When you don’t enough zzz’s, it triggers a shutdown of your prefrontal lobe, a part of your brain that keeps emotions under control. The result? You’re more likely to act irrationally and [more…]
From the monthly archives:
January 2010
Surprising as it sounds, folks who listen to pop and rock music while driving are less likely to speed and have minor accidents than those who listen to country, blues, classical and even easy listening, reveals a recent British study. What’s the link? [more…]
Ever been stuck on a bad date, in a boring meeting, in a tedious conversation with a chatty co-worker or somewhere else you wanted to escape? Here’s your chance to make an easy exit: [more…]
Are you the eldest sibling in your family? The baby? Born somewhere in the middle? An only child? A twin (like me)? According to research by Kevin Leman, Ph.D., author of The Birth Order Book: Why You Are the Way You Are, your birth order has a powerful impact on your personality traits, talents and goals. “The way you interacted with your parents and siblings as a child based on your position in your family has a profound impact on who you are today,” he explains. So, what does the position you take in your family reveal about positions you take in life? [more…]
If you’re like most folks, unusual foods you normally don’t buy but decided to try on a whim—like canned smoked oysters, pistachio nut butter, chili sauce and watermelon salsa—are gathering dust in your cupboards and fridge, leaving you wondering “What was I thinking?”. Unfortunately, all that uneaten food translates into hundreds of dollars of wasted groceries every year. Now a study in the Journal of Consumer Research reveals when we’re most likely to put those odd items in our carts: when the supermarket is busiest! [more…]
Think you’d by happier if you got a nose job, won the lottery or became famous? Surprise! A new study shows it would actually make you miserable! The proof: When University of Rochester researchers [more…]
One of the fastest growing crimes can leave you penniless overnight. Called skimming, a device that’s secretly attached to a debit card swiper steals your bank account information and PIN, then sends it to thieves who use the information to create clone cards and drain your checking and savings accounts, [more…]
Think kids who are gifted readers are simply born with genes that make them that way? A new study of 314 twins in kindegarten and first grade reveals that environmental factors—such as how much kids are read to, [more…]
Forgetful? There may be an easy—and tasty—fix: chocolate! Folks who downed a cocoa drink rich in antioxidants got a boost in memory for two to three hours afterward, according to a study out of the University of Nottingham in the U.K. Why it works? [more…]
Think you know all you need to about the prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, vitamins and supplements you take every day? Maybe not. For instance, did you know that taking coenzyme Q10 can make blood thinners less effective? Or that popping an aspirin while taking gingko supplements could put you at risk of excess bleeding? [more…]
Losing weight is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions for humans. And this year you might want to put your pet on a diet, too. A recent study shows that one in four cats and dogs is overweight, leaving them more prone to chronic health problems like heart disease and arthritis. So, is it time for your pet to eat less and exercise more? To tell, Kansas State University veterinarian Susan Nelson, D.V.M., advises: [more…]
