Lifestyle

Your coffee habit might be saving your life

“Can I please get a venti decaf, sugar-free hazelnut, non-fat, no foam, no whip, extra hot caramel macchiato with five pumps of sugar-free hazelnut syrup?” There’s no denying it. Coffee has become part of the American Culture and the American Diet.

Whether you’re a fan of our coffee culture or not, coffee is here to stay, supported by the fact that the average American drank 26 gallons of coffee in 2009. While this may sound like a lot, recent research has shown astonishing disease fighting and health improving properties of daily coffee consumption, especially in higher doses. People in the U.S. get the majority of their antioxidant intake from coffee. A typical serving of coffee contains more antioxidants than an average serving of blueberries. The properties of the special antioxidants and polyphenols found in coffee, along with the effects of the caffeine itself, may…

Go Fish! – The Amazing Anti-Aging Benefits of Omega-3

Patients ask all the time which supplement is most important for an anti-aging lifestyle and disease prevention. Of course, every person’s body is different, and each person should consult with a physician regarding their nutrition and supplement choices, but Omega-3 essential fatty acids in particular stand out for incredible anti-aging and disease fighting properties.

Essential fatty acids are vital for normal metabolism, but cannot be synthesized by the human body. Because of this, people need to have a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and/or take supplements to maintain healthy levels in the body. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel, sturgeon, and anchovies, and are also found in seaweed, flax seeds, soybeans and tofu, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and canola oil. Certain other foods like eggs and yogurt are also now being fortified with Omega-3…

Internet Addiction and the Wired Brain

Before I begin, I’d like to acknowledge that I do recognize the irony of writing a blog about the harmful effects of the internet.

The internet and modern technology certainly seem to make life easier and more efficient, but the consequences of living in a wired world may be severe. A growing body of research is connecting excessive internet and technology use with major negative changes to our cognitive function, mood, emotion, overall health and the physiology of the brain itself.

Our brains are hard-wired to respond to the instant gratification, fast pace, and unpredictability of the internet and new technologies.  We are designed to be stimulated and direct our attention toward novel stimuli and change, which the internet and technology constantly provide. We never know when we’ll receive a tweet or email or what they will be about, or what we’ll find browsing…

5 Tips for Recovering from Summer Sun Damage

Summer is coming to an end, and while your tan looks great, those all day sun sessions may have taken a toll. Signs of sun damage may include dryness, prolonged redness, new freckles or moles, dull appearance and under-eye circles. Over time, sun exposure can lead to premature signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles.

1. Exfoliate

Start with a clean slate! Being out in the sun all summer has most likely left you with an accumulation of layers of dead skin, giving your face a dull complexion. Using a gentle exfoliant 2-3 times per week to slough off dead skin cells will help to restore your skin’s natural radiance and glow.

2. Moisturize

Use a non-comedogenic moisturizer daily and drink plenty of water to restore your skin’s natural hydration. Use aloe vera to help with burning and to…

The Age of “Boytox” – Male Cosmetic Procedures on the Rise

Move over ladies! Women aren’t the only one’s rushing to the doctor’s office for cosmetic procedures anymore. The number of men seeking cosmetic treatments has skyrocketed over the past decade. Specifically, there has been a steady increase in minimally invasive cosmetic procedures, such as botox and filler injections, with a 45% increase in overall procedures. In contrast, the percentage of men seeking more invasive surgical procedures such as Rhinoplasty has actually decreased, dropping 48% between 2000 and 2010.

And what’s topping the list? If you guessed Botox, you’d be right. In 2010, 336,834 men made their way to a doctor’s office for their injections. Still, men are only accountable for a mere 6% of all procedures, with women having a total of 5,379,360 procedures in 2010, but the number of Botox injections for males has increased 258% since 2000, prompting the media…

Happiness Holds the Key to a Long, Healthy Life

Laughter may really be the best medicine after all! A growing body of research is providing more and more evidence to support a powerful link between levels of happiness and overall health. Positive thinking individuals may be more likely to take better care of themselves and make better lifestyle choices, but researchers believe that positive thinking itself may have a direct biological impact. Here are just a few reasons to smile:

• Research has shown that people who rate higher in happiness are less likely to catch a cold than unhappy people. If they do catch a cold, happy people report fewer symptoms than unhappy people.
• A recent study by the American Heart Association revealed that adults over 50 who were more optimistic had a dramatically reduced risk of a stroke. The patient’s optimism was rated on a 16-point scale. For every

…

Controlled by your cravings?

How often do you get a craving that you just can’t seem to get out of your mind until you indulge in it.  You know your body doesn’t need it, you’re not even hungry, but you just can’t kick the craving.  You may not be the only one.

There is a new small study that suggests food lovers, wheather craving or indulging in their fixes, appear to have brain activity similar to that of substance abusers.

The study of observed 48 young women, all around the age of twenty, and ranging from lean to obese.  Each woman had fMRI as they were exposed to two conditions — anticipation of a rich chocolate milkshake versus a tasteless control solution, and consumption of the milkshake versus the tasteless control.

Ashley Gearhardt, MS, of Yale, and colleagues reported that while the women were anticipating drinking the chocolate…

FISH AND FISH OIL MAY PROTECT AGAINST BONE LOSS

There is already a long list of health benefits from fish oil, ranging from the treatment of arthritis to weight loss and from depression to heart disease.  Now, a new study has concluded that greater consumption of fish or fish oil appears to result in greater bone mineral density (BMD) compared to the BMD of those who consume less or no fish or fish oil, and therefore, may help protect against the loss of bone density with age.

Also, results suggested a stronger benefit from these fish oils – the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids known as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) – with higher consumption of an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid known as arachidonic acid (AA). (Since little or no AA is found in plant foods, the body must get this essential oil from animal sources – meat, eggs or dairy – or by converting the essential oil…

Cell Phone Concerns Surface Again!

We’ve heard it before, the radiofrequency and electromagnetic fields emitted by cell phone devices have been shown to affect brain activity.  Still, cell phones are a way of the future; every week there is a new savvy device on the market.  Considering how frequently the generations today use their cell phones, we should pay close attention to the findings of new cell phone studies. 

There have been numerous studies performed in the past between cell phone use and brain cancer.  Although the results to these studies have often shown to be inconsistent or inconclusive, new studies have shown cell phones to have an acute effect on our brains. 

Researchers have found that holding a cell phone to the ear for an extended period of time increases activity in regions of the brain closest to the antenna.  According to Nora Volkow,…

Just being overweight can shorten your lifespan!

A study conducted in Sweden spanning almost four decades has suggested that overweight persons, and not just those who were obese, may also be subjected to increased risk of premature death. It also suggested that the adverse effects of excess weight on mortality may be as significant as smoking cigarettes.

Details and Findings of Study

Published in the British Medical Journal, the study had been conducted using data from Sweden’s military service conscription register, census as well as cause of death register. In all, after excluding certain persons due to incomplete data, 45,920 men were tracked for a period of 38 years; the average age of the men at the start of the study was 18.7 years. During the period, 2,897 of the men passed on.

Body Mass Index and Mortality

Having accounted for age, socioeconomic status, muscle strength and smoking, the researchers found…