More than 96% of restaurant entrees exceed USDA limits for calories, sodium, fat and saturated fat in a single meal, according to a study of the nutritional contact of more than 30,000 menu items from 245 restaurant brands by Rand Corp. Appetizers, which often shared, average more calories than entrees (813 versus 674). Entrees at family-style restaurants have more calories, fat and sodium than those at fast-food restaurants.
Source: Bottom Line Personal, August, 15, 2012 Issue
People who chewed gum for at least five minutes twice a day for two weeks showed improved levels of anxiety, mood and fatigue. Their scores on tests of depression and mental fatigue were 47% better than the control group. Chewing may increase blood flow to the brain and lower levels of stress hormones.
Source: Bottom Line Personal,, September 1, 2012 Issue: Chifumi Sato, MD, Department of Analytical Health Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, quoted in Men’s Health.
The sex hormone testosterone gives a man his beard, deep voice and sex drive. It also may give all of us—men and women—better health and a longer life.
Research shows that low levels of testosterone may increase the risk for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, depression and Alzheimer’s disease. Low testosterone also can trigger fatigue, low libido, erectile dysfunction, enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia), muscular weakness, poor endurance, irritability, poor concentration and poor memory. What you need to know now…
LIVE LONGER
An estimated 40% of men age 45 and older have testosterone deficiency—total testosterone below 300 ng/dL. (This phenomenon is called by various names, including andropause, male menopause and hypogonadism.) This deficiency is linked to…
Cardiovascular disease (CVD). In a four-year study, men with one risk factor for heart disease (such as high blood pressure) were four times more likely to develop CVD if they had low testosterone. Other studies link low testosterone to an increased risk for stroke, blood clots, high total cholesterol, high LDL “bad” cholesterol and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats that can trigger a heart attack or stroke). One such study concluded that “testosterone levels may be a stronger predictor of coronary artery disease than high cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and body mass index.”
Metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome—a risk factor for type 2 diabetes—is a constellation of health problems that can include insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high triglycerides and low HDL “good” cholesterol. In a recent two-year study, metabolic syndrome was completely reversed in 65% of men on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
Osteoporosis. A study found that men with low testosterone had an 88% higher risk for hip fracture.
Midlife male depression. A study from Columbia University showed that TRT completely reversed depression in more than 50% of depressed men.
Alzheimer’s disease. Research links higher levels of testosterone with better blood flow to the brain, better memory and less risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
Death from any cause. In a study of 900 men, those with low testosterone had a 43% higher risk for all-cause mortality (dying from any cause). In another, seven-year study, every 173 ng/dL increase in total testosterone levels was linked to a 21% lower risk for all-cause mortality.
TESTOSTERONE TESTING
The Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male (ADAM) Questionnaire can determine if you have symptoms of low testosterone. If you do, you should be tested for a low blood level. However, you can have so-called “normal” test results for total testosterone and still have a deficiency. That’s because testosterone may be bound to a compound called sex hormone binding globulin, so only a small percentage reaches your cells.
Best: Ask your doctor to test you for total testosterone and free (unbound) testosterone. You may need a doctor trained in the use of bioidentical hormones or a naturopathic physician.
Another problem with testosterone tests is that “normal” values vary widely from laboratory to laboratory. One study from Harvard Medical School found 17 different sets of “normal” values for total testosterone among 25 labs.
What to do: If you have the symptoms of low testosterone…and your level of either total or free testosterone is below normal or borderline normal at whatever lab your doctor chooses…you should consider TRT.
MAKE LIFESTYLE CHANGES
If you have low testosterone, you can first try to boost it by…
TREATMENT
If you still have low testosterone after making lifestyle changes, you may need TRT. There are four forms of TRT for men. All are effective and safe. You and your doctor can determine the best treatment for you…
Prescription 1% or 1.62% testosterone gel, such as Testim and AndroGel, which is applied once a day.
Testosterone injections, which typically are given once every two weeks, though some doctors prefer to give them once a week.
Testosterone pellets, which are surgically inserted.
Compounded 1% to 10% testosterone cream is custom-formulated by a compounding pharmacy and applied once a day.
Whatever the form of testosterone, the following is advisable…
Aim for a total testosterone blood level of 600 ng/dL or just a little higher (up to 900 ng/dL).
Recheck blood levels. Many primary care doctors prescribe testosterone gel—and never recheck their patients. Your doctor should check your levels after one month…then every three months for one year…every four months for the second year…and every six months for the third year and thereafter.
WOMEN AND TRT
A deficiency of testosterone in perimenopausal or menopausal women can cause symptoms similar to testosterone deficiency in middle-aged and older men, such as fatigue, depression, weight gain, low libido and osteoporosis.
What to do: Ask your doctor to test your free testosterone. If your level is low, consider treatment with testosterone cream from a compounding pharmacy at a dose of 0.5 milligrams (mg) to 2 mg daily. (This is an off-label use of testosterone, not approved by the FDA.) Most women notice more energy, younger-looking skin, thicker hair and increased libido.
Some women worry that testosterone will give them “manly” characteristics, but this does not happen with female-appropriate doses.
Source: http://www.bottomlinepublications.com/content/article/health-a-healing/get-your-mojo-back-and-live-longertestosterone-helps-prevent-heart-disease-diabetes-more-and-its-not-just-for-men; Chris D. Meletis, ND, and Bill Gottlieb, CHC. Dr. Meletis is executive director of the Institute for Healthy Aging and coauthor of His Change of Life: Male Menopause and Healthy Aging with Testosterone (Praeger). http://www.DrMeletis.com. Bill Gottlieb, CHC, is a health coach certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and author of Maximum Manhood: Sexual Healing Secrets and Anti-Aging Breakthroughs (OPM), in which Dr. Meletis is a featured expert. http://www.BillGottliebHealth.com
“For the best butt toning on two feet,” says walking pro Tina Vindum, walk for 5 minutes, do one of the supereffective shapers shown here, then repeat until you’ve done all four exercises. (If your route has hills, tackle these moves every time the path hits an incline — or a set of stairs — for maximum butt-blasting benefits.)
Skater Stride
Targets: Quads, butt, hips, obliques, back, and triceps
While walking, take a large step diagonally forward to the right with right foot, toes pointing forward (not to right). Sink into a lunge, bending both knees 90 degrees, as you bring left elbow toward right knee and swing right arm straight back. (Beginners, do a dip rather than a lunge.)
Press off left big toe to bring left leg forward, brushing it past right leg, then swinging it forward out to the left diagonal (like a speed skater) to plant left foot, toes forward.
Do 25 steps to each side, alternating legs.
Sumo Squat and Lift
Targets: Quads, inner and outer thighs, butt, hips, back, shoulders, and biceps
While walking, turn so that your right side is facing “forward” (or uphill), fists near hips.
Lift right foot, flexed, to take a large side step to right.
Lower into a wide squat as you lift both hands up in a wide V.
Rising up on right leg, lower arms as you lift left leg to side, foot flexed.
Step left foot next to right.
Do 12 reps; repeat with left side facing front.
Power Lunge with Leg Lift
Targets: Quads, hamstrings, butt, hips, arms, and abs
Walking, lunge forward with left leg, both knees bent 90 degrees (beginners, 45 degrees).
With hands in fists and elbows bent at 90 degrees, bring right fist toward nose, left behind you.
Shift weight onto left leg, straightening it; lower arms and lift right leg out and back on a diagonal as high as you can.
Bring right leg forward into a lunge; repeat on that side.
Do 25 reps per leg, alternating sides.
High-Knee Cross
Targets: Quads, calves, hips, butt, and abs
While walking, tighten abs and lift bent left knee as high as you can directly in front of you, coming up on right toes. Simultaneously bend right elbow 90 degrees, bringing it across body toward left knee. (Swing left elbow back to counterbalance.)
Hold for 1 count, then lower left foot to step forward. Repeat with right leg.
Do 25 reps per leg, alternating sides.
To scratch or not to scratch, that is the question. When confronted with an itch, most of us tend to throw self-discipline out the door and scratch to our skin’s content. While that may prove momentarily satisfying, scratching excessively can injure your skin. And if you break the skin, you leave yourself open to infection.
Itching, medically known as pruritus, is caused by stimuli bugging some part of our skin. There are a lot of places to bother on the body, too. The average adult has 20 square feet (2 square meters) of skin, all open to the world of irritants. When something bothers our skin, an itch is a built-in defense mechanism that alerts the body that someone is knocking. We respond to an itch with a scratch, as most people want to remove the problem. But the scratching can also set you up for the “itch-scratch” cycle, where one leads to the other endlessly.
An itch can range from a mild nuisance to a disrupting, damaging, and sleep-depriving fiasco. Itches happen for many reasons, including allergic reactions; sunburns; insect bites; poison ivy; reactions to chemicals, soaps, and detergents; medication; dry weather; skin infections; and even aging. More serious itches, such as those caused by psoriasis or other diseases, are not covered here.
Scratching isn’t the only solution to an itch. The kitchen cupboards hold a few more.
Home Remedies from the Cupboard
Baking soda. Baking soda battles itches of all kinds. For widespread or hard-to-reach itches, soak in a baking soda bath. Add 1 cup baking soda to a tub of warm water. Soak for 30 to 60 minutes and air dry. Localized itches can be treated with a baking soda paste. Mix 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. Apply to the itch, but do not use if the skin is broken.
Oatmeal. Add 1 to 2 cups finely ground oatmeal to a warm bath (not hot or you might have breakfast for the next month in your tub) to ease your itches.
Home Remedies from the Refrigerator
Lemon. Many American folk remedy recipes call for using a lemon to treat itchy skin — and rightly so. The aromatic substances in a lemon contain anesthetic and anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce itching. If nothing else, you’ll smell good. Squeeze undiluted lemon juice on itchy skin and allow to dry.
Home Remedies from the Spice Rack
Cloves and Juniper Berries. The American Indians of the Paiute, Shoshone, and Cherokee tribes knew how to stop an itch in its tracks. They used what nature provided, namely juniper berries. (No need to run out in the wilderness to gather berries. They are available in some grocery stores.) These berries contain anti-inflammatory, volatile substances. When combined with cloves, which contain eugenol to numb nerve endings, the result is no more itch. To make a salve of both spices, melt 3 ounces of unsalted butter in a saucepan. In a separate pan, melt a lump of beeswax — about the amount of 2 tablespoons. When the beeswax has melted, combine with butter and stir well. Add 5 tablespoons ground juniper berries and 3 teaspoons ground cloves to the mixture and stir. Allow to cool and apply to itchy skin. Note: It is best to grind the spices at home because the volatile substances are preserved better in whole berries and cloves.
Basil. Splash your skin with refreshing basil tea. Like cloves, basil contains high amounts of eugenol, a topical anesthetic. Place 1/2 ounce dried basil leaves in a 1-pint jar of boiling water. Keep it covered to prevent the escape of the aromatic eugenol from the tea. Allow to cool. Dip a clean cloth into the tea and apply to itchy skin as often as necessary.
Mint. If you’re saving that basil for spaghetti sauce, try a mint tea rinse instead. Chinese folk medicine values mint as a treatment for itchy skin and hives. Mint contains significant amounts of menthol, which has anesthetic and anti-inflammatory properties when applied topically. In general, mint also contains high amounts of the anti-inflammatory rosmarinic acid, which is readily absorbed into the skin. To make a mint tea rinse, place 1 ounce dried mint leaves in 1 pint boiling water. Cover and allow to cool. Strain, dip a clean cloth in the tea, and apply to the itchy area when necessary.
Thyme. If you’re saving that mint for a glass of lemonade, there is one more spice on the rack that makes a good anti-itch rinse: thyme. This fragrant herb contains large amounts of the volatile constituent thymol, which has anesthetic and anti-inflammatory properties. In other words, it numbs that darn itch while reducing inflammation caused by all your scratching. To make a thyme rinse, place 1/2 ounce dried thyme leaves in a 1-pint jar of boiling water. Cover and allow to cool. Strain and dip a clean cloth into the tea, then apply to affected areas. Note: In Chinese folk medicine, dandelion root, easily plucked from most yards, is added to this rinse. If in season, place 1 ounce dried dandelion root and 1/2 ounce dried thyme leaves into 1 quart boiling water and proceed as directed.
Home Remedies from the Windowsill
Aloe vera. Aloe vera is a must for burns, but how about itches? The same constituents that reduce blistering and inflammation in burns also work to reduce itching. Snap off a leaf, slice it down the middle, and rub the gel only on the itch.
From magazine headlines to wise words from our mother, we’re constantly bombarded with “tips” to keep our health in check. But before drowning in diet soda and daily showers, reassess some of these behaviors that may be doing more harm than help.
1. Enhanced water. A little faux fruity flavor might seem like a great way to up H2O intake, but flavored water, like Vitamin Water or even Smart Water, can be filled with sugar. Skip the artificially sweetened water and infuse water with actual fruit.
2. Granola and granola bars. Granola is made from whole grains, so it can’t be bad, right? Not so fast. Granola and granola bars are both calorically dense and often contain a ton of sugar. You may as well eat a candy bar…
3. Protein bars. Protein bars don’t fall far from the granola-bar-tree. They are often ultra-high in calories and sugar — not exactly what the body needs after a hard workout. Choose a healthier high-protein snack instead.
4. Vitamins and supplements. Multiple studies have shown that taking vitamins (in pill form) may not have any positive effect on long-term health. Researchers have surveyed the nonexistent (or even potentially harmful) ties of vitamin E and C supplements with heart disease, cancer, and cancer treatment[1][2][3]. Plus, most people get all the vitamins they need from their food, and substituting pills for whole foods may mean missing out on the benefits from other compounds found in the natural sources.
5. Light beer. News flash: Light-beer doesn’t necessarily mean less calories. Instead, many simply have a lower alcohol content. And for those interested in getting a buzz on, the calorie difference may be negated by the need to drink more. Sip a healthier beer instead, and split up the six-pack between friends.
6. “Low-fat” foods. Think twice before skipping the fat-filled salmon. While cutting some fat could help weight loss, we may miss out on some big benefits from healthy omega-3 fats, such as boosting brainpower and lowering the risk of heart disease[4][5][6].
7. Skipping meals. Skipping meals probably won’t save us any calories in the long haul. Forgoing a meal may result in overeating later on, so choose a healthier lunchtime treat instead[7][8][9].
8. Bottled water. Some bottled water may be filled with bacteria or chemicals when bottled in plastic containers[10][11] So grab a water filter and purify tap water instead.
9. Passing on dessert. Don’t deny your favorite dessert. If really craving that double chocolate brownie, enjoy a few generous bites instead of going for seconds at the dinner buffet line — which could rack up even more calories.
10. Diet soda. Diet Dr. Pepper may not be our friend. Scientists suggest too much of these zero-cal beverages could do as much damage as the sugary stuff, potentially leading to weight gain and an uncontrollable sweet tooth[12][13] The solution? Skip the soda completely and opt for a healthier choice.
11. Juice diets. Many of us could use a few more fruits and veggies, but we don’t need to have spinach-apple juice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Juice diets may leave out important nutrients and enough calories to stay strong throughout the day.
12. Microwave diet meals. Try making your own meals, without the box and frozen plastic tray. Many frozen meals are packed with sodium, while lacking veggies and enough calories. Short on time? Make a large batch of your favorite meal over the weekend and freeze individual portions to eat throughout the week.
13. Hot tubs. They may be super relaxing, but hot tubs are a one-stop shop for bacteria and germs, and may even cause a rash. Gross.
14. Antibacterial soap. It may not be worth scrubbing down with the fancy stuff: Regular soap and water is just as beneficial when it comes to staying squeaky clean[14].
15. Brushing right after every meal. Just ‘cause dessert was devoured doesn’t mean we should grab the toothbrush and paste. Wait at least 30 minutes after a meal so saliva can neutralize the acid in the mouth and strengthen the enamel on those chompers.
16. Avoiding the sun. While too much sun could cause a nasty burn (or worse!) sidestepping the sun at all costs may lead to a lack of Vitamin D which is essential for proper muscle and bone development[15].
17. Daily showers. Stop the scrubbing! Hopping in the shower too often may irritate and dry out skin. If you really need to freshen up, spray on some perfume or cologne and save the shower ‘till tomorrow.
18. Catching up on sleep. We’re sorry to break it to you, but it’s pretty tricky to catch up on sleep. So rather than skimping on sleep in order to cash them in later, aim for a solid seven to nine hours a night.
19. Sitting up straight. Yeah, we’re surprised too. Sitting up straight may be bad for the back, so skip the seat and try a standing desk at the office[16][17].
20. Cleaning with disinfecting products. There’s some evidence that certain chemicals in disinfecting products could lead to asthma[18][19]. Simply use a regular cleaning product or detergent without the chemicals instead.
21. Only doing cardio. Hitting the roads is great and all, but don’t retire the weights for the running shoes. Make sure to strength train to burn fat, lean out, and look badass in the process.
22. Doing a million crunches. The secret to six-pack abs probably isn’t crunch after crunch. To flatten out and tone up the core, try running some intervals, lifting a few weights, and cleaning up that diet instead.
23. Breathing deeply through the chest. Whether running the final lap or heading down the basketball court, avoid deep breathing with the chest. For a most effective breath to help any athlete’s performance, remember to use the diaphragm!
24. Static stretching pre workout. When warming up, static stretching (aka holding positions for a certain length of time) won’t do much in way of preventing soreness[20]. Skip the still motions and do dynamic stretches, like lunges and high knees, instead[21].
25. Lifting machines. Most lifting machines focus on single joint exercises, which fail to improve muscle imbalance and does not burn as many calories as hitting the squat rack or swinging a kettlebell.
26. Hitting the gym daily. Don’t get us wrong, exercise is important! But spending too much time at the gym leaves little time for muscles — and the mind — to recover. Make sure to get at least one or two days of rest, and dominate those dumbbells the rest of the week.
Source: http://www.greatist.com
If you check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for exercise this year, you’ll notice something different. While the CDC used to simply recommend any type of exercise a few days a week, it now recommends both cardiovascular activities and toning exercises in the form of strength training. Specifically, Americans age 65 and older are encouraged to learn how to build muscle and do muscle-strengthening activities that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, arms, shoulders, chest, and abdomen) at least twice a week.
Why this change to the government recommendations? Experts now realize just how important toning exercises are to your overall health and longevity. “Every health professional will agree that strength training is essential for health, injury prevention, and prolonging quality of life,” says certified strength and conditioning specialist Cody Foss, owner of the Fitness Loft in Newtown, Conn.
Whether you’re a young person just learning how to build muscle or an older person looking for toning exercises to increase your longevity, strength training has benefits for everyone. “The major advantage of strength training is to keep older adults active and moving,” says Glenda Renee Westmoreland, MD, a geriatrician at Wishard Health Services and an associate professor of clinical medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. “Strength and resistance training are helpful to reduce functional decline and loss of endurance.”
When it comes to preventing some of the health concerns and accidents that befall the elderly, this advice about learning how to build muscle with toning exercise is especially true. For example, a group of researchers recently looked at 111 studies with over 55,000 total subjects on the topic of falls in the elderly. After examining all this data, what they found was that exercise programs that focused on at least two of these — building strength, balance, flexibility, or endurance — were the best way to prevent future falls in the elderly.
Tips on Toning Exercise
If you are an older individual who is first learning how to build muscle, it’s important to start slowly to avoid overexerting yourself, says Dr. Westmoreland. “The major consideration before embarking on strength training as an older adult is to make sure that from a cardiovascular standpoint you are fit to start,” she says. That means getting the okay from your primary care physician before you begin.
Once you receive clearance from your doctor, walking is a good place to start. Then, as your fitness improves, you can incorporate some light strength training exercises into your routine. “The older adult should do muscle-strengthening exercises that work all the different muscle groups: legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms,” says Westmoreland.
If you’re concerned that strength training means lifting massive weight over your head, you needn’t be. You can do toning exercises that are low-impact but will still build muscle.
For example, tai chi is a very effective strength training exercise that has helped promote longevity in many people. Find a local class to participate in or simply follow a video at home to get the benefits of tai chi.
Other simple toning exercises are actually not that different from stretches. Val Walkowiak, the medical integration coordinator at Loyola Center for Fitness in Chicago, recommends the following exercises to strengthen your core every other day:
Abdominal twist: Sit in an armless chair with your feet flat on the floor and shoulder-width apart. Your hands should be in the center of your torso and your elbows along your sides. Slowly twist to the right, then to the left. Your shoulders should face to the right and then to the left during the movement, but you should not be swinging your arms from side to side. Do two to three sets of 15 to 20 repetitions.
Lying abdominal crunch: Lie on your back with your legs bent and your feet flat on the floor. Place your hands by your ears. Keep your elbow and shoulder joints aligned during the movement. Slowly curl your upper body upward until your rib cage comes up off the floor. The goal is to create a “C” with your torso by bringing your chest toward your legs. Don’t let your lower back come up off the floor, just your rib cage. Perform two to three sets of 15 to 20 repetitions.
Pelvic tilts: Lie on your back with your legs bent and feet flat on the floor. Pull your belly button in toward your spine until your abdominal muscles feel tight. Slowly shift your pelvis up toward the ceiling until you feel your lower back press against the floor. Your buttocks should not come off the floor. Return to starting position. This exercise works the lower portion of the abdominal muscles.
Bridges: Lie on your back with your legs bent and feet flat on the floor. Pull your belly button in toward your spine. Slowly lift your torso off the floor until you have formed a bridge with your body. Your upper back, shoulders, and head should remain on the floor. Return your body to the floor and repeat. Perform two to three sets of 15 to 20 repetitions.
If you have osteoporosis, particularly if you have had compression fractures of the vertebrae in your back, you should get your doctor’s okay before doing these floor exercises.
Adding a strenth training component to your fitness routine doesn’t have to be complicated, and the benefits to overall health — including reducing your risk of falling — are more than worth the time you put in.
Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com/longevity/physical-health/add-muscle.aspx
Last Updated: 01/18/2011
Fall means apple cider, back to school, the fresh smell of fallen leaves—and the return of allergy season. Approximately 10 to 20 percent of the public is allergic to ragweed, the most common culprit in fall seasonal allergies, and thanks to global warming, studies are finding that ragweed season is lasting as much as 15 days longer in some regions of the country. Rain, which washes pollen out of the air and so is generally welcomed by ragweed allergy sufferers, leads to the proliferation of mold, another seasonal allergy trigger.
Whether it’s ragweed, mold—or both—that gives you the allergy blues, here are five ways to prep yourself now, before fall allergens have a chance to make you miserable.
#1: Stock up on butterbur. If mold, but not ragweed, makes you teary-eyed, try butterbur tablets, a botanical remedy. The British Medical Journal published a study in 2002 finding that leaves and roots of the butterbur bush, native to Europe, northern Africa, and parts of Asia, worked just as effectively at reducing hay fever symptoms as cetirizine, the active ingredient in Zyrtec, without causing drowsiness. Butterbur belongs to the same family as ragweed, however, so people allergic to ragweed may actually get worse after taking it.
#2. Plant cover crops. Ragweed really is a weed; it flowers from mid-August to late October, before the first frost. One plant’s pollen can travel up to 400 miles, so it’s unlikely that you can avoid it completely. However, you can keep ragweed from taking root in your yard or garden by planting cover crops after you harvest your garden’s summer vegetables. Cover crops also keep your soil healthy for next spring’s planting season. Try clover, rye, buckwheat, or a mix of field peas and oats.
#3: Put dead leaves to use. Wet piles of fallen leaves are prime breeding grounds for leaf mold, and while leaf mold is valuable to your soil, it can send you into a frenzy of sneezing fits if you’re allergic. Clean up fallen leaves promptly, before they get wet and moldy; better yet, get someone who’s not allergic to do it. Pile up the leaves in an out-of-the-way place so you can use them for mulch next spring, or make a true compost heap to transform them into fertilizer for your garden and lawn. (Shred them so they’ll compost quickly; run them over with a lawn mower.) Keep your pile covered so any mold spores will stay put.
#4: Clean your filters. Staying indoors when pollen counts are high is the most effective way to cut down on both mold and ragweed reactions—but not if you’re pumping in pollen from outside. Take the time now to clean or change your air conditioner and furnace filters, since ragweed pollen persists long after the hot temps turn cold. You’ll cut down on pollen inside your house, and you’ll lower your energy bills; clean filters allow both your heating and cooling systems to run more efficiently. Which uses less fossil-fuel-powered energy, which generates fewer global-warming emissions, which may, eventually, mean a return to shorter ragweed seasons.
#5: Head to the beach. Humid beaches can be problematic for mold-allergy sufferers, but they can make a welcome respite for the ragweed-allergic, as the humidity levels generally keep pollen counts to a minimum. The National Allergy Bureau maintains a database of pollen counts online, so you can check allergen levels in both your hometown and beach or vacation destinations.
Source: http://www.rodale.com
Dim the lights, add some slow jams, and you could drop pounds. A new study in Psychological Reports found that you eat less in a restaurant with dim lighting and soft music than in one that’s bright and loud. Researchers tricked out part of a Hardee’s in Champaign, Illinois, by adding tablecloths, plants, and paintings, and softening the seating area with indirect lights and light music. Then, they studied people’s eating habits in both the modified and original sections by timing meal length and calculating calories consumed.
Turns out, customers in the renovated area ordered the same food (couldn’t kill the temptation of burgers and fries), but dined longer than those in the original section. The kicker: They also ate 18 percent less—about 175 fewer calories—and gave the whole experience higher marks. (Here are 7 Fast Foods Under 350 Calories.)
So what gives? Soft light and music mellow you out from your normally on-guard state throughout the day and signal your body to slow down, says lead researcher Brian Wansink, Ph.D., director of Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab and author of Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think. “The more relaxed you are, the slower you eat,” he adds. Wansink suspects that’s because slow eaters my end up with cold food or their mind catches up to their stomach in feeling full or the food isn’t good anymore.
If you can’t avoid the fast food joint, at least do it right: Find the darkest and quietest corner, Wansink says. At home, replicate the environment by swapping the lights above your kitchen table for some candles arranged around the meal and opting for some slow tunes rather than the TV. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts found that people who eat while watching the tube consume 288 more calories on average than those who don’t. Why? You’re distracted and it prevents your brain from realizing you’re full.
theAfterBurnSG 