Posts tagged as:

health

We eat less candy when we see this

by Gabrielle on March 8, 2010

The empty wrappers! In a recent study, Cornell University Food and Brand Lab director Brian Wansink, Ph.D., found that people ate about half as many mini-sized candies when they kept the wrappers in plain sight. Turns out, having a visual cue is key for sending the message to your brain that it’s time to stop snacking. “Your stomach can’t count, but your eyes can when they see the empty wrappers,” he says.

The no-nag way to get kids to do anything

by Gabrielle on March 7, 2010

Tired of begging your kids to do things that are good for them—such as brushing their teeth, taking their vitamins, buckling up in the car or drinking their milk? Tel Aviv University have found the problem—and the solution! In their recent study, they found that kids [more…]

Never forget again with this free reminder

by Gabrielle on March 4, 2010

Need to remember something important, such as a dentist appointment or when to take a pill? Log onto the free reminder service memorari.us and simply choose a date, time and delivery option (email, text or IM), then type your reminder message. It will be delivered automatically.

[photo: Julia Freeman-Woolpert]

Teens aren’t trying to be difficult–really

by Gabrielle on March 4, 2010

Have a moody teen? She or he may not be able to help it. A research team from SUNY Downstate Medical Center discovered that the hormone THP that your body releases in times of stress to relax you produces the opposite reaction in teens going through puberty. As a result, they feel even more anxious and irritable in tense situations.

[photo: OakleyOriginals]

Want to get in shape for swimsuit season?

by Gabrielle on March 3, 2010

Grab a pen!  The American Heart Association found that of the 69% of women who set an exercise goal in past 12 months, just 22% achieved it. So, what did the successful women do that the others didn’t? Nope, they didn’t hire a pricey personal trainer. They simply wrote down their goals, used calendars to manage their time and tracked their progress with paper charts and online trackers.

Tip: The longer you stick to your routine, the easier it gets! About half of women who fail at their exercise goal stop trying after just two months while those who are more successful stick it out for at least six months.

Be a lifesaver: Host a CPR party

by Gabrielle on March 3, 2010

Imagine you’re out on a mani/pedi date with your BFF when, in between coats of Lickable Pink, she suddenly slumps to the floor and stops breathing. Can you remember enough CPR training you learned from Girl Scouts mumble-mumble years ago to save her life?

Why risk it? Invite your friends and family over and get a refresher course right at home using the Family & Friends CPR Anytime kit from the American Heart Association. Each kit contains an inflatable mannequin, practice lungs and an instructional DVD that shows you the basics of CPR. An accompanying booklet explains how to perform CPR on babies and what to do for a choking victim. [more…]

Want to break a bad habit? Change this

by Gabrielle on March 1, 2010

Your routine. A Duke University study recently found this works faster and more effectively at breaking bad habits—like cigarette smoking and eating junk food—than relying on willpower alone. So, if you always light up with co-workers on your coffee break, take a walk around the block by yourself instead. And, if you can’t resist the lure of fattening French fries, change your driving route so you don’t pass fast food restaurants.

[photo: meddygarnet]

Discovered: The pill that slows aging

by Gabrielle on February 27, 2010

It’s your multivitamin! A recent National Institutes of Health study reveals that the body cells of women who pop one every day are biologically younger than those who skip them. Credit goes to the micronutrients they contain, which help fend off free radical damage and chronic inflammation that age your body faster, says lead study author Honglei Chen, M.D., Ph.D..

[photo: ian.schofield]

Slim down by ditching juices and smoothies

by Gabrielle on February 26, 2010

You probably know that loading up on fruits and vegetables helps you lose weight since they’re low in calories and high in filling fiber. Yet, getting produce in juices and smoothies can have the opposite [more…]

Chatty doctors are bad for your health

by Gabrielle on February 26, 2010

It may seem like friendly doctors who joke around and share personal stories are better than those who are all business. Yet, one study shows that physicians who tell funny anecdotes or chat about their life—like what they did on vacation and how their kids are—are actually providing less quality service than quieter docs. Using secretly recorded patient visits, [more…]

Germs guard your child’s heart

by Gabrielle on February 25, 2010

No time to clean the house? That could be good news for your kid’s health, reveals a new Northwestern University study. “Ultra-clean, ultra-hygienic environments early in life may contribute to higher levels of [more…]