Resveratrol, a compound found naturally in foods such as grapes, wine and nuts, has been associated with several benefits, such as healthy aging and optimal blood sugar, according to the National Institutes of Health. The growing body of research prompted scientists from Maastricht University in The Netherlands to conduct what they call the first clinical study on resveratrol's effects on human metabolism.

For their experiment, the team enrolled 11 obese men who had no other health problems and put them on a regimen of 99 percent pure resveratrol for 30 days. At the end of the trial, the scientists discovered that the treatment was just as effective as calorie restriction in altering energy metabolism. Assessments for this result included measurements for energy expenditure, fat in the liver, blood sugar and blood pressure – all of which improved in study participants, as published in the November issue of the journal Cell Metabolism.

"We saw a lot of small effects, but consistently pointing in a good direction of improved metabolic health," said researcher Patrick Schrauwen, who added that more long-term studies are needed.

Scientists at the University of New Hampshire conducted a study looking at the effects that a woman's weight may have on her legs. This is of particular interest to aging women because stronger legs usually mean greater independence and mobility.

In their experiment, the researchers enrolled 25 women between the ages of 65 and 80. After categorizing the subjects by body mass index (BMI), the scientists looked at leg strength, walking speed and power. Their results showed that women with a more optimal BMI had stronger legs, as reported in the Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology.

"Being of a normal body weight lets you perform activities of daily living and live on your own longer," said lead author Dain LaRoche, professor of kinesiology.

Between losing weight or exercising to increase leg strength, it may be easier for concerned women to do the latter, according to the researchers, who added that eight to 15 repetitions of weight training exercises should help the muscles.

The study was supported in part by the National Institute on Aging, a division of the National Institutes of Health.

According to Emile Bliznakov, M.D., “Energy is life, and CoQ10 is a crucial component of the energy cycle and therefore of life itself.” Therefore, the more CoQ10 you have in your body, the more life-giving energy you have to…

• Rejuvenate cells and feed healthy ones
• Rejuvenate your aging heart, brain, liver, lungs and other organs
• Protect you from free radical damage that can prematurely age your skin, hair, eyes, muscles and organs
• Power up the energy level to every cell in your body—especially your heart, brain and eyes

Naturally produced in your liver, CoQ10 not only sparks life to all 100 trillion of your body’s cells, but it’s also an antioxidant nutrient that helps support a healthy memory… promote healthy cellular growth… support a healthy heart and brain…  promote healthy muscle function… and promote healthy teeth and gums.

When you’re young, your body produces the necessary levels of CoQ10, but your body’s production declines as you age. To ensure you have adequate amounts of the essential nutrient, you can boost your diet with foods that contain higher levels of CoQ10 such as organ meats (pork heart, pork liver, beef heart or beef liver), oils (soybean, rapeseed or sesame oil), sardines, mackerel and meats such as pork and beef.

Since it’s virtually impossible to effectively boost your CoQ10 levels through diet alone, you should add a high-quality supplement to your daily regimen that contains no crystals but does include healthy fats for maximum absorption. And CoQ10 supplements are non-toxic, safe and easy to take.

However, a recent study presented at the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting found that a natural supplement that was originally marketed as a sexual aid may help improve overall quality of life in women who have recovered from cancer.

The researchers explained that the supplement, called ArginMax for Women™, contains a combination of L-arginine, ginseng, ginkgo and 14 vitamins and minerals.

The women who participated in the study took two doses of the supplement each day for 12 weeks and then answered a questionnaire that accounted for their physical, emotional, social and functional well-being.

The study's results showed that overall quality of life improved significantly among the women who consumed the supplement, particularly in areas of physical well-being.

"Bothersome symptoms such as lack of energy, pain, nausea, and sleeplessness were all improved, as were measures of functional well-being, for example the ability to perform normal activities at home or work," said lead researcher Kathryn M. Greven.

The research involved both amateur and conditioned athletes who engaged in a series of rigorous training events. One of the involved two long bike rides that ended with a high-intensity interval course.

The study's results showed that participants who drank low-fat chocolate milk improved their time in the second event by an average of six minutes. The findings also indicated that over a period of four weeks, subjects who consumed low-fat chocolate milk gained three pounds more lean muscle mass, compared to those who drank sports drinks.

"Collectively, our research suggests that low-fat chocolate milk – easily accessible for most athletes – can improve performance and aid training for trained and amateur athletes faced with tough routines," said lead researcher John L. Ivy.

Researchers studied data from more than 5,000 middle age participants over the course of five years to evaluate how changes in sleep duration may affect the subjects' performance on several tests that measured their overall cognitive ability.

The study's results showed that women and men who had increased average sleep times that were above 8 hours per night scored lower on five out of six cognitive tests than they had five years earlier. Those who decreased their average sleep time to under six hours per night also scored lower on three out of the six evaluations.

"The detrimental effects of too much, too little and poor quality sleep on various aspects of health have begun to receive more attention. Given that our 24/7 society increasingly impinges on the lives of many people, it is important to consider what effects changes in sleep duration may have on health and well-being in the long term," said lead researcher Jane Ferrie.

The newspaper recommended that people use melatonin supplements to help reduce the frequency of insomnia bouts. According to the news provider, increasing brain levels of the chemical may "trick" a person's body into initiating a sleep cycle.

The news source suggested that consuming more vitamin B may help reset the sleep-wake cycle. The article noted that B-12 has been associated with undisturbed nightly rest, as well as increased alertness during the following day.

Individuals who drink tea to ease feelings of stress may consider brewing non-caffeinated varieties such as chamomile, the newspaper said, since herbal ingredients may promote relaxation.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, more than 47 million Americans do not achieve sufficient amounts of sleep, which may result in health or behavioral problems. The organization notes that the average person spends less than 7 hours in bed on weeknights.

Researchers from JFK Medical Center, in Edison, New Jersey, discovered that teens send an average of 34 texts a night after going to bed. Other studies from Nielsen and Kaiser have found that excessive exposure to electronics can be responsible for mood swings and cognitive problems, such as depression or learning difficulties.

There was also a difference along gender lines. Girls were found to be more avid texters and callers at night, while boys favored surfing the internet or playing video games on their mobile devices.

Some teens even said they fall asleep texting in bed, a habit which can cut deeply into sleep.

"It's clear if you have a phone in bed with you and it's turned on it's going to interfere with your performance in school… young people need limits set, because their brains are still developing, and they need their parents to take action," Mary A Carskadon, director of sleep research at the E.P. Bradley Hospital, told the news provider.

Nielsen research also found that teenage girls send an average of 4,050 text messages each month, while boys average 2,539, according to PhysOrg.com.

The study, which was conducted by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, labeled the gene as DQB1 *0602 and estimated that it is present in 25 percent of the population.

Those who carried this gene reported being more tired than their peers, whether they received 10 hours of sleep or four, and also spent less time in the phase of deep sleep that can be important for rejuvenation, the news source reports.

"Overall they had a more fragmented sleep with more arousals in comparison to those who didn't carry the gene. We found it very interesting that they were healthy people, but when challenged, they looked like narcoleptics," Dr Namni Goel, the lead author of the study, told the news provider.

Didi Gluck, the Beauty and Health Director of Real Simple Magazine, told CBS News that sleepiness can also be attributed to a lack of proper vitamins and minerals, and individuals should try to take a multivitamin supplement in order to correct this deficit.

She first recommends that individuals examine their diet. Vitamin deficiency is a primary cause of exhaustion, particularly if a diet lacks sufficient amounts of vitamin B12 or D, or iron. Taking a multivitamin supplement can be one way to compensate for this deficit, or one can get a blood sample taken by a doctor.

Processed foods should also be avoided, and Gluck recommends drinking a minimum of eight glasses of water a day.

Stress can also cause fatigue, because the body's adrenal glands are strained. Gluck claims that meditating for as little as five minutes a day can help combat this problem.

Depression is also known to result in over-sleeping and a general feeling of exhaustion. Gluck states that exercising three to five times a week for 30 minutes can greatly reduce mild to moderate cases of depression.

The Daily Evergreen reports that a nap of up to 45 minutes can also leave an individual feeling energized.