Relaxation Benefits
May 31, 2008
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Relaxation has lots of benefits. Everybody should have some time when they relax. We all know this, whether we consciously and deliberately spend time relaxing.
Benefit of relaxation cover a wide range of health and lifestyle issues.
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduced muscle tension
- Improve concentration
- Reduce pain, including headaches and back pain
- Lower heart rate
- Deal better with frustration and anger-making situations
Other potential benefits of using relaxation techniques
- Reduced anxiety and behavioral problems in Alzheimer’s sufferers
- Reducing postoperative pain
- Reducing asthma symptoms (breathing techniques*)
So pick a relaxation technique that you like and spend a little time relaxing. It will have long term benefits.
* There have been a number of studies on different breathing techniques including the Papworth and Buteyko methods. A new study looked at breathing exercises in asthma. There is are videos on the Cooperative Research Centre for Asthma and Airways website that discuss the techniques used in the study.
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Popularity: 26% [?]
Aging Brains Have Improved Function!
May 27, 2008
As we age we seem to have more trouble getting distracted and find it harder to concentrate. However, new research suggests in some respects that aging brains have improved function, and not that our brainpower is decreasing.
An article in the NYT describes some interesting studies that indicate that the loss of focus that occurs as we age is actually a benefit. The research suggests that as we get older we are actually taking in more information and sifting through it. The result is that though it slows us down and may make us more distracted, that choices and decisions are based on more data. This can mean that problem solving is improved, and perhaps we have more wisdom.
In studies when young and older adults were given readings that contained unexpected words and phrases. The younger participants were faster at completing the reading, and not distracted by the inappropriate words, reading almost as if they were not there. The older participants were slower, and got even slower if the unexpected words were relevant to the topic of the reading. However, later when the participants were asked questions about the “wrong but relevant” words and phrases, the older participants scored much better.
This research suggests that older adults are both retaining this data, and able to process the extra data.
The assimilation of a wide range of information and inputs can result in better decision-making. As noted in the article, “Such tendencies can yield big advantages in the real world, where it is not always clear what information is important, or will become important”, and “A broad attention span may enable older adults to ultimately know more about a situation and the indirect message of what’s going on than their younger peers. We believe that this characteristic may play a significant role in why we think of older people as wiser.”
So we are getting smarter!
photo credit: paperfairys
Technorati Tags: brain aging, brain function, wise
Popularity: 40% [?]
On Sale: Fitness DVD Grab Bag Set
May 23, 2008
This is a really good deal. I was looking at the Gaiam outlet site. I can see why some of the stuff is on sale, but some of the items are good value. I think the Fitness DVD Grab Bag Set is probably the best deal.
The Fitness DVD Grab Bag Set was originally $63.00 and is now $6.95! It is described as a clearance grab bag with pilates, toning and cardio.
I figure it probably contains 4 DVDs so even if you don’t like one, or even two it is still a great bargain. Give the unwanted/extra DVDs as a gift.
They also have a Memorial Day Sale that ends on June 3rd.
Technorati Tags: fitness DVD, pilates, toning, cardio
Popularity: 34% [?]
Shingles Runs In Families
May 22, 2008
Analysis of patients who went to a clinic, who had a diagnosis of shingles, showed that you are more likely to get shingles if a relative has had the disease. The more relatives that have had shingles the higher your risk.
Shingles is a miserable painful skin disease. The first symptoms are usually a headache and a general feeling of being unwell, and then usually pain, tingling, and itching, though numbness can also occur. Then a rash and blistering of the skin develops. The skin is very sensitive to touch and even a gentle wind on the skin can be very painful. Usually the affected area is only on one side of the body. The most commonly affected areas are at the waist and the neck, face and scalp, though it can occur anywhere. Shingles usually lasts for about a month in a person who has a healthy immune system.
Getting treatment as soon as possible will shorten the length of the outbreak. Also rapid treatment will reduce the risk of postherpetic neuralgia, which is where the skin remains painful and sensitive for months and can in some cases have other neurological symptoms.
Shingles is the reactivation of the chickenpox virus (Herpes zoster or Varicella zoster virus). After getting chickenpox some of the virus may stay in an inactive state in nerves (latent). In some people, at a later time, some trigger reactivates the virus and the result is shingles. You have to have had chickenpox to get shingles. A person who has not had chickenpox, if they get infected by a person who has shingles blisters, will get chickenpox.
There is a vaccine called Zostavax that is currently approved for persons who are 60 years or older.
It is likely that particularly for those with a first degree relative who has had shingles that the vaccine will be offered to those younger than 60.
I suspect that I have quite a risk of getting shingles since I have relatives who have had it. Plus when I had chicken pox as a kid I had very mild symptoms, which could mean that my body did not mount a strong immune response, so I probably have nasty little viruses sitting in my nerves waiting to get activated.
The study is in Archives of Dermatology
Technorati Tags: shingles, relative, chickenpox,
Popularity: 34% [?]
Burning Frankincense Incense May Help Anxiety And Depression
May 21, 2008
Burning incense, such as frankincense, has been a practice used for meditative and religious purposes for many years. It had been assumed that the benefits were in the practice, rather than the incense itself being beneficial for relaxation, anxiety and depression.
Many studies have looked at frankincense, which is resin from the Boswellia trees. The trees are slashed and the resin is exuded through the wound. After it has hardened into “tears” it is collected.
Boswellic acids which are found in frankincense have been suggested to be anti-inflammatory and have a range of properties. There is still some argument about these acids and their role in cancer, colitis and other inflammatory diseases.
Recent research has identified another compound in frankincense that is called incensole acetate. This compound has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and to be neuroprotective.
Incensole acetate has now been suggested to act on a class on ion channels (TRPV4) in the brain that may be involved in anxiety and depression. If this is confirmed by further research it shows that burning incense may be good for calming and mood elevation. It also provides a basis for the potential development of a new class of anti-anxiety and anti-depressive drugs.
So - the beneficial effects of incense on anxiety and depression that have been claimed for centuries but pooh-poohed by most of science, now do in fact have a sound scientific basis.
Note: There is a shortage of frankincense due to an increased demand and overtapping of trees. Research has suggested that overtapped trees are not producing as many healthy seeds and so the numbers of new trees produced is dropping.
photo credit: garryknight
Technorati Tags: frankincense, incense, anxiety, depression
Popularity: 52% [?]
Dietary Sodium Good Or Bad?
May 20, 2008
An analysis of NHANES, which is the periodic National Health and Nutrition Survey conducted by the Federal government, suggests that low sodium intake increases cardiovascular risk. This finding is contrary to pretty much the majority of studies done in the last decade.
The NHANES study is supposed to be a snapshot of the state of the health of the nation. For the current conclusion they looked at what participants, recruited between 1988 and 1994 and at least 30 years old, said they had eaten in the last 24 hours. The finding was that those with the lowest sodium intake had higher rates of cardiovascular disease.
These findings go against a lot of studies. So why should the finding be different? One concern about the study is that it only considered what was eaten in the prior 24 hours and probably most of the participants are expecting to be asked about their diet. It is hard to tell with these types of recall how accurate the information is. I know from participating in a study years ago that people deliberately or more frequently unconsciously are not accurate on their reported food consumption. However, I have tried but I cannot think of why there should be such a difference in the results.
If this study is correct, I am in deep trouble. I am one of the few people who don’t like salt. I don’t like salt in food; I think it ruins the taste. I’m not worried (yet), there are so many studies that show that a high salt diet is unhealthy for many.
photo credit: Alicia Nijdam
Technorati Tags: sodium, salt, cardiovascular disease, NHANES
Popularity: 46% [?]
It Just Takes A Few Seconds
May 19, 2008
Yesterday, four students who work in my department got injured. They were visiting a coworker who lives way out of town on 20 acres. The students took a quad out on the local dirt roads. One of the girls, who had very little driving experience, took her turn. She lost control and rolled the quad. She got her foot stuck in the wheel well and was trapped. Two care flight helicopters and an ambulance came.
Of the four, one got minor scraps and cuts, another was unconscious for a while and has bad road rash, the third landed on here face needed stitches in her face and her back is skinned, the fourth, the driver is still in hospital. She lost some toes in the accident and is waiting for the next surgery to see what they decide to do about the rest of her foot. She got dirt and grit in the wounds and the rest of her foot. They cleaned out everything they could see, but if she has a high risk of a serious infection in which case she may lose her foot. She is 20 years old.
It is making us all think about how quickly life can change. You never know when something is going to happen. It has reinforced the horror of the abruptness of the Sichuan earthquake. One minute everything is fine and normal and the next….
Technorati Tags: a few seconds, life
Popularity: 24% [?]
Garlic for Blood Pressure, Heart Disease, Stroke, Diabetes And Antioxidant Status
May 15, 2008
Garlic has long been known to be good for you. In the last few years it has been demonstrated that it may play a beneficial role in many aspects of health including lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke, and improving antioxidant status.
Garlic has been shown recently to decrease blood pressure and to help lessen the risk of heart attack. The decrease in blood pressure is due to widening of the inside of blood vessels which makes the pressure drop.
There are several reasons why garlic may reduce both stroke and heart disease risk. One potential reason is that the antioxidant properties may reduce the oxidation of blood lipids, leading to a reduction in the rate of development of atherosclerosis (blocking of arteries). We are all developing atherosclerosis, so the aim is to make it slow enough that it never has any health impact. Garlic has also been shown to lower the level of platelet aggregation. Platelets are cells that circulate in the blood that are involved in clot formation, by sticking together and to cells in the walls of blood vessels. Lowering the level of platelet aggregation reduces the formation and growth of clots, which in turn lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Garlic has several other suggested health benefit including reducing inflammation, neurodegeneration (including possibly Alzheimer’s), diabetes and cancer. It has been suggested that garlic can reduce blood sugar levels.
To get the most benefit from garlic it should be “aged”. This means that garlic should be crushed and then left for 10 to 15 minutes before use. The reason for this is that when the garlic cells are broken by crushing, an enzyme is released that converts alliin to allicin. Leaving the crushed garlic for a while gives the enzyme time to work. It is allicin that our body uses either directly or indirectly for most of the health benefits.
Eat more garlic!
Technorati Tags: garlic, allicin, blood pressure, heart disease, stoke, diabetes, antioxidant
Popularity: 86% [?]
Shirataki Noodles
May 12, 2008
Shirataki are a type of noodle that have moderate fiber, and are low in carbohydrates and calories. They, and related products, have been available in the East for many years but have only gained popularity in the West recently.
They are becoming popular with those on low carb diets and calorie-restricted diets. An 8 oz package of House Foods Shirataki Fettuccine is listed as having two servings. Each serving has 20 calories, 3 g total carbohydrate (0 g sugars), 2 g fiber, 1g protein and 15 mg sodium. As is often the case the serving size is quite small, but even eating the whole package would have only 40 calories and 6 g total carbohydrate.
The noodles contain oriental “yam”. These yams are not related to those found in a western supermarket, but are Amorphophallus konjac *, commonly called konjac. Some of the local names are quite colorful and include elephant yam, devil’s tongue, snake palm and voodoo lily *.
Konjac is grown predominantly in Korea, China and Japan and is very high in fiber and is high in glucomannan, which is a polysaccharide that is used as a jelly and thickening agent. The most commonly available noodles in the US, including the ones described above, contain some tofu too. The tofu makes the noodles more similar to regular wheat noodles in texture and adds the protein and some of the carbohydrate.
The noodles are found in the chill cabinet at the supermarket, often in the natural/vegetarian section. The noodles are already cooked, so they just need to have the storage liquid washed away, and then be heated through, usually in the microwave. They are pretty tasteless so go well with any source. Currently they are a little pricey (about $1.80 per small pack), but as they gain popularity and there is more competition the price is sure to drop.
Give them a try.
{{* Amorphophallus and some of the local names are certainly an interesting. They are descriptive of the plant - but not the tuber(root) instead the flower (inflorescence). Amorphophallus means shapeless phallus. A plant in the same genus is Amorphophallus titanium is also called the corpse plant. This plant blooms infrequently and quickly, and the flower really smells bad hence the name. Check out the VA Tech website for pictures and other info.}}
Technorati Tags: shirataki, noodles, yam, konjac
Popularity: 42% [?]
Sub Prime Loan Crisis Explained
May 10, 2008
Want to know how the sub prime loan crisis occurred and why? Listen to the “This American Life” special.
The reasons are fascinating, and certainly for me totally not what I expected. Knew nothing about the global money pool.
This is really worth a listen.
http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=355
photo credit: Manuel Delgado Tenorio
Technorati Tags: sub prime loan crisis
Popularity: 38% [?]
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