ScienceDaily: Living Well News

New research turns the old idiom about not being able to walk and chew gum on its head. Scientists have shown that the healthy brain is able to multitask while walking without sacrificing how either activity is accomplished.

A study of overweight dogs fed a reduced calorie, high-protein, high-fiber diet for 24 weeks found that the dogs' body composition and inflammatory markers changed over time in ways that parallel the positive changes seen in humans on similar diets. The dogs achieved a healthier weight without losing too much muscle mass, and their serum triglycerides, insulin and inflammatory markers all decreased with weight loss.

In a study of postmenopausal women, those who reported a faster walking pace had a lower risk of developing heart failure.