It’s Friday, and what’s even better is that it is a holiday weekend (at least here in the states)! Whoo Hoo! If your place of business is anything like mine things are probably pretty dead right about now and you’re all sitting around watching the clock in eager anticipation of three days of non-work related bliss. You may also be staring in the face of a whole bunch of eating challenges in the form of grilled meats, chips, and tasty adult beverages.

In order to help you pass the time and perhaps provide you with a little motivation for the upcoming weekend I’ve compiled a list of news items from the last few weeks that you might be interested to know about. This will actually be the first in an ongoing series of Friday afternoon news summary posts, so I hope you enjoy it!

So let’s see what’s going on in the world of health and fitness!

• I’m fairly certain that none of us have ever operated under the illusion that Spaghetti-O’s were good for you, but if you have some in your cupboard at the current time there’s a chance there’s a little extra badness floating in there along with your mystery meatballs. Apparently a sizable number of cans were shipped after being improperly heated during the final packing process, opening up the possibility that bacteria that should have been killed off continues to thrive in the product. As of this point no illnesses have been reported as a result of this mishap, but it’s probably not something you want to risk. [Source]
• There’s even more science out there about how exercise can be a valid treatment for individuals who are suffering from depression. This is something that has been talked about for years, but researchers are making great strides in producing data that supports the theory. This is great news for people who don’t want to turn to pharmaceuticals to deal with depression, especially when you consider the fact that many mood altering drugs can result in weight gain and that obesity is a source of depression in and of itself. [Source]
• Thinking about stopping by a fast food restaurant to grab a quick salad for lunch? Check out this list from WebMD to find out what the best, and worst, choices are if you’re trying to monitor your calories. [Source]
• I’ve seen a lot of people choking down powdery protein drinks in an effort to refuel after a particularly hard workout. While they may be effective, it’s very rare that you hear someone talk about how much they enjoy drinking them. You know what people enjoy drinking, though? Chocolate milk. You know what else? Fat-Free Chocolate milk might actually be a better choice to reach for after you’re done working out. [Source]
• There’s a new “diet pill” available over in the United Kingdom. I can’t say I’m impressed. After doing a little research it seems to me like this wonder pill helps you lose weight by making you poo so much that the food doesn’t have time to stay in your body. I think I’ll pass. [Source]
• A few years ago, geek rockers They Might Be Giants released a childrens album called No! One of the tracks on that album was about a guy named John Lee, a “Super Taster.” According to the song, when John Lee tastes a pear he tastes one hundred pears, and he can’t drink coffee or beer because the taste is just too overwhelming. Well, apparently the TMBG were on to something. Scientists have discovered that there really ARE super tasters among us! [Source]
• The results are in, and despite the efforts of Michelle Obama Americans are continuing to get fatter. The obesity rate has swollen in 28 states, with Mississippi continuing to top the list with an obesity rate of over 33%. The Southern states remain the heaviest in the union (corresponding, undoubtedly, with poverty levels in those states). [Source]

That’s it for this week! I’ll be back next Friday with another list of interesting news bits with my witty and incisive commentary thrown into the mix. Have a great weekend, kids!