain are not inevitable by any means.”

Misconception #6:

“Vegetarians are not as healthy in general as meat eaters.”

“For a lot of vegetarians, protein is a big issue. With that aside, it is hard to go wrong when you are eating more fruits and vegetables. People go wrong when processed foods get eaten instead of vegetables. Protein, iron, zinc need to be carefully looked after. Vegetarianism is a pretty subjective thing, but there are a lot of things you can do wrong, whether you eat meat or not.”

Misconception #7:

“It is most ideal to work out in the morning, as it jumps starts your
metabolism and your day.”

“Mornings are great, but we have to take it easy when loading the spine
within the first forty-five minutes of waking up. There are some
arguments for fasted cardio, but the best time to exercise is, without a
doubt, the time that best ensures consistency.”

Misconception #8:

“Stretching isn’t necessary and is altogether a waste of time.”

“The concern is when a lack of flexibility impacts movement patterns,
which can lead to injury. For example, most people who work behind
desks,tend to have tight pecks and hip flexors, which will compromise
posture. You don’t have to be able to do the splits, but your daily
activities shouldn’t be affected by deteriorating flexibility.”

Misconception #9:

“Heavy weights = muscle gain; light weights = toning.”

“Weights in excess of 80% of your body’s capacity (the weight you can
lift about five reps of before failure) is actually not optimal for
muscular development. To gain muscle mass, rep ranges of eight to twelve
tend to be more effective. Strength development is better achieved with
heavy weights and longer rest periods, whereas muscular development
requires more time under tension.

Misconception #10:

“It’s okay to eat one giant portion of protein to sustain yourself through the day.”

“They say it is good to drink one glass of red wine a day,” says Girvitz. “Does that make it okay to drink seven glasses of wine on Friday night? The answer is simply no.”

For more information on Bang Fitness, visit BangFitness.com

ScienceDaily (May 12, 2009)

When it comes to immunity, men may not have been dealt an equal hand. The latest study by Dr. Maya Saleh, of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre and McGill University, shows that women have a more powerful immune system than men. In fact, the production of estrogen by females could have a beneficial effect on the innate inflammatory response against bacterial pathogens. These surprising results were published May 11 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

More specifically, estrogen naturally produced in women seems to block the production of an enzyme called Caspase-12, which itself blocks the inflammatory process. The presence of estrogen would therefore have a beneficial effect on innate immunity, which represents the body’s first line of defence against pathogenic organisms. “These results demonstrate that women have a more powerful inflammatory response than men,” said Dr. Saleh.

This study was conducted on mice that lack the Caspase-12 gene, meaning that the mice were extremely resistant to infection. The human Caspase-12 gene was implanted in a group of male and female mice, yet only the males became more prone to infection. “We were very surprised by these results, and we determined that the estrogen produced by the female mice blocked the expression of the human Caspase-12 gene,” explained Dr. Saleh. “We were also able to locate where the estrogen receptor binds on the gene in order to block its expression, which indicates that the hormone exerts direct action in this case.”

Since these experiments were conducted using a human gene, the researchers consider these results to be applicable to humans. This feature of the female innate immune system might have evolved to better protect women’s reproductive role.

The positive effect of natural estrogen on our resistence to infection is also exhibited with synthetic hormones such as 17-beta-estradiol. This finding might therefore open the door to new therapeutic applications that reinforce the immune system, but a question remains: will men be amenable to the idea of being treated with an exclusively female hormone?

This study was supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes for Health research and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation.

(NaturalNews) Popeye was the poster boy for spinach, at least in the cartoons. He could swallow down a can and be able to knock out Bluto who was twice his size. Popeye was probably pretty healthy too, avoiding the pitfalls of aging and disease that come from a diet lacking in flavonoids and other nutrients found in spinach. Recent research has highlighted how well these nutrients work to safeguard health.

Spinach gives a knock out punch to cancer

Scientists in Japan recently studied some of the glyconutrients from spinach and found they inhibited destruction of DNA, cancer cell growth, and tumor growth. They used the nutrients to suppress the growth of colon adenocarcinoma in mice. After a two week period of ingesting the nutrients, a 56.1% decrease in solid tumor volume occurred without any side effects. And the nutrients reduced the ability of tumors to supply themselves with blood which they need to fuel their growth. Markers of cell proliferation were drastically reduced. (Lipids, August, 2008)

Spinach is good for combating ovarian cancer too. A newly released study from the Harvard Medical School evaluated the association between dietary flavonoid intake and ovarian cancer risk. Of all the flavonoids they tested, apigenin found in spinach as well as parsley, showed the highest correlation. (International Journal of Cancer, April)

In another study, Harvard researchers calculated flavonoid intake in 66,940 women participating in the Nurses Health Study that ended in 2002. Their work revealed that women eating diets rich in the flavonoid kaempferol had a 40% reduction in ovarian cancer risk compared to women who ate the least amount of food containing the flavonoid. In addition to spinach, foods high in kaempferol include kale, tea, and blueberries. (Journal of Cancer, November 15, 2007)

Prostate cancer responds to a carotenoid found in spinach and other green leafy vegetables. Researchers have found that this carotenoid, neoxanthin, induces death in prostate cancer cells. Then it converts to a different compound in the intestinal tract. In that state, it lulls prostate cancer cells into a state of rest, preventing their replication. (Journal of Nutrition, September, 2004)

Researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences studied the correlation between breast cancer risk and diets high in beta carotene and vitamin A. They found that eating spinach and carrots more than twice weekly compared to not eating them at all was associated with an odds ratio of .56. This means that the risk of having breast cancer was reduced by 44% in the women who consumed spinach and carrots. (Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, November, 1997)

Spinach is great brain food

All those flavonoids that help prevent cancer also act as potent antioxidants that slow the effects of aging on the brain. Researchers have found that spinach helps protect the brain from free radical damage and slow age-related declines in brain power. Feeding spinach to aging laboratory animals significantly improved their learning capacity and their motor skills.

Diets rich in spinach, as well as spirulina and blueberries have been shown to reduce neurodegenerative changes in aged animals. To study whether these diets have neuroprotective ability when blood supply to the brain is limited, animals were fed one of the three dietary components and studied for the effects. Animals receiving each of the supplements had significant reductions in the volume of infarction in the cerebral cortex and an increase in post-stroke locomotor activity. (Experimental Neurology, May, 2005)

The Chicago Health and Aging Project, reported by World’s Healthiest Foods, suggested that eating just three servings of green leafy, yellow, and cruciferous vegetables each day could slow down cognitive decline by 40%. This equates to about five years of younger age, according to researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

This cohort study used 3,718 participants. Their mental functions were assessed on several tests at the beginning of the study, after three years, and again after six years. Researchers found that consuming an average of 2.8 servings of vegetables each day was what it took to produce the 40% decrease in cognitive decline. Of the different type of vegetables, green leafy ones such as spinach had the strongest association. There was no relationship found between fruit consumption and cognitive decline, perhaps because vegetables contain high amounts of vitamin E. Since they are often eaten with fats such as olive oil or dressing, the body’s ability to absorb fat soluble vitamin E is increased.

Spinach improves and protects eyesight

Another important carotenoid from spinach, lutein, is a major fighter against eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Spinach is loaded with lutein as are blueberries. Although egg yolks do not contain nearly as much lutein as spinach, the absorption of the amount they do have is intensified by cholesterol and choline. Since lutein is fat soluble like vitamin E, it should be eaten with fat. This makes a spinach salad dressed with olive oil a great idea. Spinach added to quiche or omelets is another winner.

Spinach is an excellent source of the iron often needed by women. Iron is an integral part of hemoglobin, which transports oxygen from the lungs to all body cells. When cells are well oxygenated there can be no cancer. Iron is a key part of an enzyme necessary for energy production and metabolism.

Spinach is packed with high quality nutrition

Spinach is one of the best sources of Vitamin K, which functions in retaining calcium in the bone matrix where it promotes bone mineralization. Other minerals in spinach include manganese, copper, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus. This combination makes spinach a great fighter of osteoporosis. It’s an excellent source of Vitamin B1, B2, and B6, and a good source of B3. Spinach is also rich in mood relaxing tryptophan, and cancer fighting fiber. One cup of boiled spinach contains over 5 grams of protein, and a decent amount of omega 3 fatty acids. And of course a load of Vitamin A.

What else you need to know about spinach

Spinach is among the 12 foods on which pesticides have been most frequently found. If you want to avoid the health risks posed by pesticides, buy only organic spinach.

Spinach contains goitrogens which are naturally occurring substances in some foods that can interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland. Cooking helps to inactivate the goitrogenic compounds, but the risk to those with thyroid problems is not fully known.

Spinach contains another naturally occurring substance, purine. Excessive consumption of spinach can lead to excessive accumulation of uric acid in the body. Gout and kidney stones from uric acid are two examples of problems related to excessive consumption of purine-containing foods.

Spinach contains measurable amounts of naturally occurring oxalates. When oxalates become overly concentrated in body fluids, they can crystallize and cause problems with kidneys and gall bladder.

This all means that spinach should be a part of a diet that is composed of a wide variety of foods.

Using spinach

There are three widely available types of spinach. Savoy is a kind of spinach that has curly leaves that are springy to the touch. The smooth, flat leaf variety is great for eating or using in a juicer. Baby spinach is usually found in salads because it is the most delicately flavored.

Even if your spinach comes in a bag, it should be washed. Sand and soil tend to cling to the leaves making washing spinach a bit of a chore. Serve with stems on or off.

There’s a reason Popeye’s girl friend was named Olive Oyl

Spinach and olive oil belong together. The fat in the oil releases the nutrients in the spinach and makes them more bioavailable, and the two create a terrific taste when used together.

Saute spinach leaves in olive oil, and top with fresh pressed garlic, lemon juice and sea salt. Or saute in olive oil and add pine nuts and dried cranberries.

For more information:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?…

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-…

http://www.loveandblueberries.com/2…

(NaturalNews) The cellular phones that hospital doctors and nurses bring to work are widely contaminated with dangerous pathogens, even when the health workers wash their hands regularly, a new study has found.

“Our results suggest cross-contamination of bacteria between the hands of health care workers and their mobile phones,” wrote the researchers from Turkey’s Ondokuz Mayis University in the Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials.

“These mobile phones could act as a reservoir of infection which may facilitate patient-to-patient transmission of bacteria in a hospital setting.”

Researchers tested the dominant hands and mobile phones of 200 doctors and nurses in hospital intensive care units and operating rooms for bacteria capable of causing illness. While most of the health care workers followed hand washing guidelines, 95 percent of their phones tested positive for at least one dangerous form of bacteria. Almost 35 percent of phones contained two bacterial strains, while more than 11 percent contained three or more.

A full 12.5 percent of phones tested positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

MRSA is an antibiotic-resistant variety of the common S. aureus bacteria that is responsible for staph infections. Due to its drug resistant prosperities, MRSA is much more difficult to treat than a regular staph infection and is significantly more likely to cause dangerous complications. If MRSA invades deep tissue or spreads beyond the skin to other organs, complications can include skin necrosis, disfiguring abscesses, blood infections, pneumonia and even death. It is particularly dangerous to those in a weakened state, such as hospital patients.

The prevalence of the bacteria is on the rise, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating that the rate of hospital staph infections caused by MRSA to have risen from 2 percent in 1974 to 63 percent in 2004. MRSA is now considered responsible for a full 60 percent of all infections in hospitals.

CDC statistics record 94,000 MRSA infections per year in the United States, leading to 19,000 deaths — more than the 12,500 deaths caused by AIDS in 2005. According to these figures, 31.8 out every 100,000 U.S. residents contract a MRSA infection each year. These figures were roughly in line with a nationwide survey conducted by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology in 2007, which estimated that 46 out of every 1,000 patients in medical facilities contracts an MRSA infection, or 1.2 million per year.

Prior studies have found MRSA contamination on electronic devices such as keyboards, but the current study may be the first to look at mobile phones specifically.

The researchers attributed the high rate of cell phone contamination to the fact that only one in 10 health care workers reported cleaning their phone regularly.

“Mobile phones are widely used as nonmedical portable electronic devices and [are] in close contact with the body,” the authors wrote. “The mobile phones are used routinely all day long but not cleaned properly, as health care workers [may not] wash their hands as often as they should.”