Thursday, October 31, 2013

Share the love| Meet my October Sponsors

Share the love| Meet my October Sponsors

 

What a strange month it has been. I have been busy with my job and life, however unlike usual, blogging was put on the back burner. I wasn’t really feeling inspired to blog and never like to force myself to write as that’s not what blogging is about for me. So I took a step back and had a little break. I am back now, however I don’t think I will be posting 4 times a week like I was, but still expect it at least twice!  Anyways enough about me and my troubles. I may not have blogged much this month, but my lovely sponsors have! They all have blogs rammed full of interesting blog posts on fitness, health, beauty, fashion, food and life… so grab a cup of tea and take a look through each of them… I would definitely recommend it!

 

TBE_Share_Bu   tton_250

"Hello beauties! I'm Natalie from The Blonde Ethos. Like Cat, I share my honest thoughts on fitness, health and beauty, as I love finding something that does a really great job, be it supplements, skincare, an amazing app or a sweaty new workout. However, I will never post about fad diets or quick fixes as I believe that being healthy is about your whole lifestyle and is a continuous journey, not just a destination. I blog to share what I have learned as well as to track my own progress (I can be quite competitive with myself!) as I strive for a better body, inside and out. My ethos is to make the best of things. And that includes yourself!

I love hearing what my readers think too, so if you've tried a great new fitness class that you think I'd enjoy, or know how I could tweak my diet to see better results, I'm always excited to hear from you. Even if you're just dropping by, be sure to say hello!"”

BLOG|   TWITTER|   BLOGLOVIN|   FACEBOOK

beauty in things blog button advert

“Hello. I am Jemma, the blogger behind Beauty In Things. I am no stranger to beauty blogging - in 2010 I started my first blog The Beautiful News, before stopping in 2012.

I love beauty products, particularly eyeshadows & mascaras, skincare products, and hair care, and loved blogging about products and sharing reviews with the beauty blogging community.

I returned to blogging, and started Beauty In Things, which is a slightly different blog to The Beautiful News - it feels more mature and I feel I can post more personal posts than I did previously.

My blog not only features reviews of products I have tried and tested, but also is a place where I post my daily ramblings, and share my photos - I am a bit of a keen photographer and love posting my Silent Sunday photo posts each week (one photo, no words).

I also share recipes that I love, and lifestyle related posts, as well as book reviews. I also moved into my first home (without parents!) in 2012, so love posting home & garden inspiration posts as well.

I do hope you will hop over and check out my blog, and follow along if you enjoy it!”

BLOG|   TWITTER|    BLOGLOVIN

 

another girly blog button advert

"Hey everyone! I am Gaby from anothergirlyblg.blogspot.co.uk a little beauty and lifestyle blog where I post every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. On my blog you will find honest product reviews (the good, the bad and the ugly), plenty of cheeky hauls, makeup tutorials and some random general life stuff mixed in.

I started my blog after spending hours reading blogs and watching youtube videos and I really love writing posts and seeing your reactions to my posts. I am still not really sure what I'm doing most of the time but I would really love you to visit! You can also find me on twitter and Instagram @anothergirlyblg"

BLOG|   TWITTER|   BLOGLOVIN

 

teeth whitening leeds

“Celebrity Smiles LED Teeth Whitening are specialists in instant teeth whitening procedures. Their treatments are revolutionary and have been tried and tested across the globe. They are proud to have a long line of happy customers who have recommended us to their friends and families. Treatment only takes 1 hour and results are instant!
Special Offer!! Book now for only £99 Normally £249”

WEBSITE| FACEBOOK

Be sure to give them all a read, I guarantee that you won’t regret it! If you are interested in being featured on my side bar then visit my advertising page for all the details.

Powered by WPeMatico

The Health Risks of Just One Hangover

The Health Risks of Just One Hangover

Toast to your health? Not so much: Binge drinking and hangovers increase your risk of heart disease and stroke, according to new Finnish research.

The 15-year study of over 2,600 men found that one or more hangovers per year was associated with up to a 3-fold greater risk for stroke compared to guys who didn’t report a morning-after meltdown. Among guys with high blood pressure, binge drinking—defined as six or more drinks during a single bender—boosted stroke risk by 2-fold.

Now, the occasional hangover probably won’t matter much in the long run. But heavy boozing can contribute to hypertension and increased cholesterol levels, which can put you at risk for coronary artery disease and stroke, says study author Sanna Rantakömi. One or two drinks per party can be safe, but if you have certain health issues that may impact your blood vessels or if there are some chronic diseases in your family such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or heart disease, consider cutting back since you’re already at a greater risk, Rantakömi says.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

Feel Happier in 20 Seconds

Feel Happier in 20 Seconds

Rinse away a bad mood: Washing your hands could make you more optimistic, according to new German research.

After performing a nearly impossible task, people who scrubbed up had a brighter outlook on completing future tasks than those who skipped the soap.

Credit a theory known as embodied cognition: It’s the idea that higher mental processes (like decision making and optimism) are linked to motor processes (like hand washing), explains study author Kai Kaspar, Ph.D. On an unconscious level, the suds could help you think you’re cleaning off bad luck, making you more confident in what you’re about to do.

The catch: It doesn’t always work. Thinking you’re washing away failure could eliminate the need to make an extra effort—which may explain why the people who soaped up actually scored lower on the second test than those with dirty hands, says Dr. Kaspar.

In the end, you’re not going to wash your hands solely to brighten your day, but this study is a cool reminder to actually do it. (And hey, you never know—it could work!) Just make sure to lather up for at least 20 seconds, which is the minimum amount of time required to rid your hands of harmful germs and viruses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And focus on your fingertips—that’s where most of the germs reside.

Additional research by Markham Heid

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

Are You Annoying Your Coworkers?

Are You Annoying Your Coworkers?

Keep it in your pants. Fiddling with your smartphone can rub your female coworkers the wrong way, finds new research from the University of Southern California.

While 59 percent of men think it’s okay to check a text at a business lunch, just 34 percent of women feel the same way, according to the study. Guys are also twice as likely to say answering a call is acceptable while eating.

Studies have shown women are generally more courteous, relational, and better at listening than men, which may explain why they find smartphone interruptions so rude, says study coauthor Peter Cardon, Ph.D. “Women almost always emphasize the importance of paying undivided attention to others,” he adds.

If you’re expecting a call, text, or email you can’t afford to miss, apologize ahead of time and let your colleagues know you’re anticipating it, Cardon says. This is especially important for bosses: “Answer your phone too often, and you’re sending the message that you’re more important than your employees.” But as a rule of thumb, leave the cell at your desk—even having it with you is enough temptation to zone out, he says.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

Your Secret Flu-Fighting Weapon

Your Secret Flu-Fighting Weapon

Pop a pill, fend off the flu. People who took roughly 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily were less likely to get sick over 2 years than those who were D-deficient, reports a new Australian study.

While vitamin D is most often boasted for helping maintain strong bones, it’s also required to regulate the immune system, says David W. Grotto, R.D., author of The Best Things You Can Eat. Without adequate amounts of D in your body, your T-cells—an essential part of the immune system—remain dormant and unresponsive to invading viruses and bacteria, Grotto says.

The easy fix is spending more time outside—just 10 minutes of midday, summer sun has been known to deliver as much as 10,000 IU of vitamin D, says Grotto. But since the winter sun isn’t strong enough to trigger production, you’ll have to work D-dense foods like fatty fishes into your diet, and add a supplement.

While the Institute of Medicine recommends a conservative 600 IU, The Endocrine Society—and most doctors—deem up to 2,000 IU daily to be safe. Look for a brand with the trusted U.S. Pharmaceutical Ingredient Verification label, says Grotto, like GNC Vitamin D-3 1000 ($10 for 180 tablets).

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

 

Powered by WPeMatico

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Survive Your Awkward Family!

Survive Your Awkward Family!

Photo courtesy of HBO
When it comes to having an awkward family, playwright George Bernard Shaw said it best: “If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance.”

That’s the gist behind Christopher Guest’s latest documentary-style comedy series, Family Tree, which lands on DVD today after a well-received run on HBO last summer. On the show, the family closets are bared and the bones go rattling with hilarious and surprisingly tender results.

Here, the 65-year-old comedy legend—best known for This is Spinal Tap, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and more—discusses the meaning of family, and the best way to deal with your own odd, endearing clan.

Men’s Health: How much autobiography is there in a project like Family Tree?

Christopher Guest: Literally? In this case, Family Tree started when I began looking into my own past through things my father had left me when he passed away. That’s a parallel, I guess, and the genesis of the show. The other stuff is all made up.

MH: So there are no flavored enemas or hand puppets in your home?

Guest: I’d have to check the other room, but I don’t think so.

MH: Many of us struggle with ways to “handle” our families. What are some methods for doing that?

Guest: I think you have the wrong person. I can give you a couple of numbers to call. There are a couple of mental health clinics not far from here. I wouldn’t be the one to dispense that information. Everyone has to figure it out for themselves. Hopefully, they can look at things truthfully. That’s always a good start.

MH: Does that make Family Tree an exorcism of sorts for you, cathartic in some way?

Guest: No, it’s really just observations I’ve made. The show deals with lots of things. The show’s not just funny. It’s also full of awkward, strange moments. That’s the way life is, I suppose. What I’m doing in the work I do, I prefer not to just have a series of jokes. It’s nice when audiences can connect with the characters as well.

MH: The humor in the show feels more honest, harder earned. How does that happen?

Guest: The method of doing this show, and the films I’ve done, is unusual. I don’t think it’s done anywhere else like this, exactly. There are other people who say they do things improvisational on their shows, but this is entirely improvisational. I write the outlines with Jim Piddick, the back stories on all of the characters, their entire family histories, and we know what needs to happen in each scene, but there’s no dialogue written down and there’s no rehearsal. We just shoot.

MH: This is a style you pioneered.

Guest: This is Spinal Tap was a film we felt really had to be done like that. It wouldn’t have worked any other way. And it turned out to be the first time a fiction film had really been made in a documentary format. I continued to do that, obviously, because it’s a fun way to work.

MH: One of the pleasures in life is amassing families that are not necessarily blood-related. With your repertory company—Jane Lynch, Fred Willard, Michael McKean, so many brilliant performers—you’ve kind of done that. Is calling your colleagues a family too much of a stretch?

Guest: Well, “family” would indicate that they’re all coming over for Thanksgiving, which isn’t true. I would say that this is a group of people that I work with who are fantastically talented. They are some of the only people on the planet who can do this kind of work. It’s not arbitrary, the decision to use them over and over.

MH: What’s the key to doing this kind of work?

Guest: You couldn’t even begin to answer that question, to be honest. There are dozens and dozens of improv classes across the nation, but it really cannot be taught. It’s not just about being quick on your feet, which isn’t even a part of the story. You have to be real and you have to be funny. It’s a gift. It’s kind of like playing jazz. You have to listen. You have to play. There’s a melody, which is like our story outline, and then jazz musicians just start playing. There’s no rehearsal. It’s just happening, and you keep coming back to the melody. How does that happen? It’s inexplicable. I honestly don’t know. But it happens.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

Ageless Male Reviews: Scams and Side Effects

Ageless Male Reviews: Scams and Side Effects

Nowadays there are lots of questions in men’s mind about a male enhancement supplement and pill that which one is best? Is it a scam or rip-off and also confusion regarding to Ageless Male Product then I decided to review it by myself and figure out what is exactly Ageless Male and I found Ageless Male is an herbal health supplement which can aid men's testosterone level as continue to leftover at a proper, regular scale.

This supplement supports: strong libido, strength growth, tough organ, and slim body muscle mass, optimistic sensation, a lot more pleasure while intercourse. With Ageless Male it will provide you with the vigor and also strength that you need which will make you to develop the passion for performance to have better sex. You’ll be capable of getting back the enjoyment you have had before at young age including your vitality will probably be recovered. While males grow older, they get the signs of the andropause which is a genuine life procedure. This is now known as men menopause. It seems the loss of energy. While it occurs, you obtained cheap testosterone level, reduced libido, mood of sorrow and also getting added pounds. This supplement will help you to rid of these problems and provide extra power to your body.

What is Ageless Male by New Vitality?

Ageless Male is the name of the product and New Vitality is the business name of this male enhancement supplement. This product is sold by other retailers and also from its official business under the label of business New Vitality Ageless Male “supports Free Testosterone Level”. The business claims that Ageless Male includes an herb created from the Fenugreek herb known as Testofen- proven in a medical examiner to considerably boost free testosterone (the primary kind of testosterone that may be designed for quick work with by the body system) in males. Moreover, Ageless Male helps nourishing vitality metabolic rate , a proper sexual desire and body fitness as a portion of muscle building, so that you can very easily reestablish the health you need to be.

How Does Ageless Male Work?

The formulation of Ageless Male provides you proper nutrition to get stronger. The ingredients blend in it has well known there is nothing hidden for people. Vitamin B6, magnesium aspartate and zinc is effective for the human body to build body mass. Calcium carbonate helps to make strong bone. The blend of this supplement makes it more effective for men to perform better stamina while intercourse. The business also provides 30 days money back guarantee with time to time offers for peoples. Which makes it extra features.

Ageless Male Active Ingredients

Fenugreek seed extract, pyridoxine HCl and Zinc as amino acid chelate is the main active ingredients of the Ageless Male Supplement. WebMd listed that the Fenugreek seed extract useful for erectile dysfunction, reduces symptoms of h eartburn, helpful in High cholesterol, Stomach upset, Constipation and some other problem like diabetes type-1 and type-2 both.

Ingredients with per serving

  • Vitamin B6 (4.94 mg)
  • Magnesium as aspartate (16.88 mg)
  • Zinc as zinc amino acid chelate (15 mg)
  • Testofen standardized fenugreek seed extract (300 mg)

Ageless male Benefits

  • Effective for low libido
  • 30 days money back guarantee
  • Ingredients well known
  • 100% natural ingredients
  • Average cost

Ageless male Drawbacks

  • Not made for if you are with other medication
  • The effect may vary from one man to another
  • Avoid if you have blood pressure and heart related issue

Ageless male scams

Few People are claiming that Ageless Male is a rip-off or scam, and also referrals the problems gotten by the BBB. These kinds of issues are generally caused by the purchasing procedure, rather than to the supplement by itself. Consumers get disappointed simply because their purchase is rapidly placing to auto-renew, and also auto-ship until you call up and cancel out. Many people that purchased only have them getting the initial month’s purchased supplement, because they are amazed to get the second month’s buyers arrive, and also their debit cards or credit cards billed once again.

Even though this isn’t the perfect technique for managing replicated online business, it doesn’t cause it to be a scam or rip-off. You are purchasing online items so you must have to read all the policy and note down the phone number of business and also speak with customer support. I have no mood to give the credit to this business. It h elps you to aware before any purchase not even this supplement. Must speak with customer support before or after ordering any item through online for make sure that you are in safe and doesn’t get scammed. I also noticed while you place an order from official web site just above total amount there is a small letter line mentioned that “Starting 90 days from your order date, you'll receive a new 90-day supply every 3 months at the guaranteed low price of just $79.90 plus $8.99 S&H per shipment, which will conveniently be charged to the card you provide today unless you call to cancel. There is no commitment and no minimum to buy. To customize this program or future shipments and charges, call customer service anytime. Every Ageless Male purchase includes a 30-day money-back guarantee of the purchase price less shipping and handling.”

Side Effects and Dangers

There isn’t any major side effect of this supplement if you are having as per prescribed dosage take 2 capsule daily is a standard by product manufacture. Some people feel like different mood change and not more erection while intercourse as they want. No dangers ingredients contains in it.

Final Verdict

I try to cover all the important detail of this male enhancement supplement. This product has mixed feedback of people who tried. The ingredients are all natural and known. However, customer say the auto shipment is horrible. You can also purchase this supplement from amazon which has good reputation in online purchase and some other retailers to make sure for auto shipment process. Product is an average in cost compare to others. If you have low/high blood pressure, heart problem and any other health problem. You must have to consult with doctor before try it.

Powered by WPeMatico

STUDY: High Blood Sugar Could Sap Your Brainpower

STUDY: High Blood Sugar Could Sap Your Brainpower

Feeling forgetful? Here’s one possible reason: Higher blood sugar is associated with memory problems—even in people without diabetes, according to a new German study.

MRI scans of people with normal blood sugar levels showed that the hippocampus area of the brain—which plays an important role in memory—was smaller in those on the higher end of the scale. Folks with elevated readings also remembered fewer words on a memory test.

While glucose can affect the brain in a number of ways, it likely damages memory by causing mini-strokes and coagulations, or small blood clots that can go unnoticed, says Michael J. Schneck, M.D., of Loyola University Medical Center.

Control your levels by working out at least 20 to 30 minutes a day. It takes a only a few days of missed workouts (and bad eating) to worsen insulin resistance, says Barry Braun, Ph.D., of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

You CAN Do It; She Proved It

You CAN Do It; She Proved It

Jurga Stankeviciute Evans is a finisher.

Evans signed up for last Saturday’s Men’s Health Urbanathlon with the intention of completing it with friends. Then all her friends dropped out.

“They were like, ‘You’re not going to do it without us, are you?’ and I told them I would,” she said. “I wanted to do it.”

Evans, from Brooklyn, was among the 3,533 competitors who completed the 10-mile course, which featured Marine Corps training obstacles, trips to the tops of both the Arthur Ashe Tennis Stadium and CitiField,  and a final sprint that included scrambling over a field of taxis, a city bus, and scaling an 8-foot wall. The fastest time was posted by Javier Palacios Luna: a mind-blowing 1 hour, 4 minutes, 27 seconds.

It took Evans 3 1/2 hours. She was the final person to cross the fish line, and she got a little help at the end from Men’s Health contributor David Jack. But make no mistake: Evans DID it—at her own pace (with husband Edward by her side) and to prove a point.

“I’m big, almost 300 pounds,” she said. “But I wanted to do this to prove that though I’m heavy, I’m not out of shape. I’m healthy.”

And funny. Asked afterward if she ran any of the course, she shrugged and said, “I don’t run. If I’m running, you better run too, because something bad is going down.”

Jack, who helped Evans to navigate the cargo net over and off the city bus, as well as the wall, was impressed—and jazzed. (He gets like that a lot.)

“When I go home from something like this, it’s people [like Jurga] who I remember most,” said Jack, who served as the lead trainer in Men’s Health’s super-popular Spartacus DVD series. “I’m inspired by the folks who finish fastest. But the people who take the challenge to change their lives, even though every step on that course is difficult, those are the people that make a day like this special.”

So special, in fact, that Dave made a promise to Jurga: Come back and do this next year, and I’ll walk the whole course with you. They’re aiming to finish in 3 hours. And if you’re reading this and you need a push to challenge yourself, you’re invited as well. We’ll post a sign-up sheet soon if you want to commit to being in New York for Urbanathlon 2014.

Editor’s note: If you live in San Francisco, or just want an excuse to visit the Bay Area, come on out for the final leg in the Urbanathlon 2013 series, on Nov. 24. You can learn more about the event, or register, here.

Powered by WPeMatico

Monday, October 28, 2013

Why She Plays Hard to Get

Why She Plays Hard to Get

There’s more to her tease than meets the eye: Women play hard-to-get to make you want them, but also as a test of your commitment, finds a new Australian study.

Your willingness to keep pursuing her tells her your final goal: an actual relationship. “Women have to weed out the men who are just interested in them for sex,” says Deanna Lorraine, a Los Angeles-based dating coach for men. Dealing with girls who play hard-to-get usually requires too much work for one-night-stand seekers.

Although men and women are equally guilty of playing coy, the study found ladies use five particular tactics. Never let her ploys wreck your game again:

1. She withholds sex.
You’re seeing a new girl who’s definitely not a virgin, yet she’s treating your first time together like the Holy Grail. “She’s withholding because she doesn’t feel secure with you yet,” Lorraine says.

Your plan: Show her something serious could be on the horizon. Toss out the “wait 3 days to call” rule, hang out 2 days in a row, and invite her to an event that’s a few weeks away. “She needs to feel that you’re sticking around,” says Lorraine. By making plans well beyond next weekend, you prove exactly that.

2. She acts sarcastic.
Don’t let her verbal sparring discourage you. “A lot of guys fail this,” Lorraine says. “Either they’re really nice or complimentary, or they take it personally, like she is actually dissing them.” In reality, she’s flirting and trying to show you she’s a bit of a challenge.

Your plan: Give it right back to her. “Be sarcastic, too. Play along,” Lorraine suggests. “That’s what going to get her attention.” Just make sure she knows you’re teasing, not lashing out because you’re offended. As you make a jab, smile and touch her on the arm or shoulder to show you’re playing around.

3. She makes you chase her.
The harder you work to win her affection, the easier it is for her to let her guard down. “We want to test men to make sure that they’ve built up genuine feelings for us—that they’re not going to be hitting it and quitting it,” says Lorraine. And, she concedes, “a lot of women like the pursuit.”

Your plan: “Put time and detail into getting to know her, instead of just throwing together last-minute or casual dates,” says Lorraine. Text her things like, “Mexican or Italian food?” or “What’s your favorite dessert?”

And when you make plans together, be on time. “A woman will make a man chase as long as she feels like she can’t trust him—he’s showing signs of flakiness, breaking plans with her, things like that,” Lorraine says. But if you’re reliable, her walls will come down more quickly.

4. She looks at you, then turns away.
“We think we should just give a guy a little signal, and he should be the one to come over to us,” says Lorraine.

Your plan: Before you introduce yourself, make sure she didn’t just make accidental eye contact. “See if she looks back a second time,” says Lorraine. If she checks you out again, smile and motion for her to come over, perhaps even pat the chair beside you. She’ll likely protest—which gives you a chance to establish a fun back-and-forth. “I’ve seen this done before, and usually the woman is the one to cave in,” says Lorraine. Voila, you’re in.

5. She’s slow to respond.
If she takes hours to answer your texts, she may, in fact, be interested—but that interest is overpowered by skepticism. “You haven’t made a strong enough connection yet to be on her radar,” says Lorraine.

Your plan: Playfully call her out on her Grandma pace. “If it’s becoming a bit of a pattern, you could send her a little joke, like, ‘You better try to respond faster this time, just to make sure I’m not married with kids already,’” says Lorraine. That way, you don’t seem scolding, but get the point across.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

How Exercise Protects Your Senses

How Exercise Protects Your Senses

Squats can safeguard your sniffer: Regular exercise protects your sense of smell as you age, according to new research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In the study, people who exercised at least once a week—long enough to work up a sweat—decreased their risk of olfactory dysfunction, or issues with smelling, by about 24 percent. (Many people experience a decrease in whiff-ability as they age. In the study, 28 percent of folks experienced a decline over 10 years.)

So what’s the link between sweating and sniffing? Your blood vessels may play a role. Regular exercise decreases the risk of atherosclerosis—when plaque builds up in your arteries—and healthy arteries may mean a better sense of smell, says study author Karen Cruickshanks, Ph.D.

Besides regular sweat sessions, you can keep your arteries clear by minimizing TV time. A new study from the Netherlands found that the longer people in their 30s spent planted in front of the TV each day, the stiffer their arteries. Researchers suggest keeping leisure screen time —that includes glaring at your laptop and tablet—to under 2 hours per day.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

What Your Colon Cancer Screening Could Miss

What Your Colon Cancer Screening Could Miss

Talk about a major oversight. Current screening guidelines might miss about 10 percent of colorectal cancers in relatives of people with the disease, according to a new study in the journal Cancer.

Colonoscopies, which can detect and remove precancerous growths called polyps, are normally recommended every 10 years beginning at age 50—or at 40 if a first-degree relative had polyps or cancer before age 60.

But according to the research, direct relatives of patients with polyps face up to a 70 percent increased risk of colon cancer over their lifetime—regardless of the age of their family member at diagnosis.

It might not make for a comfortable conversation, but asking your relatives if they’ve had cancer—and whether they’ve had polyps removed—is important, says study author N. Jewel Samadder, M.D., M.Sc. Sharing this info with your doc can help him or her devise the best screening strategy.

And if you do have a family history, consider having your first colonoscopy even earlier: 10 years before the age your family member was when he or she had polyps or cancer. Repeat the procedure at least every 5 years, Dr. Samadder suggests.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

Are Your Buddies Holding You Back?

Are Your Buddies Holding You Back?

Branch out—for your brain’s sake: Socializing with the same friends can limit your knowledge, suggests a new Finnish study.

Researchers found that once people hear new info, they call other friends to share it. The result: You wind up hearing the same ideas from everyone in your network, explains study author Lauri Kovanen.

In fact, a 2011 MIT study analysis found that sticking to contained social circles can even prevent people from discovering and adopting new healthy habits and trends.

New friends can expose you to different ways of thinking, and even make you smarter. Recent Australian research suggests that people with large, rich social networks have bigger, more developed amygdalas, the brain region associated with memory and emotion.

For an easy way to make new connections, try this: Next time your team loses, grieve on Facebook and see who sympathizes. A 2012 study from the University California, San Diego found that posting about universal topics influences not only your friends, but friends of friends. Disclosing interests to a wide audience will speed up the process of finding out which acquaintances are cooler than you think.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

3 Relationship Clichés That Are Actually True

3 Relationship Clichés That Are Actually True

Love really does make the whole world move in slow motion. Walking next to a romantic partner slows down your pace by 7 percent, shows research from Seattle Pacific University. (Yes, someone studied this.)

The explanation isn’t rocket science: It’s easier to maintain “closeness” and intimacy with a lover when the two of you are strolling slowly, explains study coauthor Cara Wall-Scheffler, Ph.D.

Here are two more relationship clichés that are backed by science:

You only have eyes for her. In a study at Florida State University, guys in committed relationships unconsciously looked away when presented with photos of beautiful women. (This was after the men were told to write for a few minutes about their love.) Because monogamy gives humans an advantage when it comes to survival and reproduction—you can’t protect your offspring if you’re not around—a desire to remain faithful may be pre-programmed into a man’s brain, the researchers say.

Men don’t understand women. German researchers found guys were twice as bad at guessing women’s emotions when looking at their eyes than when they saw men’s peepers. Because other guys pose a greater physical threat, it’s possible the male brain evolved to pick up on a fellow man’s feelings more quickly than women’s, the study authors say.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Monday’s Meal| Low Fat Peanut Butter Bars

Monday’s Meal| Low Fat Peanut Butter Bars

 

low fat peanut butter barchocolate and peanut butter squareschocolate and peanut butter squares 1-tile

As you may or may not know (I do talk about it a lot) I have a big sweet tooth! My biggest weakness is chocolate; which is not only full of calories but full of saturated fat! So when I found the simple recipe above in my beloved Women’s Health Magazine I knew I had to try it!

The recipe is for a “Low-Fat Peanut Butter Bar” and tastes like a snickers bar. What drew me to the recipe was that it would satisfy my sweet to oth, but mainly because it is home-made so I know there a no hidden nastys in it, plus it can be eaten in a number of ways. You can chop it up into 9 bite sized pieces to take as a snack, or you could crumble it up and top Greek Yoghurt with it. You can choose to make it with or without the dark chocolate, either way it is very simple.

You will need; 100g caster sugar, 85g honey, 95g reduced fat, natural, peanut butter, 95g of puffed rice, and a couple squares of dark chocolate.

Simply melt the sugar, honey and peanut butter in a pan; add the chocolate squares (if you are using them) and mix until melted. Add the puffed rice into the pan and mix until it is all coated. Press the mixture into a mold and allow it to set in the fridge for atleast two hours. Once set, cut into 9 bite sized pieces.

Estimated Nutritional Content- 147 Calories, 23g Carbs, 5.3g Fat, 2.9g Protein

Snickers Bar- 250 Calories, 33g Carbs, 12g Fat, 4g Protein.

So if you decided to make your own Low Fat Peanut Butter Bars rather than grab a Snickers Bar, you will save yourself 103 calories and6.7g of fat! To put it into perspective, if you swap your weekly Snicker Bar for a Low Fat Peanut Butter Bar you would save yourself 5356 calories in the year; which could save you from putting on 1.5 pounds in the year! Smart snacking matters!

What are your favourite healthier versions of traditionally calorie and fat laden snacks? Link me up with recipes… I would love to try them! Would you ever give this recipe a try?

Be sure to check out Gaby’s gorgeous blog; Another Girly Blog- Full of beauty, lifestyle and Fashion.

Powered by WPeMatico

5 Health Benefits of Hot Tubs: Soak Your Way to Health

5 Health Benefits of Hot Tubs: Soak Your Way to Health

With the cooler autumn weather approaching, it may seem like trips to the lake or pool are out of the question. Instead of completely sacrificing the aquatics, why not upgrade to a hot tub? Before you let the price tag and maintenance requirements make your decision for you, there may be more benefits than you may realize. In addition to being a warm oasis in the winter, soaking in a hot tub may just benefit your health:
  • Sleep Disorders: According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), estimate between 50 and 70 million adults in the United States suffer from some type of sleep disorder. While there are a variety of sleep aids and home remedies to try, the benefits of a hot tub are undeniable. The warm water, massage jets, and relaxing view combine to ease sore muscles and slow rapid thoughts. Even soaking for just a few minutes before bedtime can vastly alter your sleep patterns.
  • Blood Pressure: Individuals with poor circulation or high blood pressure will also benefit from a few minutes in a hot tub. The heat will encourage your blood vessels to open more, decreasing your blood pressure and improving your circulation in one step. This can also stimulate your nerve, immune, and digestion systems.
  • Arthritis or Chronic Pain: For the estimated 50 million adults in the U.S. with arthritis or chronic pain problems, even simple tasks can become difficult. While other remedies are available—and at an expensive cost—one of the simplest treatment methods is simply enjoying a few relaxing moments in a hot tub. When used in combination with proper stretching, a soak in the hot tub can ease the pain of sore joints and muscles.
  • Type 2 Diabetes: For the 25.8 million people suffering from Type 2 Diabetes, issues with weight and sleep are not uncommon. While some treatment methods are available that can treat each affect separately, hot tub therapy—thirty minutes per day for at least six days per week—has been shown to improve the overall condition. Especially if exercise is difficult, hot tub therapy can be the perfect solution.
  • Healing: Whether from a sports injury or a surgery, the hot tub has even more benefits to offer up. By improving circulation and blood pressure and relaxing muscles, the warmth of the water encourages your body to heal faster. When applied at the appropriate time following an injury or surgery, hot tub therapy can have you healing faster and back on your feet in a shorter amount of time!
Every good thing has a little risk, however: it’s recommended that patients check with their doctor before engaging in hot tub therapy. The water temperature shouldn’t exceed 102-degrees Fahrenheit, and the time spent soaking may vary depending on your overall health. Your hot tub should also be cleaned regularly to prevent infections, and supervision may be required for anyone suffering nerve damage.

After speaking with your doctor, there shouldn’t be anything standing in between you and your new hot tub. With so many benefits to your health and the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors without the cold, what’s not to love?

Powered by WPeMatico

Reason #5,348 You Need More Sleep

Reason #5,348 You Need More Sleep

Want to keep your brain sharp? Hit the sack. Poor sleep quality may lead to Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research from Johns Hopkins University.

People who lacked sufficient shuteye also had greater deposits of B-Amyloid—a plaque associated with Alzheimer’s—in their brains. The reason: During sleep, your brain actually cleans its self, possibly removing the plaques that may lead to disease, says Murray Flaster, M.D, Ph.D.

But researchers still don’t know if a lack of sleep actually causes plaques to accumulate. To play it safe, Dr. Flaster recommends seeing your M.D. if you regularly wake up groggy or report restless sleep.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Can Bacon Really Hurt Your Sperm?

Can Bacon Really Hurt Your Sperm?

When news hit last week that eating bacon may be bad for your sperm, we were bummed. (After all, Men’s Health editors love bacon.)

But after digging into the actual research, we realized our BLTs (and swimmers) are probably safe—for now.

First, some background: Researchers at Harvard University recruited men who were having trouble getting their wives pregnant, then asked them questions about their diets. The guys who ate between 2.5 and 19.5 servings of processed red meat a week—including bacon, hot dogs, burgers, and lunch meats like bologna—had significantly more damaged sperm than men who ate less than that amount.

While the scientists can’t explain the link, they did rule out some of the dietary factors associated with eating processed red meats. “Neither total fat intake nor animal fat explained the sperm damage,” says study author Myriam Afeiche, Ph.D.

In fact, because the survey couldn’t pin down a reason why eating bacon cheeseburgers correlated with sperm damage, you probably shouldn’t worry about your gonads just yet. “The results of this research are good for raising questions, but not providing answers,” says Alan Aragon, M.S., Men’s Health‘s nutrition advisor.

That also means there’s no clear connection between processed meat and the infertility the couples in the study were suffering from. “[The researchers] were only looking at one measure of sperm health—not whether it prevents someone from getting pregnant,” says Men’s Health‘s urology advisor Larry Lipshultz, M.D.

Until we know more, here’s what you can do: “Keep processed meat to a max of 20 percent of your weekly meat intake,” Aragon advises. So if you eat three 4-ounce servings of meat a day, you can eat up to 4 servings of bacon each week. And stock up on more seafood: The study found that guys who ate the most salmon, tuna fish, and bluefish had 34 percent more total sperm.

For more foods that strengthen your swimmers, follow The Stronger-Sperm Diet.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

Friday, October 25, 2013

Wednesday’s Workout| How to workout when you don’t want to!

Wednesday’s Workout| How to workout when you don’t want to!

how to workout when you dont want to

We’ve all been there, sitting on the couch in the morning in your pjs thinking you would rather stay put and watch Saturday Kitchen than put on your gym gear and workout, or sat in the car on the way home having the argument in your head about whether you are going to workout when you get home…. recently I’ve been doing it more often thanks to the dark mornings and evenings!

So how do y ou workout when it is the last thing you want to do?

Well firstly, if you have exercised hard and a lot recently then you probably deserve a break, so don’t pressure yourself and take that break. However for everyone else who hasn’t worked out recently, and this is perhaps the second day of skipping your workout you need to really get back on the band wagon otherwise it will leave you behind and you won’t be reaching your personal goals anytime soon. To encourage yourself is possibly one of the hardest things to do, so I thought I would share my tips with you.

Build a community

When my alarm goes off at 6.00am in the morning and I can hear the rain hitting the bedroom window, I grab my phone switch off my alarm and head straight to Instagram or Tumblr. On Instagram I search for #FriskyFall #Toneitup #Fitspo for photos and posts of everyone else working out, eating healthy, posting their results. My tumblr dashboard is full of over 600 “fitspo” blogd that post tips, motivation, recipes and workouts. I then spend a maximum of ten minutes reading through these inspirational blog posts or photos to really gage my mind into WHY I am going to get out of bed and workout. This community is really one of the only things that helps me wake up before (what feels like) the rest of the world and workout.

Set Realistic Goals

Set goals but make them realistic!  Yes everyone will have an ulitmate goal, but by setting your bar too high to start with you can demotivate yourself. Set mini goals that will help you towards your ulitmate goal; be that “do 4 morning workouts this week”, “eat clean on weekdays”, or “get 8 solid hour s sleep 4 nights out of 7” all these goals will ultimately become habit after time, and once its habit your ulitmate goal will be within reach!

Have a “Cheat” workout

I have a “Cheat” workout; this is what I call a workout which isn’t massively demanding, one I enjoy, and one I can do anywhere as long as I have YouTube. On days when I REALLY don’t want to workout but know I should I begrudgingly put on my workout gear switch on YouTube and do the workouts below. The workout isn’t very long, it’s not massively demanding BUT it’s better than no workout at all! Doing a mini workout will help me towards my goal more than sitting on the couch thinking about it!

Reward yourself

This is the best part! Reward yourself… NOT with food… you are not a dog! Only dogs are rewarded for good behaviour with food. Celebrate your mini wins with mini rewards; if you’ve done 5 morning workouts that week, give yourself a lazy Sunday morning in bed. If you have eaten clean for all the weekdays give yourself a glass of fizz on the Friday night, if you loose a few inches buy yourself a new top. Every achievement deserves recognition!

I hope my tips help some of you keep on track through the dark and wet winter that is coming! I would love to know what you do to ensure you do a workout even when you don’t want to!

Go check out Jemma’s  wonder blog; Beauty In Things, filled with beauty, fashion and life. A beautiful beauty blog!

Powered by WPeMatico

Halloween Could Leave You Blind!

Halloween Could Leave You Blind!

Sorry to ruin your girlfriend’s sexy cat costume: Non-prescription contact lenses can permanently damage your vision—or leave you blind, warns the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

Many of the inks, paints, and dyes used to craft novelty contacts are toxic and unregulated, and can cause infections or corneal ulcers, explains Thomas Steinemann, M.D., an ophthalmologist and clinical spokesperson for the AAO. Costume contacts are also constructed with materials that aren’t oxygen-permeable, meaning your eyes could suffocate, leading to vision loss or blindness, Dr. Steinemann adds. That’s why they’ve been illegal since 2005—even though it’s still easy to find them online or in some convenience stores.

Hitting up a Halloween party this weekend? Here are three more frightening products you may want to avoid.

Contaminated makeup.  A test of 31 types of Halloween makeup revealed toxic metals like cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic in every sample, according to the non-profit, Michigan-based Ecology Center. Possible risks of skin exposure include allergic reactions, brain damage, or cancer.

Flammable costumes. Lots of Halloween wigs, capes, and costumes are made with extremely combustible materials—meaning a close brush with a spooky candle or jack o’lantern could really ignite your holiday. Look for outfits made from non-flammable fabrics like nylon or polyester, or those labeled “flame resistant”, advises the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Last year’s treats. Milk chocolate spoils in 8 to 10 months, according to the National Confectioners Association (NCA). And there have been cases of salmonella poisoning from expired chocolate, say researchers from Kansas State University. If the chocolate looks sticky, off-color, or grainy, toss it, the NCA recommends.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

4 Reasons to Rock a Playoff Beard

4 Reasons to Rock a Playoff Beard

Beards and baseball are going hand in hand this World Series.

Just take a look at the wild manes that guys like Mike Napoli of the Red Sox and Jason Motte of the Cardinals have been sporting this postseason. Players believe that more hair on the face means more success on the field—and they could be right.

But superstition aside, beards have a slew of benefits—from fighting harmful UV rays to helping your skin heal. Here, top skin experts reveal how your facial hair can help your health:

1. Your whiskers could keep you cancer-free. “I see more women who have upper lip cancers than men,” says dermatologist Scott Fosko, M.D. “Hair affords men some protection from UV rays.” And while scruff should never replace SPF, recent research found that 3.5-inch-long beards delivered an Ultraviolet Protection Factor—a rating system similar to the SPF numbers in sunscreen—as high as 21. (The best possible rating is 50+).

2. Your beard helps your skin recover. “Shaving affects the skin as much as the hair,” says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mt. Sinai Hospital. Do it wrong, do it too much, or try shaving over a pimple, and you could traumatize your skin with micro cuts, razor burns, and everything in between. A break from the razor gives your skin time to recover, says Dr. Zeichner.

3. Sport scruff to look better after a sweat session. It’s easier for oil and dirt to irritate freshly shaven skin than bearded skin. That’s particularly true if you wear gear that can further mess with your face—like a helmet for hockey or football, or goggles for squash—while you work out, Dr. Fosko says.

4. Fight dry air with facial hair. Work outdoors? Prefer the trails over the treadmill? Cold, dry air can suck moisture from your skin, making it chapped and even painful, says Dr. Fosko. But with a beard, you have more of a barrier to protect you from the elements, he says.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

The Apps That Make Your Workout Easier

The Apps That Make Your Workout Easier

Act like a DJ at the gym: Creating music while moving can make your workout feel easier, says new German research.

Researchers hooked exercisers up to machines that changed the beat, bass, or melody according to how hard they were working out. For example, if participants ran fast, the music played faster. During the workout, the people who exercised to music that mimicked their effort felt less exhausted than those who simply listened.

When you synchronize your movements to music you create, it could give you more energy, distracting you from workout-related pain, the study authors say.

While the technology used in the study isn’t available yet, the researchers told Men’s Health that changing the tempo of songs to match your workout might have similar effects. Give it a try with apps like Cruise Control (iOS, $4.99) or TempoRun (iOS, $2.99).

But you can also boost your performance listening to tunes the old fashioned way. In a 2011 study at California State University, Fullerton, men did squat jumps with greater force and speed when they cranked their favorite songs than when the gym was silent.  (Music offers similar benefits during cardio workouts, too.)

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

The Surprising Reason to Get a Flu Shot

The Surprising Reason to Get a Flu Shot

Fight more than influenza: Flu shots can lower your risk for other health problems, says new research from the University of Toronto.

In the study, people with a history of ticker troubles who received a flu shot had a 36 percent reduced risk of a heart attack, stroke, or other heart-related disease compared to those who didn’t get the vaccine.  What’s more, people who recently suffered a heart attack were 55 percent less likely to have another cardiac-caused complication if they got the vaccination.

Why? Inflammation caused by the flu could loosen the material on the inside of your arteries, causing the buildup to block or clot the passages, says study author Jacob Udell, M.D. Also, flu side effects like coughing or low blood pressure could strain your heart, increasing your risk of cardiovascular issues—no matter your family history of heart disease.

Talk to your doctor or employer about flu vaccine discounts, or hit your local pharmacy for an inexpensive shot. Not sure which method is right for you? Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‘s website to learn more about this season’s strain.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

Can Your Chores Make You Fat?

Can Your Chores Make You Fat?

Your broom can’t beat your bike. People who rely on housework to burn fat are heavier than those who get their exercise elsewhere—like walking or cycling, says a new study from Northern Ireland.

Researchers surveyed nearly 5,000 people and found that domestic physical activity accounted for over 35 percent of moderate intensity exercise. And the more time people spent doing housework, the more their weight went up.

How come? The researchers speculate that heavier people may perceive their around-the-house duties to be more intense. Chores often tax smaller muscle groups, which causes more perceived exertion with less of a boost to your metabolism. In other words, if your shoulder muscles are sore after vacuuming (does that happen?), you might feel like you got a better workout than you really did.

Chores certainly have their health benefits. A 2012 study found that just 2.5 hours of housework a week—like mowing the lawn, carrying the groceries, and painting—can reduce inflammation in your body. But you shouldn’t bank on busy work to deliver the exercise you need.

If you like breaking a sweat in the comfort of your home, try this simple, do-anywhere body-weight circuit.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

Feel the Cheater’s High—Without Cheating

Feel the Cheater’s Highâ€"Without Cheating

Despite what you learned in kindergarten, cheaters can prosper. Men feel more positive and satisfied after being deceitful, finds new research from Harvard University.

Study participants who chose to lie about their results on a quiz (without being caught) felt more fulfilled than non-cheaters. People were even offered money for each right answer, but the liars felt this “cheater’s high” whether or not they received a financial compensation.

The sense of satisfaction or thrill stems from getting away with something or going around the rules, says study author Francesca Gino, Ph.D.

But fudging your timecard or having an affair isn’t the best way to feel a buzz—you only get pleasure if you don’t think you’re hurting someone else in the process, the researchers say.

Want to feel alive? Reap the benefits by being bold in other parts of your life, Gino advises. Start with these three risks every guy should take.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

The Snack That Hijacks Your Brain

The Snack That Hijacks Your Brain

Are Oreos as addictive as drugs? That’s what new research from Connecticut College suggests.

In the study, lab rats crawled just as close to Oreos as they did toward cocaine or morphine injections. And when scientists peered into the animals’ brains, they found rodents that munched on the cream-filled cookies showed even greater activation in their pleasure centers than those that received drugs.

One possible reason: While drugs can hijack your brain’s pleasure center system and activate it abnormally, the pleasure center also encourages you to seek out and repeat behaviors that promote survival—and high-fat, high-sugar foods deliver lots of energy to do just that, says study author Joseph Schroeder, Ph.D.

Okay, so cookies aren’t as dangerous as cocaine in the traditional sense. But an Oreo addiction still poses its risks: If you’re not careful, your sweet tooth could set the stage for obesity—and lead to a slew of further setbacks like heart disease or diabetes.

You can fight back by getting plenty of sleep and hitting the gym more frequently. Research has found that people who are even slightly sleep-deprived are more likely to binge on junk foods. Aerobic exercise can also dampen your desire for sweets.

And when it comes to your favorite snacks, try counting each bite, or focusing on the texture of flavor of the food. Paying attention to what you eat could help you fake more self-control—and feel satisfied with less food—according to recent research from the University of Michigan.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

4 Things to Watch for in the World Series

4 Things to Watch for in the World Series

As the World Series kicks off tonight on FOX, this year’s Fall Classic promises to be a doozy: The Boston Red Sox will face off against the St. Louis Cardinals in a much-anticipated rematch of the 2004 Series. That year, the Sox surprised the Cards with a 4-game sweep to win their first championship since 1918.

Though the stakes aren’t quite that high this time around—Boston last won it all in ’07, and St. Louis took home the title just 2 years ago—it’s still a matchup of the two best teams in baseball. Plus, there are secret story lines in play that might surprise you—and may even make you a richer man.

Here, MLB Network’s Kevin Millar (himself a member of that famed ’04 Sox squad) reveals four big things to watch for in this year’s World Series.

1. There will be no Cinderella story.
More often than not, the World Series tends to feature the two teams that get hot at the right time—but not this year. No Wild Card team even made it to the Divisional round this postseason. “The two best teams with the two best records almost never happens,” says Millar. “These two clubs as evenly matched as you get. I think in St. Louis, maybe the Cardinals have the advantage, because you have to lose a Mike Napoli or David Ortiz, since designated hitters aren’t used in NL parks. But at Fenway, you have to give the advantage to the Red Sox, because that’s a tough place to win.” In other words, bet on a Game 7, Millar says.

2. But there’ll be a frog who turns into a prince.
Alright, we’ll stop with the fairy tale stuff. But know that this year’s star will be the guy you least expect, since the Series is designed to make big names out of unknowns. “It’s an event,” Millar says. “People have a chance to make a legacy for themselves.” He points to the case of Keith Lockhart, Atlanta’s backup second baseman in the 1990s. Lockhart became a hero when he hit an RBI triple to give the Braves the lead in the 15th inning of Game 5 of the 1999 National League Championship Series. This year, Millar is singling out Cardinals centerfielder Shane Robinson, who toiled in the minors before making noise in the NLCS. Before last week, “no one knew who Shane Robinson was,” says Millar. “Those guys are pretty neat.”

3. Those meetings on the mound you see? They’re meaningless.
Even on a stage as big as the World Series, baseball players tend to talk utter nonsense when they conference on the pitching mound, Millar says. “We’re grown-ass men, dads, and husbands, but we’re such little kids,” he says. “You see a big mound visit in the sixth inning with two outs and men on first and second base. The pitching coach comes out, and everyone wonders what he’s going to say. But most of the time it’s like, ‘Hey, you look great in this white uniform. Very slimming. Maybe you’d look better with a black jersey on.’”

4. There’s no such thing as World Series pressure.
As with in-game conversations, baseball players don’t put much stock into pressure. Whereas you might sweat through every pitch, the guys on the field take a calmer approach, Millar says. “I never understood the whole pressure thing. It’s a game. This is a baseball game you make millions of dollars playing, and people are here to watch you. Where’s the pressure? Because you strike out or hit a home run? Pressure is having to worry about paying your bills. Pressure is knowing they’re going to lay off 150 employees and you could be one of them. Sure, it might be a little uncomfortable if you’re Michael Wacha and you have to get David Ortiz out, but that’s not pressure—it’s execution.”

Kevin Millar and Chris Rose will co-host Intentional Talk on-site throughout the World Series at 5 p.m. ET on MLB Network.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

Does Your Doctor Play by the Rules?

Does Your Doctor Play by the Rules?

Is your doc playing fair? Female physicians are more likely to successfully follow clinical guidelines—instructions on how to treat medical conditions—than their male counterparts, according to recent Canadian research.

In the study, patients with diabetes were slightly more likely to receive recommended medications if they saw woman doctors. And the younger the physician, the more often he or she followed directions.

Of course you don’t need to seek out only fresh-faced female doctors—the differences weren’t huge, says study coauthor Régis Blais, Ph.D. But before your book your next visit, make sure to check the following criteria:

  • Travel schedule. Docs who attend medical conferences tend to stay up to date on the newest research, Blais says.
  • Membership cards. Physicians affiliated with their specialty organizations—say, the American College of Cardiology—have access to continuing education and updated guidelines.
  • Certifications. Legally, doctors only need a state medical license to practice. But a board-certified physician undergoes extra training, passes a test, and has continuing education requirements in his or her specialty, whether it’s family practice or neurosurgery. You can check board certification online through the American Board of Medical Specialties.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

De-Clutter Your Brain!

De-Clutter Your Brain!

The Sandman is also a garbage man: Sleep helps your brain clean itself of waste that accumulates while you’re awake, according to a new study from the University of Rochester.

Even better: Some of those waste products that are removed while you snooze are neurotoxins like beta amyloid—proteins that form into plaques associated with Alzheimer’s—as well as alpha synuclein, which may be associated with Parkinson’s.

When you’re asleep, the space surrounding your brain cells grows about 60 percent, helping toxins flow out of your brain. Researchers aren’t sure why this happens, but it’s one clue as to why sleep is so critical for our survival.

Make shuteye a priority by setting up a nightly routine, which can make it easier for you to fall asleep. And if you’re not logging enough hours, try a power nap: 10 minutes of sleep will lessen fatigue and boost cognitive performance, according to Australian research.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

The Easy Way to Fight Belly-Fat

The Easy Way to Fight Belly-Fat

The next time you catch sight of a bag of chips, picture six-pack abs. The best way to suppress a craving is to think about the benefits of avoiding the food rather than the negative consequences of pigging out, suggests a new study from the Oregon Research Institute.

MRI scans revealed that when people used this technique, they showed less activation in the brain regions involved in cravings and more activation in the areas that govern self-control.

This strategy boosts your willpower because it’s more rewarding and motivating than negative thoughts, which can just be frustrating, says study author Sonja Yokum, Ph.D.

Click here for more surprising ways to conquering your cravings.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

Powered by WPeMatico