The exercise Push-ups of the most important fitness exercises any athlete and is considered exercise mother for sport because of the first exercises that have been invented, despite its simplicity and ease but the benefits are too many for the body and a lot of athletes neglect and marginalize its role and they do not know how important that when exercising exercise Push-upsTrain 6 muscles important and essential in your body.
Learned from muscle the exercise Push-ups: ----------------------------------------- 1: the entire muscle triceps 2: front shoulder muscle 3: rear back muscle 4: the entire chest muscle 5: front thigh muscle 6: calf muscle
The benefits of exercise Push-ups: -------------------- 1: renew the blood circulation in the muscle cells 2: strengthen nerves 3: Building muscle fibers which helps large muscle 4: helps to stimulate the heart muscle
Many studies have been conducted and proved that continue to exercise Push-ups for 40 continuous enough to completely change the shape of your body and increase muscle size significantly
Types of exercise Push-ups -------------------
1: Push-ups wide 2: Push-ups tight 3: Push-ups High 4: Push-ups with closed fist 5: Push-ups with one hand
5 Identify the causes of bleeding gums! - You see blood while brushing your teeth? In most cases, swollen and bleeding gums are a sign of gum disease. However, there are some other things that can cause gum problems. Whatever the reason, you still have to take care of gums and oral health. Here are the causes of bleeding gums, as reported by HowStuffWorks!
1. Poor oral hygiene
Poor oral hygiene is a major cause of gum swelling and bleeding. Oral hygiene is not only done by brushing, because it will not remove all the plaque, tartar and calculus that accumulates on your teeth.
2. Gingivitis
Gingivitis, is one of the causes swollen and bleeding gums. That means your gums are inflamed. However, if the health problem is not taken seriously, gingivitis can be a serious illness. It is a chronic condition caused by long-term effects of plaque - the sticky substance derived from bacteria, mucus and food debris stuck in your teeth - and tartar.
3. Pregnancy or hormonal changes
The gums become more sensitive during pregnancy. Its called pregnancy gingivitis, and it is caused by fluctuations in hormone levels that increase blood flow to the gums and other tissues in the body. Pregnancy hormones also affect the bodys normal response to bacteria, making you more susceptible to periodontal infection.
4. Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease occurs when gingivitis is not treated properly. While limited to the gums gingivitis, periodontal disease can spread to the tissues and bone that support the teeth. You can even see pus between the teeth and gums.
5. Bleeding disorders
One of the most serious explanation for bleeding gums are bleeding disorders, such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Bleeding gums can be a sign of the inability of blood to clot, so that the gums and mouth are often the first place where the symptoms appear.
Heres five medical reason behind bleeding gums. Remember, oral hygiene also affect the health of the body as a whole.
Researchers from the Colorado Cancer Center reporting in the prestigious journalCarcinogenesis explain the unique mechanism exerted by grape seed extract to destroy cancer cells that target the head and neck. More than half a million people worldwide will fall victim to squamous cell carcinoma involving the head and neck, and 12,000 will die in the US alone. In an experimental model using mice, scientists have found that grape seed extract triggers DNA damage in the cancer cells and inhibits the necessary repair mechanism used by the cells to regenerate and multiply.
Grape seed extract has been the subject of multiple studies that demonstrate the polyphenols ability to support brain health, improve cognition and lower the risk of dementia. Regular consumption of red grapes or supplementation with grape seed extract is now found to be an important ally in the war against cancer.
Grape Seed Extract Lowers the Growth Rate of Certain Cancers by up to 67%
The lead researcher, Dr. Rajesh Agarwal and his team determined that supplementing mice with grape seed extract (GSE) reduced the growth of certain cancers by up to 67%, lowered the rate of progression of deadly tumors and DNA damage while inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death) of the cancer cells. Mice have been used to study specific cancer cell lines because they parallel tumor progression and metastasis in a manner similar to humans.
The researchers found that GSE created an environment that is unfavorable for cancer cell growth. Cancer cells require a specific environment, blood supply and metabolic nutrients to be able to propagate. If any of these pathways are disrupted, cancer cell death occurs. The scientists commented“Cancer cells are fast-growing cells… not only that, but they are necessarily fast growing. When conditions exist in which they cant grow, they die.”
Grape Seed Extract Destroys the Metabolic Pathway Used by Cancer Cells
The team determined that GSE both damages cancer cells DNA (via increased reactive oxygen species) and stops the pathways that allow repair. Most important, they found there was no toxicity from supplementation. GSE killed the cancer cells by knocking out one of several vulnerable paths necessary for growth, and left the healthy tissue untouched. Dr. Agarwal concluded“I think the whole point is that cancer cells have a lot of defective pathways and they are very vulnerable if you target those pathways. The same is not true of healthy cells.”
Though this study focused specifically on GSE as a therapeutic agent for cancers of the head and neck, prior research has shown the natural compound effective against leukemia and tumors affecting the skin, breast, colon, lung, stomach and prostate. Nutrition experts recommend supplementation with an organically harvested grape seed extract (150 mg per day) to support brain health and fight cancerous tumor development.
According to a Sept 11 front page Wall Street Journal article, bank regulators are still struggling over the wording of the regulations for the "Volcker" rule. And while we are still struggling with the too-big-to-fail banks, the gun control wars continue, with a portion of northern Colorado wanting to succeed and form the 51st state and Newtown gun permit applications going up. At the same time, two New York careerist politicians were undeterred by the humiliating spectacle of their foibles going public, and made frighteningly credible come-back bids for public office. Expert advisers and policymakers failed to protect a cautious and intellectual President from a serious foreign policy stumble that has implications for the rest of his important agenda, including immigration orm and the national budget. And this book charges that our nations capital is a narcissistic bubble of interlocked and attention-hungry reporters, facilitators, politicians and lobbyists for whom power is the only prize.
While the Disease Management Care Blog is an equal opportunity skeptic, its finding it increasingly difficult to believe that the current crew of regulators, state elected officials, politicians, advisers, politicians, reporters and lobbyists can really be trusted with the understanding, funding, interpreting, enforcement of the deadlines, regulations, payment rules and information technology that undergirds health care. The point isnt that the banks screwed us, that politics are polarized, that "unknown unknowns" lurk everywhere, that voters can make bad decisions, that power politics are a necessary evil or who is right or who is wrong, the point is that Health Care 2.0 is vulnerable and has a troubled prognosis with a dysfunctional government. Present company included.
Years ago, the Disease Management Care Blog watched one version of the movie Titanic. As the ship began to list and the doomed patiently waited on deck for their instructions, a DMCB spawn asked why the passengers couldnt just lash some desk chairs together, jump and survive with a jury-rigged raft. The tut-tuting DMCB pointed out that the water was frigid, the raft would disintegrate and the fools would die.
Looking at whats going in, its beginning to wonder if the well-meaning, honorable and smart health care folks who are on the deck of the the USS Healthcare need to reconsider whether they should continue to not be alarmed by the listing or.... whether its time to think about a potentially worse raft option. Well have a better idea of that in 2014.
Researchers from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Calabria in Italy publishing in The FASEB Journal report that resveratrol blocks the effect of estrogen and can help to prevent the malignant growth of breast cancer in women. The grape/red wine derivative has been the subject of numerous scientific studies in recent years and has shown promise in lowering risks from cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia.
Scientists also believe the protective nutrient may extend healthy lifespan by directly influencing mortality genes known as SIRT. Italian researchers noted "Resveratrol is a potential pharmacological tool to be exploited when breast cancer become resistant to the hormonal therapy." Health-minded adults will want to include resveratrol from natural food sources or supplementation to reap the numerous health benefits.
Resveratrol Supplementation Suppresses the Growth of Malignant Breast Cancer Cells
To design their study, researchers used several breast cancer cell lines expressing the estrogen receptor to test the effects of resveratrol. They exposed the different cells to a solution containing resveratrol and compared the results to cells left untreated. They found an important reduction in cell growth in cells treated with resveratrol, while no changes were seen in untreated cells. Further experiments determined that this effect was caused by a critical reduction in estrogen receptors caused by the administration of resveratrol.
This finding is the first of its kind as it relates specifically to the effect of resveratrolon a particular cancer cell line. The team was able to conclude that resveratrol is able to counteract the malignant progression of breast cancer cells by inhibiting the growth and spread of hormone resistant cancerous cells. This has important implications for the treatment of women with breast cancer whose tumors eventually develop resistance to hormonal therapy.
Resveratrol Specifically Targets Cancerous Cells to Fight Breast Cancer
Lead researcher Dr. Sebastiano Ando noted "Resveratrol is a potential pharmacological tool to be exploited when breast cancer become resistant to the hormonal therapy." A peer review board examining the study data concluded “scientists havent finished distilling the secrets of good health that have been hidden in natural products such as red wine.” It is important to note that in this body of research, resveratrol only demonstrated an effect on malignant cancer cells and exerted no effect on non-cancerous cells.
While the authors cautioned that people should not go out and start using red wine or resveratrol supplements as a treatment for breast cancer, the finding strongly indicates that the plant-protective compound should be considered as a component in an overall plan designed to prevent the devastating disease. Nutrition experts recommend a supplemental intake (from a purified, organically derived source) of between 50 and 250 mg per day for optimal health benefits.
Since a lot of people are multifarious in irutable exercises, it is imperative that the accent of warming elaborating before any problematic activity should be discussed. profuse have repeatedly ignored going through the warm up formation before working out, not knowing the consequences direction background accordingly.
Why warm up? Several changes takes place in the body once physical activity is initiated. A person's respiratory rate, cardinal flow, further oxygen and nutrient levels delivered to the cells increases.
The rate of collect should be regulated mastery a steady pace to prepare the body for the physical apprehension that exercise consign demand. If one foregoes this priming procedure, the habitus will specialty less efficiently and the workout will win less repute results. Warming up preps elaborating the nervous system, heightens unhinged awareness and alertness, and loosens up joints and muscles to motivate them less prone to injuries. Warm ups jump starts the fluid located influence the joints, minimizing the hazard for wear again crack of the muscles. real gives the bull's eye a conducive period to adjust and pump up blood and nutrients into muscles.
This is vital through older people, since they presume true tissues that are less growing; they count on joints with less fluid, and weaker hearts.
Sudden exercise fault produce heart attacks to older people.
How does a partner scorching up properly? Initially, it can be done in lump procedure that enables the spotlight to beat faster. solo can simply pace besides jog, or if a cardiovascular equipment is available, such as rowing machine or a bicycle, it care be utilized. Start at a gentle pace, further then slowly increase the pace until heart beat rate increases and the build temperature rises. intrinsic important to note that the parade should be in accordance to one's current fitness level, where the activity entrust leave the comrade energized and not exhausted.
After working up a light sweat (suggested time is 3-5 minutes, longer if the person is working out in a below zero environment) one should accomplish dynamic stretching. Stretching helps in developing overall flexibility, particularly in the spine, shoulder, again hip areas. The kind of stretching depends on the type of activity a friend plans to engage to.
For instance, if one shot is about to show sports, the recommended amiable of stretching would serve as the ones that mimics the movements that entrust substitute done prestige the eree or field. If one is about to do martial arts, light sparring can be done juice the spot of the normal speed, or just neatly do the movements in slow force. equate certain that the major muscles groups are stretched whereas 8 seconds minimum. It is necessary to remember to keep feet moving or procure leg exercises whenever the upper body is stretched to keep prevent blood from pooling influence the legs. Remember, one should only do stretching if the muscles are already warmed up. Do not bounce while stretching. It leads to a contraction that incumbency result in muscle hole or pull.
For weight-lifters, this is what should enact done after the introductory warm increasing. charge the bar with about 50-60% of the heaviest charge to sell for done for the session and perform the number of repetitions that will be done over the terrible sets. For the second set, the weight will correspond to increased to 80%, then eventually to 90%, decreasing to 2-3 repetitions. Afterwards, rest seeing about 30 seconds, then repeat the steps.
After this warm up, one onus because proceed to the exposed lifting for the day. The return of doing the procedure is that the heavy sets will mood less daunting and answerability now put on performed squirrel considerably less stress.
After warming development and misfortune to the paramount workout, it is equally central to cool down. When a person suddenly stops exercising or lifting weights, blood gathers in the steam and oxygen is blocked. When this happens, a person runs the pledge of having a limelight attack. So cooling down should lap up the same importance as warming developing.
Exercise is good over the health. Everyone is encouraged to pump it up, just remember to remember all the necessary precautions not only to maximize the workout, but again to stay safe and flourishing.
In this article the most important blood tests to anyone who used steroids in the past, currently used or planned for use in the future. Doping as we know have a negative impact on health, and increase the chances of many of the potential health risks, through an understanding of what is happening in your body and what impact will be able to reduce these risks to a minimum, and youll have the opportunity to do any necessary amendment by test results. Rarely are conducting these tests for bodybuilders, but I would recommend that each player build objects conduct these tests at least once a year.
There are three types of tests to be performed:
Tests before the chorus (the rest period or by the use of steroids) Tests during the course (while using steroids) Tests after chorus (after the completion of the use of steroids)
We will discuss each type and then explain the details of the various tests:
Tests before the chorus (the rest period or by the use of steroids)
Hormones-steroids Lipids-standard full Set Full Liver Panel Blood Kidney Electrolytes, Mineral and Glucose Prostate
Are these tests before you start using steroids. And are used: a erence to the basis of the nature of our bodies, verification of how the body is affected and the results of the use of steroids and to make sure that the levels returned to normal after the completion of use. Use of these tests also to see if there was any possible health risks inherent can worsen with steroids, for example if you have high blood lipids and enzymes liver high, is not wise at all to start using steroids, but would be foolish start, you must make sure that all the results in the normal range and there is no problems. If it is, is taking personal decision if you want to start using steroids or not, we do not encourage the use of steroids in any form without medical supervision.
Tests during the course (while using steroids)
Lipids-standard full Set Full Liver Panel Blood Kidney Electrolytes, Mineral and Glucose
And are examination after 3-4 weeks of starting to use steroids, and then take a closer look at the results, to compare the results with your results basic (normal), if you notice affected very body to rate dangerous, must stop the use and start treatment required.
Tests after chorus (after the completion of the use of steroids)
Hormones-steroids LH / FSH Lipids-standard full Set Full Liver Panel Blood Electrolytes, Mineral and Glucose Prostate
The most important thing here is to look at the male hormones, and to make sure that the levels close to the pre-session levels, Boukhat should not be the same, but as close as possible. It should also note a decrease in the level of liver enzymes and approached levels Alasaasah.
Now we will take a look at all of the contents of these tests by category and explain the important things.
Assays hormones Hormone Tests
steroid (male) Name examination normal level Total Testosterone 241-827 ng / dl Free Testosterone 8.7-25.1 pg / ml Estradiol 10-53 pg / ml
LH / FSH (male) LH 2.5-9.8 IU / L FSH 1.2-5.0 IU / L
Thyroid Name of test TSH .35-5.5 uIU / mL Thyroxine 4.5-12.0 ug / dL T3 Uptake 24-39% Free thyroxine index 1.2-4.9 Steroids: This Alachtbardobaa used to detect the level androgen person and see if they need treatment. When you have a testosterone level naturally, but the top-level in the primary results of the examination should be up to the same level after dropping out of the use of steroids and before starting any other use. It is not enough to be just within the normal range. Estradiol Estradiol is the active form of the hormone estrogen in the body, it is important to check during doping levels, the use of steroids is associated with higher estrogen levels, leading to side effects (such as water retention, fat, and breast growth Gaenkmastia any female character) , and the results of tests provides a good idea of estrogen Kamihamadadat that need.
Each of these hormones are responsible for stimulating testosterone production in the testes, and sperm production. Should not worry too much if these values low during doping is of influence the natural use of steroids, since you take androgen external, stop the bodys production of androgen procedure, and is what Abb atrophy in Khjm testicles while using steroids without Astkhmam antibiotics or Catalysts . The results of the examination after the chorus, check the levels of LH and FSH and plug it with testosterone levels, if the levels for the LH and FSH high and the level of testosterone is low, it could mean that the testicles have not returned to its former size and need more time and processing after chorus PCT.
Thyroid: Results essential before using any doping is the most important tests of thyroid, has lifted doping levels of the thyroid glands slightly during use, but it is very unlikely that there is a lasting effect. If the levels of thyroid glands are still high after dropping out of use without showing any decline, you may need to check if there are any problems Algzh thyroid with your doctor.
Lipids (cardiovascular) tests
Lipids Standard Full Set Name examination normal level Triglucerides 0-149 mg / dL Total Cholesterol 100-199 mg / dL HDL Cholesterol> 40 mg / dL VLDL Cholesterol 5-40 mg / dL LDL Cholsterol <100 mg / dL LDL / HDL Ratio ♥ .6
LDL / HDL Ratio Risk Assessment men women 1/2 Average Risk 1.0 1.5 Average Risk 3.6 3.2 2 X Average Risk 6.3 5.0 3 x Average Risk 8.0 6.1
Additonal Testing Name examination normal level C-reactive Protein <5 mg / dL Homocysteine (0-30years 4.6-8.1 umol / L Men (30-59) 6.3-11.2 umol / L Women (30-59) 4.5-7.9 umol / L > 59 years 5.8-11.9 umol / L
Apo Ratio Testing Apolipoprotein men women apoB / apoA-I Ratio <.9 <.8
Apo Ratio Risk Assessment men women Low Risk <.7 <.6 Average Risk 0.7-0.9 0.6-0.8 High Risk> 0.9> 0.8 Body fat testing is one of the most important tests that have to be made, it is known that steroid (reconstructive hormones and Androgyny) have a negative impact on blood fats, which increases the risk of heart disease and blood vessels. Should monitor the results of these tests, and possible to increase these percentages Biskl slow, increasing proportions of each course, which increases the chances of cardiovascular disease, so one should be caul to keep the levels in the normal range health. Standard Full Set: The most important aspect of this examination is the ratio of HDL cholesterol with LDL cholesterol LDL / HDL ratio, where These Alnsphaltoazin lect the deposition of plaque from LDL cholesterol LDL and remove from Alclaustroa good HDL in the arteries. And use this ratio to evaluate the risk of heart disease, especially with people who have cholesterol levels.
Additional tests: C-reactive protein and homocysteine: Both additional important signs in the examination of the health of the heart and blood vessels. C-reactive is a key indicator of inflammation in the body, while homocysteine involved in the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and blood clotting.
Full Liver Panel
Name examination normal level Albumin 3.5-5.5 g / dL Globulin 1.5-4.5 g / dL Total Protein 6.0-8.5 g / dL Bilirubin 0.1-1.2 mg / dL GGT (Gamma GT) <50 IU / L ALP (Alkaline Phospatase) 25-150 IU / L AST (SGOT) 0-40 IU / L ALT (SGPT) O-55 IU / L We discussed these tests in our article (bodybuilding and the health of the liver), and will be discussed here again. As we know many of steroids and private 17AA oral put pressure largely on the liver. Enzymes ALT Alanine aminotransferase and AST Aspartate aminotransferase are the most important indicators that show how much stress is on the liver. These indicators will be mostly mostly high with amphetamine users during use. However there have been cases where the values of these natural enzymes although there are problems in the liver, and this calls for additional tests for other indicators.
ALP Alkaline phosphatase and GGT gammaglutamyltranspeptidase both enzymes cholestatic biliary recession, which means they stop the flow of bile bile (yellow green liquid is produced by the liver and helps digestion). Results with the rise of these indicators suggest bile duct obstruction (cholestasis intehepatic cholestasis), which means that the liver is no longer a functioning correctly metabolism and transport of yellow. Probably happened liver toxicity to the liver of dangerous steroids.
Materials must be taken to support liver function through the use of steroids, and if indicators continue increasing with use, you must discontinue use, then reading the article (objects and liver health) for more information.
Examine muscle enzyme Muscles enzymes test:
Name examination normal level Creatine Kinase 38-174 u / L
Is used enzyme creatine kinase Creatine kinase enzyme CK as a marker of muscle damage, and kidney and heart damage. And can increase levels naturally with exercise-intensity and endurance higher, and that sometimes leads to the belief that there were problems in sometimes for the heart and the potential risks of kidney, so The best test of this kind is after taking some rest after exercise intensive to achieve better results. If results are still showing high levels must work other tests to make sure the health of the heart and kidney ..
Blood tests:
Name examination normal level WBC 4-11 K / MCL RBC 81-103 FL Platelet count 130-400 K / MCL Hemoglobin 13-17 g / dL Hematocrit 40.7-50.3 (men)% 36.1-44.3 (women)% This examination is a very common, mostly everyone received him. The examination shows look good for public health. During doping, because of their impact on eythropoiesis, the number of red blood cells, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration tend to increase. This has a positive effect on aerobic capacity and increase oxygen loaded in the blood, but an increase in red blood cells may cause an increase in the thickness of the hematocrit blood, which increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Kidney tests:
Name examination normal level Uric acid 3.0-7.0 mg / dL Creatinine .5-1.5 mg / dL BUN 5-26 mg / dL BUN / creatinine ratio 8-27 Measured in this test three of the primary waste products that are Afrazha and filtered by the kidneys. And high levels indicate that there may be a serious problem in the kidney, and tests are taken again, especially to make sure of that. Where some of the results may not indicate a real risk, for example eating a high protein raises nitrogen urea in the blood, and to bodybuilders eat a large amount of protein, so you should not worry about this indicator significantly, especially if a not combined with other indicators rises.
Electrolytes, Mineral and Glucose
Test Name Name examination normal level Sodium 136-146 mEq / L Potassium 3.6-5.2 mEq / L Chloride 98-109 mEq / L Bicarbonate (carbon dioxide) 21-30 mEq / L Phosphorous 2.5-4.5 mg / dL Calcium 8.5-10.5 mg / dL Iron 35-185 mcg / dL Glucose (fasting) 70-110 mg / dL
If there is a problem with fluid and Alaketrolitz balance, will appear in the results of this examination, although it may be due to something as simple as an imbalance of sodium or potassium, but it may also lect the more serious problems such as kidney disease. Glucose level is good to see many health conditions such as metabolic syndromes, diabetes, and diseases of the pancreas, liver disease or kidney failure.
Prostate tests:
Test Name PSA, serum 0.0-4.0 ng / mL PSA Prostate-specific antigenPSA is a protein produced by prostate cells. High levels indicate cases of benign prostate hyperplasia or prostate cancer. May cause some steroids prostate enlargement, and if the problem list before you can use it with aggravated use.
This is a summary of the most important tests that must work with users of steroids. I know it may be difficult performance always, most of the players build objects Tfranjn, and these tests may cost more than the same courses!! And there are a lot of other expenses such as gym memberships, materials treatment after the chorus, eating, and supplements. No wonder that many or most of the bodybuilders examine only if the problem begins to emerge. But prevention is better than cure, you do this Alvhsosat at least once a year, will be assured on your health, and will address any problem if found in its early stages, and that will save you a lot of money and health.
Incidence of stroke in the US and western cultures continues to grow at a staggering rate as it takes the lives of nearly 150,000 Americans each year, making this debilitating illness the fourth leading cause of preventable death. Closely aligned with heart disease and other vascular disorders, stroke is the result of several key modifiable lifestyle factors including smoking, lack of regular exercise and poor dietary choices that promote arterial hardening and blood clots that circulate until they reach a narrowed artery, wreaking permanent disability or death.
Dietary Fiber Improves Blood Lipids and Removes Excess Fats to Lower Stroke Risk
A research team from the University of Leeds in the UK has published the result of a study in the American Heart Association journal, Stroke that explains how taking steps to include more fiber in your diet could help to protect you from suffering a stroke. The study team leader, Dr. Diane Threapelton noted “Most people do not get the recommended level of fiber, and increasing fiber may contribute to lower risk for strokes… we must educate consumers on the continued importance of increasing fiber intake and help them learn how to increase fiber in their diet.
The recommended daily intake for fiber is currently set at 25 grams, yet most people eat less than 10 grams due to the high number of calories consumed from an increasingly ined diet. Food processing removes most nutrients and fiber from foods, while fortifying with added sugars, fats and flavorings to prompt immediate taste satisfaction. Dietary fiber (soluble and insoluble) comes from plants, a critical food source that is grossly lacking in many western diets.
Dramatically Lower Stroke Risk by Including Ten Daily Servings of Fiber
Scientists focused on eight large-scale studies published over a 22 years span that assessed the impact of diet on both ischemic (caused by a blood clot) and hemorrhagic (caused by blood vessel leakage) stroke. After adjusting for risk variables such as smoking and age, the researchers found thatfor every seven gram increase in fiber consumed daily, risk of first time stroke goes down by seven percent. You would need to consume 6 to 8 servings of grains and 8 to 10 servings of vegetables and fruits daily to yield 25 grams of fiber.
Dr. Threapelton concluded““Greater intake of fiber-rich foods such as whole-grains, fruits, vegetables and nuts are important for everyone, and especially for those with stroke risk factors like being overweight, smoking and having high blood pressure.” Top sources for dietary fiber include nuts and seeds, legumes, oats, the pulp of some fruits, broccoli and carrots. Eliminating ined convenience foods will allow you to incorporate sufficient fiber from natural sources to significantly lower the risk for a first stroke event.
If your child wakes up in the morning, soaked in urine, and you feel helpless and frustrated. Don,t despair, bed-wetting isnt a sign of toilet training gone bad. Its often just a normal part of a childs development.
Bedwetting problem is common during the pre-adolescent stage of life and affects both boys and girls. It is a process of unknowingly passing urine while sleeping., until the age of six to eight years, bedwetting is a normal phenomenon that fades over time, but some children continue to wet their bed even after eight years of age.
What cause bed-wetting?
This often occurs because children have small bladders and cannot hold their urine all night or the urge to urinate is not strong enough to wake them up. OR your child may still be developing nighttime bladder control.
The common thought among both parents and many pediatricians is that bedwetting is a medical or psychological problem. Often, the patient undergoes a comprehensive and unnecessary medical assessment with no findings. Only 2% cases have been detected and diagnosed due to neurological or urological problems.
In fact, 75-80% bed-wetters are normal, healthy children who have not learned to activate the appropriate lex system during sleep. Typically, when a person sleeps and pressure is built up inside the bladder, a signal is sent to the brain. Among enuretics, the signal is not recognized by the sub-conscious lex system and instead of contracting the sphincter muscle, the circular muscle that keeps the bowel closed, the child relaxes the muscle and urinates during sleep.
Psychological causes, such as family problems, social adjustment, or fears are the reasons among the remaining 18-25% bed-wetters.
Bedwetting is more common among males; approximately two thirds of enuretics are males, while one third are females. As the age progresses, the proportion is changes and gradually is equal in adolescence. Among individuals ages 17 and up, two thirds of enuretics are females while one third are males.
How to cure bed wetting?
If your child wets the bed, dont punish, blame, or embarrass your child. Your child is neither consciously nor unconsciously choosing to wet the bed. Give your child understanding, encouragement, love, and positive support. Let your child help solve the problem, if he or she is older than 5.
Praise and reward your child for dry nights. Involve your child in planning the reward system. Encourage your child to take responsibility for changing clothes and linens after a bed-wetting accident. For example, use washable sleeping bags as bedding so your child can easily replace one that is wet with one that is dry.
Monitor your childs consumption of liquids. As a rule of thumb, children should be encouraged to consume 40% of their total daily liquids in the morning, 40% in the afternoon, and 20% in the evening. Talk with the doctor about how much fluid your child needs. Restrict your childs intake of caffeine. Caffeine is a diuretic, which means that it promotes the excretion of urine.Avoid giving any liquids at bedtime, and train your child to urinate before sleeping.
A child should first be allowed to overcome bed-wetting on his or her own. Most children gain bladder control and often overcome bed-wetting as they age, but it can be embarrassing and cause your child to shy away from social activities such as slumber parties or sleepover invitations from friends.
You can help your child stop bed-wetting by using bedwetting alarms. These small, battery-operated devices — available without a prescription at most pharmacies — connect to a moisture-sensitive pad on your childs pajamas or bedding. When the pad senses wetness, the alarm goes off. Ideally, the bedwetting alarm sounds just as your child begins to urinate — in time to help your child wake, stop the urine stream and get to the toilet. If your child is a heavy sleeper, another person may need to listen for the alarm.
If you try a moisture alarm, give it plenty of time. It often takes at least two weeks to see any type of response and up to 12 weeks to enjoy dry nights. Moisture alarms are highly effective, carry a low risk of relapse or side effects, and may provide a better long-term solution than medication does.
If bladder training and bedwetting alarm didnt work try these easy and simple natural remedies.
Natural home remedies for treating bed wetting:
1) Cranberry Juice
Giving your child cranberry juice before bedtime is a popular bedwetting remedy. The juice will help your child control his muscles and wet the bed less at night, or hopefully not at all. Cranberry juice is good for the kidneys, bladder, and urinary tract. You can give your child fresh cranberry juice one hour before going to bed. Repeat this process daily for a few months.
2) Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar helps reduce the acid levels in the stomach and will reduce the urge to urinate frequently. It also breaks down calcium deposits in the body. Simply stir two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and have your child drink it with each meal.
3) Jaggery This is because jaggery has a heating effect on the body from within. When the body remains warm from inside, the problem of bedwetting will vanish soon. Give your child a little amount of jaggery with lukewarm milk every morning. After around one hour or so, make your child eat a little bit of roasted sesame seeds and celery seeds which should be taken in equal amounts. Do this for around two months to see results.
4) Cinnamon Cinnamon powder is one of the simplest home remedies for your child to stop bedwetting. Have your child chew cinnamon bark thoroughly once a day. You can also combine sugar and cinnamon powder and then sprinkle it on buttered toast. Give this toast to your child for breakfast.
5) Indian Gooseberry
Also known as amla, Indian goosberry is yet another effective home remedy for bedwetting. Take pulp of gooseberry and mix to it a pinch of black pepper powder. Give it to your child daily before he goes to bed. or
Crush 2 Indian gooseberries remove seeds mix a tablespoon of honey and a pinch of turmeric. Give one tablespoon of this mixture to your child every morning. You can also make a mixture of Indian gooseberry powder, ground cumin seeds and sugar candy. Give it to your child two times a day.
6) walnuts and raisins
Walnuts and raisins are tasty home remedies for preventing bedwetting in children. Just give your child 2-3 walnuts and 8-10 raisins before they go to sleep. This will cure the problem within a few weeks.
7) Banana For years banana has been proved beneficial in binding stomach. You can feed your child 2 -3 bananas every day to prevent the problem of bed wetting. You can give one ripe banana in the breakfast and another at night.
8) Mustard powder
Mustard powder too has been found useful to stop bedwetting in children. Take a pinch of dry mustard seed powder and add it to warm milk. This should be given to the child one hour before he goes to bed at night. Mustard seeds are said to be good even for those suffering from urinary diseases. Do this for a few weeks, and your child will certainly stop bedwetting at night.
9) Fennel seeds
Try this natural home remedy using milk, fennel seeds and sugar: Take 4 tbsp of sugar, add 1 glass of water to this sugar, heat this mixture till it becomes a thick syrup, add 2 tbsp of this sugar syrup to 1 glass warm milk, add 1 tsp fennel seeds and mix well. Give it daily to your child.
10) Try this herbal tea
Take small amounts of oak bark, barberry and horsetail put in bowl pour water and boil it for about two hours at low speed. You can give this herbal tea to your child two times a day and one cup about an hour before bed time. Consuming this herbal tea on a regular basis will reduce the bed wetting problems in your child significantly.
Bedwetting is not a problem that can be solved quickly. Be patient and allow some time for these remedies to work. Also, be sure to teach your child to go to the bathroom before going to bed. Do not punish or yell at a child for wetting their bed. They will feel bad enough about it without you coming down hard on them. Praise them for effort and for success. Reassure them that you understand their embarrassment.
Low back pain is one of the most common reasons for visiting the family doctor. Most North Americans will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Low back pain is a costly disease for the health care system and is a common cause of absenteeism .
Located in the lower back, the lumbar region is composed of vertebrae , muscles and ligaments. The spine has intervertebral discs, small pads made of cartilage which are inserted between the vertebrae (bones of the spine ) . Any injury or disease affecting the muscles , ligaments and intervertebral discs can cause back pain.
People who are overweight , have an incorrect posture or whose back muscles and abdomen are low have a higher risk of injury to the lower back risk. causes
In most cases it is not possible to find the cause of back pain . However, the most common causes of low back pain is the strain of a muscle or ligament . If back pain occurs suddenly , its usually a sign of muscle tears, ligament sprain or a disc problem . The pressure exerted on the disc and can cause it to swell out , pushing the cartilage on the sides. The cartilage then press on the nerve cord of the spine, causing intense pain.
Cause of injury to players bodybuilding: 1-Failure to perform warm-up exercises adequate and appropriate. 2-Perform Abdominal exercises while the Cotton muscle stressful, A result of the training exercises the back and legs before exercising abdominal exercises.
Many diseases such as osteoporosis , osteoarthritis , fibromyalgia , ankylosing spondylitis and spinal stenosis can cause back pain. Pregnancy can also cause back pain because of overweight , changes in the strength of the muscles and ligaments , and also because the babys head can compress the spinal nerves . Subjects with overweight are also more prone to have back pain due to a lower position and the extra pressure exerted on the discs and muscles.
Some medical conditions (eg . Diseases of the gallbladder and stomach ) can cause back pain. When pain is felt in one part of the body other than where would expect to find, it is described as " erred pain ".
Although rare, there are some potentially serious causes of back pain are not due to back injuries. These include pneumonia, diseases of the gallbladder, kidney infections , stomach problems (eg . Ulcer, appendicitis ) , infection of the spine and tumors.
New research conducted by researchers at the University of Vermont reveals that middle-aged men who engage in a lot of cardiovascular exercise are at a reduced risk of suffering from lung and colorectal cancer. In addition, those who exercise are less likely to die from prostate cancer (although their risk of contracting the disease remained the same).
According to the lead author of the study, Susan Lakoski, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Vermont: "While poor fitness is already known to predict future cardiovascular disease, this is the first study to explore fitness as a marker of future cancer risk prognosis.
This finding makes it clear that patients should be advised that they need to achieve a certain fitness level, and not just be told that they need to exercise. And unlike exercise behavior, which relies on patient self-reporting, fitness can be objectively and accurately measured in a clinical setting."
A total of 17,049 men participated in the study. They each received a cardiovascular fitness assessment from the Cooper Institute at a median age of 50. The test involved walking on a treadmill with a variation of different speeds and elevations. They recorded the mens performance with the ratio of metabolic rate (the rate of energy consumption), known as metabolic equivalents or METs.
The team divided the participants into different groups based on their level of fitness. The researchers then analyzed their medical histories to determine whether they had developed either lung, colorectal, or prostate cancer.
In this study, men who were in their 40s who achieved 13.5 minutes in the fitness test belonged to the lowest quintile for fitness as well as men in their 50s who achieved less than 11 minutes.
During the follow-up period of 20 to 25 years, a total of 2,332 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, 277 were diagnosed with lung cancer and 276 were diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
They adjusted the results of the study for factors such as BMI, smoking habits and age.
The risk of lung or colorectal cancer decreased by 68 and 38 percent among men who were the most physically fit and active compared to those who were not active at all.
The researchers found that physical activity did not have any effect on the rate of prostate cancer diagnosis.
Although its been shown that exercise can reduce the risk of dying from prostate cancer. Previous research has indicated that men with prostate cancer who exercise vigorously have a notably reduced risk of dying from the disease compared to other diagnosed men.
Men who were physically fit at the time they developed cancer had a much higher survival rate and lower risk of dying from the cancers compared to men who were not fit. In fact, a 1MET increase in fitness was associated with a 14 percent reduced risk of dying from the cancer, as well as a 23 percent reduced risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
In addition, the researchers noted that patients who werent fit yet not obese were still at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), suggesting that people should be aware that fitness also impacts risk.
Exercise has been shown to have huge beneficial effects on people diagnosed with cancer and its also been found to help minimize the risk recurrence, or another cancer developing.
New research has answered one of the most common questions parents ask their doctors: How much milk should I be giving my children? The answer is two cups per day.
"We started to research the question because professional recommendations around milk intake were unclear and doctors and parents were seeking answers," said Dr. Jonathon Maguire, a paediatrician at St. Michaels Hospital and the lead author of the study.
Dr. Maguire and his team looked at how cows milk affected body stores of iron and vitamin D – two of the most important nutrients in milk – in more than 1,300 children aged two to five years.
The results of the study appeared online in Pediatrics today.
They found that children who drank more cows milk had higher Vitamin D stores but lower iron stores.
"We saw that two cups of cows milk per day was enough to maintain adequate vitamin D levels for most children, while also maintaining iron stores. With additional cows milk, there was a further reduction in iron stores without greater benefit from vitamin D," Dr. Maguire said.
The researchers recruited healthy children during routine doctors appointments between 2008 and 2010. Parents were asked to fill out an extensive questionnaire about their childrens milk drinking habits and other factors that could affect iron and Vitamin D stores. A blood sample was obtained from each child to determine body stores of iron and Vitamin D.
The children were participating in TARGet Kids!, a unique collaboration between childrens doctors and researchers from St. Michaels Hospital and The Hospital for Sick Children. The program follows children from birth with the aim of understanding and preventing common nutrition problems in the early years and their impact on health and disease later in life.
The study also suggested that children with darker skin pigmentation may not have enough vitamin D stores during the winter months. Dr. Maguire suggested that instead of consuming more milk to increase these levels, wintertime vitamin D supplementation may be a more appropriate way of increasing vitamin D stores while preserving iron stores.
"Vitamin D deficiency in children has been linked to bone health issues and iron deficiency has been linked to anemia and delays in cognitive development," Dr. Maguire said. "Being able to answer parents questions about healthy cows milk intake is important to avoiding these potentially serious complications of low vitamin D and iron stores."
The VP of Finance finally agreed to a meeting. In order to make maximum use of their time, however, he had a simple request: submit an agenda of topics first and then hed be happy to let his administrative assistant set up an appointment.
In that game of organizational politics, Finance VP: one. Senior VP and Medical Director: zero.
The lost voice mails. The patronizing glances. The unanswered emails. The skeptical grins. The condescending nods. Every lead doctor, medical director and physician VP is exquisitely familiar with the tut-tuting attitude that lingers just below the surface, ready to spring when their opinion on how to best serve patients bumps into the organizations budgeteers. Those finance guys know that the typical physician is used to spending dollars like a Miami-Dade ICU on a 98 year-old. They know those "white coats" are incapable of understanding costs, margins and cash flow. Better that they get out of the way and let the money experts call the shots, eh?
Call it the clinical-finance tension. Like government revenue vs. cutting taxes. Sales vs. customer service. The DMCBs premium cable TV perences vs. the spouses unreasonable penny-pinching.
Which is one of the reasons why the Disease Management Care Blog found this New York Times article interesting. If this is any indication of what is going on nationwide in the delivery of medical services, the implication is that the physician leaders perspectives are in the ascendancy in their organizations. Not only is there a pervading belief that keeping patients like Ms. Cline away from the emergency room is important for the bottom line, but that achieving clinical outcomes is no longer secondary to making budget. While typical news reporters havent picked up on the clinical-finance tension that lurks in health insurance and delivery organizations, the very fact that most of the NYTs interviewing involves physicians is telling.
The playing field is currently level.
Which brings up four points:
1. The DMCB suspects the genesis of the NYT article was this presentation at a recent AHIP meeting. Thanks to reading the DMCB, you also know that a lot more background detail on the Advocate-BCBS Illinois collaboration is here.
2. Abstracts, presentations and news articles are one thing, but having results reported in a peer-reviewed setting is another. The DMCB readers know that theyll withhold final judgment until it sees some transparently presented hard numbers.
3. While Medical Directors are currently playing on a level playing field, disappointing budget results, financial losses and failure to achieve savings could not only tilt things against the clinicians again, itll quickly undo the merits of "doing the right thing." That alone is a good reason to hope that the health system "accountability" arrangements like ACOs survive.
4. The secret sauce to Advocates success? Care Coordinators. More on that in tomorrows post.
New research suggests that men who exercise vigorously as young adults may reduce their risk of developing epilepsy later in life. The study is published in the September 4, 2013, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Epilepsy is a brain disease that causes repeated seizures over time.
"There are a host of ways exercise has been shown to benefit the brain and reduce the risk of brain diseases," said study author Elinor Ben-Menachem, PhD, MD, with the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and an associate member of the American Academy of Neurology. "This is the first study in humans to show that exercise may also reduce the risk of epilepsy, which can be disabling and life-threatening."
For the study, 1.17 million Swedish men were given cycle tests that measured cardiovascular fitness when they enlisted for mandatory military service at age 18. The participants were then assessed for epilepsy for an average of 25 years. During follow-up, 6,796 men were diagnosed with epilepsy.
The study found that men who had a high level of fitness were 79 percent less likely to develop epilepsy than those with low fitness levels and 36 percent less likely to develop epilepsy than those with medium fitness levels.
The proportion of men with high fitness who developed epilepsy in the study was 0.48% (2,381 out of 496,973 with high fitness). The proportion of men with medium fitness who developed epilepsy was 0.62 percent (3,913 out of 629,876 with medium fitness). The proportion of men with low fitness who developed epilepsy was 1.09 percent (502 out of 46,230 with low fitness).
The results were lessened only slightly after considering genetic factors and a prior history of traumatic brain injury, stroke or diabetes.
"Exercise may affect epilepsy risk in two ways. It may protect the brain and create stronger brain reserve, or it may simply be that people who are fit early in life tend to also be fit later in life, which in turn affects disease risk," Ben-Menachem said.
Macis very upset. Dopey Kyle, who otherwise seems like a nice guy, has been hot-chatting it up with online girlfriends. Good thing pop psychologist Dr. Drew can come to the emotional rescue on MTVs "Teen Mom."
The Disease Management Care Blogs response? Mute and quickly change the channel before the DMCB spouse has one more reason to doubt the intelligence of the male species.
Yet, only the perspicacious DMCB can use this sordid tale to extract an important lesson for the population health management (PHM) community.
Thats because it listened caully to TedMeds Jay Walker, who spoke at the closing plenary session at the Care Continuum Alliances Forum12. Mr. Walker observed that handheld devices with texting are blurring the lines that separate in-person and virtual relationships. While 3-D, face-to-face "analog" interactions still count, people are also going online to achieve an astonishing level of digital familiarity and even intimacy with each other.
While regular readers already know that persons turn to trusted in-person as well as virtual "friends" and "communities" for health care advice (past DMCB posts on the topic are here and here), the DMCB may have underestimated the full implications of just how real and behavior-changing an on-line relationship can be.
No, the DMCB is not suggesting that PHM vendors start hot chatting with clients.
But it is saying that vendors as well as buyers who discount "remote" web-enabled and text coaching versus in-person services may need to take another look at their future business plans and underlying value propositions. Maci and Kyles dysfunction are teaching us that remote texting has far more "connectedness" potential than generally appreciated. If a social-media-based relationships downsides can capture Maci and Kyles attention, why cant the upsides also be harnessed to change behavior?
We have a lot more to learn about the determinants of on-line relationship building. Companies that figure it out will win.
And you thought its only function was to be an EHR?
Regular readers of the Wall Street Journal probably saw the Monday March 11 "big data" section that was filled with articles like this.
Written from a "business intelligence" perspective, there were precious few insights for the population and care management community. Were aware of the concept, but how, asks the Disease Management Care Blog, does it apply to our corner of the health care delivery system?
Unable to resist, the DMCB donned its snorkle and flippers and took a deep dive at the topic.
First off, when the DMCB performed a classic medical literature search using the key words "big data," it found that that the term has not entered the health care lexicon in a big way. Academics instead per to write about "registries," "data warehousing" and "predictive modeling." The DMCB also looked for a standard health care definition of "big data" and could find none in the published medical literature.
So, the DMCB offers up its own definition, culled from papers like this and this:
Health care "big data" is a branch of health care informatics that pools large and disparate data sets and applies a suite of mathematical approaches that derives associations, facilitates comparisons and generates insights that are otherwise not possible using standard mono-source analytics. It includes, but is not limited to, reporting, dashboards, ad-hoc queries, graphical displays, scorecards, predictive modeling, data mining and business intelligence. The data sets can be comprised of EHR data, insurance claims, pharmacy utilization, care management systems, consumer as well as government information, public health, surveys, point-of-contact information and web-usage.
The DMCBs simplistic off-the-cuff examples of big data queries include examining 1) the association between "hits" from a cluster of ISPs on an emergency rooms web page and ER utilization, 2) complaints about a hospitals food service from family and the likelihood of being named in a malpractice suit, 3) looking for rare side effects among persons with a cluster of medical diagnoses who are using a just-released drug and 4) whether the number of household flat screens is a useful predictor of obesity.
Five DMCB caveats:
1. One data integrity trumps five Ph.Ds: The chief challenge is not the mathematics but combining and aligning the various databases. Once the information is teed up, its amazing how much can be done by a masters-level statistician and a desktop PC.
2. Associations, not causality. Whether a web page leads to ER visits or whether bad food fuels dissatisfaction is a different question. Its possible that ER visits prompt web usage or that already dissatisfied patients find overcooked string beans icky. All the possibilities are still useful insights.
3.Not a panacea: Its "a" tool, not "the" tool. Users will still need to also invest in faster, better and cheaper mundane data tasks (like admissions per thousand) while they simultaneously understand how big datas associations, comparisons and insights generate additional patient value.
4. Journey, not destination: Theres a potent mix of art, science and wizardry in the evolving science of "big data." There are no standard methodologies or best practices. Get used to it.
5. Skepticism abounds: Data stakeholders who are used to standard analytics will er, as the DMCB found out, to "big data" as "voodoo," and resist buy-in. If a critical mass of an organizations leadership comes to believe its useful, the rest will follow... eventually.
Lower Blood Pressure, Fewer Colds, Better Stress Management Are Just the Beginning
“I need somebody to love,” sang the Beatles, and they got it right. Love and health are intertwined in surprising ways. Humans are wired for connection, and when we cultivate good relationships, the rewards are immense. But we’re not necessarily talking about spine-tingling romance.
“There’s no evidence that the intense, passionate stage of a new romance is beneficial to health,” says Harry Reis, PhD, co-editor of the Encyclopedia of Human Relationships. "People who fall in love say it feels wonderful and agonizing at the same time.” All those ups and downs can be a source of stress.
It takes a calmer, more stable form of love to yield clear health benefits. “There is very nice evidence that people who participate in satisfying, long-term relationships fare better on a whole variety of health measures,” Most of the research in this area centers on marriage, but Reis believes many of the perks extend to other close relationships -- for example, with a partner, parent, or friend. The key is to “feel connected to other people, feel respected and valued by other people, and feel a sense of belonging,” he says. Here are 10 research-backed ways that love and health are linked:
1. Fewer Doctor’s Visits
The Health and Human Services Department reviewed a bounty of studies on marriage and health. One of the report’s most striking findings is that married people have fewer doctor’s visits and shorter average hospital stays. “Nobody quite knows why loving relationships are good for health,” Reis says. “The best logic for this is that human beings have been crafted by evolution to live in closely knit social groups. When that is not happening, the biological systems ... get overwhelmed.” Another theory is that people in good relationships take better care of themselves. A spouse may keep you honest in your oral hygiene. A best friend could motivate you to eat more whole grains. Over time, these good habits translate to fewer illnesses.
2. Less Depression & Substance Abuse
According to the Health and Human Services report, getting married and staying married reduces depression in both men and women. This finding is not surprising, Reis says, because social isolation is clearly linked to higher rates of depression. What’s interesting is that marriage also contributes to a decline in heavy drinking and drug abuse, especially among young adults.
3. Lower Blood Pressure
A happy marriage is good for your blood pressure. That’s the conclusion of a study in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine. Researchers found happily married people had the best blood pressure, followed by singles. Unhappily married participants fared the worst. Reis says this study illustrates a vital aspect of the way marriage affects health. “It’s marital quality and not the fact of marriage that makes a difference,”. This supports the idea that other positive relationships can have similar benefits. In fact, singles with a strong social network also did well in the blood pressure study, though not as well as happily married people.
4. Less Anxiety
When it comes to anxiety, a loving, stable relationship is superior to new romance. Researchers at the State University of New York at Stony Brook used functional MRI (fMRI) scans to look at the brains of people in love. They compared passionate new couples with strongly connected long-term couples. Both groups showed activation in a part of the brain associated with intense love. “It’s the dopamine-reward area, the same area that responds to cocaine or winning a lot of money,” says Arthur Aron, PhD, one of the study’s authors. But there were striking differences between the two groups in other parts of the brain. In long-term relationships, “you also have activation in the areas associated with bonding ... and less activation in the area that produces anxiety.” The study was presented at the 2008 conference of the Society for Neuroscience.
5. Natural Pain Control
The fMRI study reveals another big perk for long-term couples -- more activation in the part of the brain that keeps pain under control. A CDC report complements this finding. In a study of more than 127,000 adults, married people were less likely to complain of headaches and back pain. A small study published in Psychological Science adds to the intrigue. Researchers subjected 16 married women to the threat of an electric shock. When the women were holding their husband’s hand, they showed less response in the brain areas associated with stress. The happier the marriage, the greater the effect.
6. Better Stress Management
If love helps people cope with pain, what about other types of stress? Aron says there is evidence of a link between social support and stress management. “If you’re facing a stressor and you’ve got the support of someone who loves you, you can cope better,” If you lose your job, for example, it helps emotionally and financially if a partner is there to support you.
7. Fewer Colds
We’ve seen that loving relationships can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression -- a fact that may give the immune system a boost. Researchers at CarnegieMellonUniversity found that people who exhibit positive emotions are less likely to get sick after exposure to cold or flu viruses. The study, published in Psychosomatic Medicine, compared people who were happy and calm with those who appeared anxious, hostile, or depressed.
8. Faster Healing
The power of a positive relationship may make flesh wounds heal faster. Researchers at OhioStateUniversityMedicalCenter gave married couples blister wounds. The wounds healed nearly twice as fast in spouses who interacted warmly compared with those who demonstrated a lot of hostility toward each other. The study was published in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
9. Longer Life
A growing body of research indicates that married people live longer. One of the largest studies examines the effect of marriage on mortality during an eight-year period in the 1990s. Using data from the National Health Interview Survey, researchers found that people who had never been married were 58% more likely to die than married people. But Reis sees an emotional explanation. Marriage protects against death by warding off feelings of isolation. “Loneliness is associated with all-cause mortality -- dying for any reason,” he says. In other words, married people live longer because they feel loved and connected.
10. Happier Life
It may seem obvious that one of love’s greatest benefits is joy. But research is just beginning to reveal how strong this link can be. A study in the Journal of Family Psychology shows happiness depends more on the quality of family relationships than on the level of income. And so we have scientific evidence that, at least in some ways, the power of love trumps the power of money.
Nurture Your Relationships
To foster a loving relationship that yields concrete benefits, Aron offers four tips:
If you are depressed or anxious, get treatment.
Brush up on communication skills and learn to handle conflict.
Do things that are challenging and exciting with your loved one on a regular basis.
Hey folks! I’m fully recovered from the Food Network marathon, so let’s get to the links. This week, it’s a ton of Christmas, the fall of Big Food (maybe), and BANANARCHY!
1) Planet Green: 25 Take-Out Treats You Really Can Make at Home Would you like to bank money, eat delicious ethnic food, and save the environment at the same time? Make any one of these takeout recipes at home. It’s better for everybody, except maybe the delivery guy.
2) Gizmodo: Using Micro S’mores is Akin to Playing God This is really real. And "gooeylicious." And for people without hands or muscles, presumably.
3)Washington Post: Sometimes a snack isnt just a snack. Its a slippery slope. “A two-year study found that kids eat less junk food when their schools dont provide them with junk food.” Yeah, I know: “duh,” but it’s Ezra Klein’s ensuing argument that makes this piece a great read. How far should the government and our own employers go when it comes to keeping us healthy?
4) Consumerist: Study Shows High Fructose Corn Syrup May Cause Obesity, Diabetes, Heart Disease Yeah, I know: “double duh.” But it’s nice to have science backing it up. SCIENCE!
5) Neatorama: Rich in Dextrose Old print ads are just about my favorite things in the world. This one, a World War II-era page for Baby Ruth, claims the candy bars are “rich in dextrose and other wholesome ingredients.” Hee! I can’t wait until 50 years from now, when we’re giggling similarly about lycopene and xylitol.
6) New York Times: To Feed the Hungry, Keep the Can, Open a Wallet You know that three-year-old can of artichokes sitting in the darkest, dustiest corner of your pantry? Don’t donate it to a food bank. Instead, a lovely cash gift would be much appreciated.
7) Boing Boing/AP: Monsanto seed biz role revealed Monsanto’s in trouuuuuuuble. Make it douuuuuuuuuble.
8) Casual Kitchen: Why “Big Food” Isn’t Quite as Evil as You Think it is If this doesn’t get you in, nothing will: “Its us. We are behind the curtain … Fattening and unhealthy foods are on our store shelves because we put them there.”
9) Chicago Sun-Times: Govt auditors say food-tracing program flawed Hey! Have you ever wondered what the government does when there’s a outbreak of food-related illness? Me too. So this is reassuring: “A crucial part of the nations rapid-response plan … is seriously flawed, an independent watchdog agency has found … Nearly half the food manufacturers they surveyed that are supposed to register with the Food and Drug Administration failed to give the agency accurate contact information.” They don’t even have the RIGHT PHONE NUMBERS. My god. I hope the next link is cheerier, because otherwise I’m moving to Canada.
10) Urlesque: Bananarchy Gives D.C. Extra A-‘Peel’ In which two dozen people dressed as bananas bring joy and peace to all the land. Set to “Peanut Butter Jelly Time,” of course. Forget that FDA thing. America wins!
HONORABLE MENTION
Chow: Dinner Party for Beginners I’m loving this simple tutorial series from Chow.
Culinate: Mixed-diet dinners - A pro offers suggestions for the cook Supper tips for the veggie/omni family.
Double X: The Rise of the Kitchen Bitch (Ladies, it’s time to reclaim cooking) I wholly object to Hanna Rosin calling Duff Goldman a “lovable jerk,” but otherwise, this somewhat all-over-the-place, yet still thought-provoking essay is worth a read. Especially if you like being angry before lunch.
Food Network: Sealed & Delivered - Recipes in a Jar Need some last-minute Christmas gifts for your favorite foodie? These attractive and presumably tasty jarred recipes should fit the bill.
Salon: Cash and gumption - Food nonprofits to support Excellent rundown of dozens of food philanthropies. Merry Christmas, everybuddy!
And finally, for your holiday pleasure/horror:
Sketchy Santas Just look. You won’t be sorry.
(Photos from Neatorama [ad] and Sketchy Santas [sketchy Santa].)
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So I had this new idea today while sitting in class. We were talking about food palatability and how modern food is "hyperpalatable"... this just means that it is extra salty, extra fatty, extra sweet, and overall just more pleasing to eat than food of the past. (Ive talked about this before 1, 2, 3, 4). And I started thinking... there are like a million different reasons why Americans are so obese. Why dont I start exploring each one individually on my blog?? So that is what I will be doing. Starting now. Maybe ironically NOT starting with hyperpalatability of food... although its a related topic. Today our cause of obesity is unconventional, one you probably havent thought of. And you all know how much I like bringing you a fresh perspective and new way to think about something. So without further ado...
Cause of Obesity #33162: Food Variety
Why do we eat? Is it because were hungry? Partly. But there are other reasons too. Dont even act like you dont know... boredom, convenience, stress, depression, happiness, celebration, social pressures, societal expectations, just because its meal-time... the list really does go on and on. Because of this, researchers have divided eating into two categories: homeostatic and non-homeostatic eating (1).
Homeostatic eating: eating is driven by a true need for energy Non-homeostatic eating: eating is driven by factors other than a need for energy
Pretty simple really.
So how does variety fit into this? Easy. You can only eat so much of one food. In fact, variety in food is one of the major factors driving how much you eat, whether you notice it or not. There are even diets designed for weight gain based around this principle... take the cafeteria diet for example. Allow humans (or rats) easy access to a high variety of food and theyll gain weight. In contrast, give someone a restrictive diet that lacks variety and they inevitably eat less and lose weight.
Diets With Excessive Variety Examples. Take this 1994 study, which put 10 men in a metabolic ward for 7 days with unlimited access to a wide variety of palatable food, including the following: "English muffins, French toast, pancakes with syrup, scrambled eggs, chicken pie, cheeseburgers, margarine, white sugar, various cakes and puddings, apples, jelly beans, Doritos, M and Ms, apple juice, 2% milk, sodas and several other foods." (2). These men ate, on average, a whopping 1,544 calories over their estimated needs! :-o! They gained an average of 5.1 pounds in just one week.
There are also two similar studies done in Pima Indians, which is a population known to be susceptible to easy weight gain. One was done with Pima men (3), the other with Pima women (4). The results, as you would expect, showed that they overate and gained weight at a similar clip to that first study.
Diets That Lack Variety But what if we restrict our variety? Well Ive written about this before in a post called "Does Sugar Make You Fat?" (5). In one study in which the participants consumed nothing but a sugary beverage in unlimited quantity, the obese subjects rapidly lost weight. One subject lost 200 pounds in 255 days. In another study, the subjects ate nothing but fruit and nuts experienced the same results. There are plenty more examples of this, like the guy who ate nothing but potatoes (6). Use your Google machine.
Think about some of the more successful weight loss diets out there, specifically the ones that get you to lose weight without counting calories. Paleo diet - restricts grains, legumes, and dairy. Vegan diet - restricts meat and dairy. Atkins diet - restricts carbohydrates. 30 bananas a day diet - restricts all non-banana foods. One of the main reasons these diets work is because they inherently lack variety. You can eat all the food you want and still lose weight, because you can only eat so much of one particular type of food.
The Modern Cafeteria Diet Food World. Now think about the food environment we live in today, compared to just 25 years ago before the obesity epidemic. We live in a globalized world; the amount of variety at your fingertips is unprecedented. If you live in or near a city, you are just minutes away from any of the following... Mexican restaurants, Chinese restaurants, Thai restaurants, Sushi bars, hibachi, Panera, steakhouses, Italian restaurants, burger joints, fast food, gas station food, sandwich shops, 24-hour diners, bakeries, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, all-day breakfast restaurants, chocolate shops, Indian restaurants, liquor stores, pizza shops, and all of the others Im forgetting. There are like 200 different types of potato chips at the grocery store, theres a whole aisle devoted to it... Aint nobody got time for that! Whatever you want to eat, you can have it in just a moments notice. We essentially live in a cafeteria diet world. Do you think this has something to do with the obesity epidemic? I think so.
I mean just the other day for lunch, I ate enough sushi to feed a family of four... Why? I hadnt had sushi in weeks; I was craving it. There are just too many other foods to keep me occupied, just too much variety. And boy was I stuffed... but then I had a piece of my girlfriends apple pie. See what I did there??? Stuffed on sushi, but theres still room for something else!! Good ol variety nipped me in the butt again.
With so much variety, we cant just free-eat anymore and stay thin. The more variety were given the more food were driven to eat. And Im sorry... I love variety, probably more than the average person. I know damn well that variety is the spice of life. As cliche as it is, you know its true. But I think this beloved variety is making us fat.
According to a Sept 11 front page Wall Street Journal article, bank regulators are still struggling over the wording of the regulations for the "Volcker" rule. And while we are still struggling with the too-big-to-fail banks, the gun control wars continue, with a portion of northern Colorado wanting to succeed and form the 51st state and Newtown gun permit applications going up. At the same time, two New York careerist politicians were undeterred by the humiliating spectacle of their foibles going public, and made frighteningly credible come-back bids for public office. Expert advisers and policymakers failed to protect a cautious and intellectual President from a serious foreign policy stumble that has implications for the rest of his important agenda, including immigration orm and the national budget. And this book charges that our nations capital is a narcissistic bubble of interlocked and attention-hungry reporters, facilitators, politicians and lobbyists for whom power is the only prize.
1) Planet Green: 25 Take-Out Treats You Really Can Make at Home
5) Neatorama: Rich in Dextrose
