by Gabrielle on May 11, 2010
Next time you’re anxious about a job interview, exam or other stressor, try calling your mom. A new study out of the University of Wisconsin-Madison shows that simply hearing your mother’s voice triggers a profound soothing effect that zaps the stress hormone cortisol and raises your body’s level of the calming hormone oxytocin, making you feel instantly relaxed. In fact, in the study, girls who were stressed out by having to give a speech and answer math questions in front of a panel of strangers—a major stress-inducer for most people—experienced the same hormone changes whether their mother was physically comforting them in person or doing it remotely over the phone. Best of all, the stress-busting effect was long-lasting, sticking around hours after the task was over, the researchers found.
[photo: kevindooley]
by Gabrielle on May 11, 2010
Next time you’re shopping for cereal, crackers, cookies and other foods for your child, take a closer look at the nutrition label if the package is adorned with a cartoon character, celebrity or offer of a free toy or other giveaway. In a recent Yale University study, a whopping 82% of foods with promotions like these failed to meet accepted nutrition standards for children by limiting sugar, salt and/or saturated fat.
Tip: Nutrition guidelines to aim for…
* 1 g. or less of saturated fat per serving and not more than 15% of calories.
* 0 g. of trans fat per serving.
* No more than 13 g. of added sugars per serving.
* No more than 200 mg. of sodium per serving.
by Gabrielle on May 10, 2010
Not 100% sure what the symbols printed on labels in clothing mean? One mix-up can spell disaster for a much-loved garment. Easy solution: Log onto textileaffairs.com from Clorox, where you’ll find clear explanations of each symbol so you’ll know which need to be washed in cold water, dry cleaned or laundered separately.
[photo: kittenishkitten]
by Gabrielle on May 9, 2010
Ever wonder how your restaurant bill got so high? Or why you planned to order a burger but ended up ordering something completely different? You could have fallen for one of the secret psychological strategies on restaurants menus that steer you toward more profitable items, such as…
* Making prices seem lower with a decoy. Ever wonder why some restaurants offer outrageously expensive dishes—like a $100 Kobe beef burger or $1000 sundae topped with edible gold? Restaurant owners don’t expect customers to actually order them. These high-ticket items simply make the other choices seem like more of a bargain, says restaurant menu engineer Gregg Rapp.
* Eliminating dollar signs so you spend more. A recent study in the International Journal of Hospitality Management reveals that diners shell out about eight percent more when there are no dollar signs on the menu. The reason? Without the reminder that you’re spending actual money, it doesn’t feel so painful to order pricier choices, explains study co-author Sheryl E. Kimes, Ph.D.
* Adding money-spending words. The right menu descriptions can boost sales 27%, according to research by Brian Wansink, Ph.D., director of the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab and author of Mindless Eating. The words with the most power to motivate you to spend? Those that describe flavor, such as “triple-basted”, “satiny cream sauce”, “crackling” and “tangy”; those that remind you of home or family members, such as Tennessee rib sauce or Aunt Sadie’s apple pie; and brand names, such as Jack Daniels chicken or Minute Maid orange juice.
* Steering your eye toward the more profitable items. They’ll be easy to spot—for instance, on the upper right hand side of the menu, in their own box or accompanied by a colorful photograph, says Rapp.
[photo: Steven Snodgrass]
by Gabrielle on May 8, 2010
At duimap.org, you can use a convenient map to find out where the most DUI traffic accidents occur in your area. That way, you can sidestep the danger by planning a new route or keep an extra eye out when you’re on a road that’s notorious for having drunk drivers.
[photo: rodeworks]
by Gabrielle on May 7, 2010
Having trouble focusing on a project, for instance, a budget you’re writing, a document you’re typing or a paper you’re researching? A recent study out of Washington University reveals an easy, fast solution to amping up your concentration: imagine that you’re holding the computer monitor or document in your hands. Study participants who pictured themselves touching a computer monitor in front of them found it significantly easier to zero in on a computer-based word task than when they imagined holding their hands behind their backs. Why? Our brain automatically zooms in on items that are closest to our hands—even if we only imagine where our hands are, the researchers say.
[photo: Don Hankin]
by Gabrielle on May 6, 2010
Think lucky people are born that way? Not according to psychologist Richard Wiseman, Ph.D., author of The Luck Factor. His research shows that people who generate good fortune tend to follow three easy habits. And, when volunteers tried them in a recent study, 80% turned their luck around after just one month. To up your luck, start by…
* Trying something new. People who attract good luck are more open to meeting people, trying new activities and even driving a new route to work. Getting out of a rut increases your chances of learning about a new job opening, business opportunity, eligible bachelor, great shopping deal, school scholarship or other lucky find.
* Listening to your intuition. Numerous studies have shown that the nagging feeling you get in your gut when making a decision is actually your subconscious putting together information from past experiences, helping you make the right choice.
* Looking for a silver lining. A resilient attitude can transform bad luck into good—for instance, if the grocery store is all out of the ingredients for your family’s favorite dinner, a different recipe you try could end up being your family’s new favorite.
[photo: cygnus921]
by Gabrielle on May 6, 2010
Notice a charge on your credit card bill that you didn’t authorize? If so, you’re not alone—the Better Business Bureau reports that mystery charges are on the rise as a result of companies using underhanded tricks to get you to sign up for services you don’t need—for instance, when you activate a new credit card, sign up for a “free” trial service, check (or don’t uncheck) a box when you purchase an item online or cash a fake rebate check, says Matthew Smith, president of Complaints.com. To avoid being on the hook for these charges, you need to act fast! First, call your credit card company. In most cases, you can ask them to dispute the first charge—after that, they assume you saw the charge on previous bills and ignored it. Some will also allow you block all future charges from that company from going through. Next, find out who’s charging your card by doing an online search for the name listed on your bill. Call the company and tell them you’re canceling their services, then ask for either a letter or email confirming the cancellation.
by Gabrielle on May 5, 2010
Next time your sweetie forgets to pick up the milk, plays Wii instead of cleans up the garage or does anything else that irritates you, instead of stewing, try saying a prayer for your mate’s good health and happiness. In a new study out of Florida State University, folks who prayed for their partner’s well-being felt closer to him or her and were more willing to overlook their honey’s flaws than those who didn’t pray. The reason? Regardless of your religious or non-religious beliefs, praying makes us feel instantly more compassionate and loving, which helps us let go of resentments more easily.
[photo: Katie Tegtmeyer]
by Gabrielle on May 5, 2010
Herbs are easy to grow and make your favorite dishes taste delicious. No wonder herb gardening is one of the most popular warm weather pastimes around. And you can savor your garden’s bounty long into the fall and winter months by drying them, says Amanda Bevill, owner of World Spice Merchants in Seattle, Washington. To do it:
* Harvest herbs at their peak. Pick leaves right before the plant flowers—that’s when they contain the hightest level of compounds that give them their distinctive flavor. Do your harvesting in the morning or evening since the sun’s heat reduces these flavorful compounds. Tip: If you harvest in the morning, make sure there’s no dew on the leaves since this will slow down the drying process.
* Dry herbs slowly. You may be tempted to pop them in the oven to speed up the process, but its high heat bakes away the flavor. Instead, hang spices with stems—such as lavender, oregano and tarragon—in small bunches. And spread out other spices on a screen that allows air to circulate. Put all drying spices in a shady, warm corner of the kitchen away from direct sunlight, which can burn the delicate leaves. Let them sit for about a week. When the leaves crackle between your fingers and fall apart, they’re finished drying.
* Store herbs right away. Put them in airtight jars away from heat and light. You’ll be able to use them for up to 12 months.
[photo: stevendepolo]
by Gabrielle on April 30, 2010
To start off on the right foot at a new place of employment, think positive! In a new study of over 500 recently hired workers from a wide range of fields, researchers found that those who expected to be successful at jumping right in and getting the hang of things were, in fact, more successful than their less positive peers. The reason? Their upbeat attitude made them more willing to seek out information about their workgroup, tasks and organization that helped get them up and running faster, explains study author Sarah Burke, Ph.D., a researcher at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand.
[photo: alancleaver_2000]
