Fast food as good for you as finer fare after a workout at the gym

If you're craving burger and fries after an intense workout, dig in. Taken in moderation, fast food can aid recovery just as well as traditional sports supplements such as Gatorade and Powerbars, according to a new study by the University of Montana in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. Eleven male cyclists completed two experimental trials in random fashion: each trial included a 90-minute glycogen-depletion ride followed by a four-hour recovery period. Immediately following each ride, and again two hours later, the participants were given either sports supplements or fast food. Following the four-hour recovery, participants completed a 20-kilometre time trial. Muscle biopsies and blood samples taken in between the two rides found similar blood glucose and insulin responses, rates of glycogen recovery from the meals, and time-trial performance between the two diets.

People who apply eyeliner on the inner eyelid run the risk of contaminating the eye and causing problems with vision, say University of Waterloo researchers. The scientists used video recordings of participants applying glitter eyeliner in different styles to observe and compare the amount of eyeliner particles that migrated into the tear film - the thin coating protecting the eye. Within five minutes, it was found that between 15 per cent and 30 per cent more particles moved into the tear film when subjects applied eyeliner to the inside of the lash line, compared to the outside. The researchers say eyeliner can alter the tear film, causing discomfort. Eyeliner ingredients such as waxes, oils and silicones can also adhere to contact lenses and build up if used for longer than a day. Resulting complications include irritation and redness, introduction of harmful bacteria from the eyeliner, and in some cases, eye infections or blurred vision.