Cranky? Drink a Glass of Water

Mild dehydration can trigger headaches, fatigue, and poor concentration among otherwise healthy men and women, according to two recent studies from the University of Connecticut.

Turns out trips to the water cooler boost your brainpower and improve your mood, in addition to providing a healthy dose of gossip.

In two separate studies, researchers from the University of Connecticut studied the effects of mild dehydration on both men and women.

Women experienced headaches, fatigue, and struggled to concentrate. They also perceived tasks as more difficult, though the low-level dehydration didn’t hinder their cognitive abilities. Slightly dehydrated men had trouble with mental tasks, particularly those involving memory and attention to detail. Overall, the studies concluded that women are more susceptible to such dehydration-induced changes in mood than men. So drink up, ladies.

The trouble with mild dehydration: You feel it mentally before you do physically.

Mild dehydration is measured as a roughly 1.5 percent loss in normal water volume in the body, but according to Lawrence E. Armstrong, PhD, one of the studies’ lead authors and a professor of physiology in UConn's Department of Kinesiology in the Neag School of Education, we don’t feel thirsty until we are anywhere from 1 to 2 percent dehydrated. “By then dehydration is already setting in and starting to impact how our mind and body perform," he said in a release.

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A Stroke Prevention Guide for Women

When you’re living a heart-healthier lifestyle, you’re not only working to protect your ticker, but you’re also helping your brain ward off stroke. There are two types of these “brain attacks”: The most common is ischemic, in which a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked; the second type is hemorrhagic, in which a blood vessel ruptures and bleeds into the brain. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. (behind heart disease and cancer), and women are more likely to die from it than men. In fact, this year, more than 100,000 women under 65 will suffer one, according to the American Stroke Association. Serious side effects can result, including vision problems, paralysis, memory loss, and speech and language problems, and sometimes even death.

While many of the risk factors for stroke and heart disease are similar (high-blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, lack of exercise and a diet high in fat and salt), some are unique—especially for women. Here’s the lowdown.

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The X Factor: How Heart Disease Affects Men and Women Differently

By Austin O’Malley

Heart disease may be the number one worldwide killer of both men and women, but that doesn’t mean it affects us in the same way. In fact, there are some key differences in how the condition manifests—and knowing what they are is one of the first steps in warding it off. Neica Goldberg, M.D., author of Total Heart Care highlights a few of the unique factors in men and women, along with a few tips that can benefit us all:

Women and Heart Disease

• One third of women have some form of cardiovascular disease.
• Women tend to develop heart disease 10 years later than men. Scientists believe the estrogen produced prior to menopause helps regulate cholesterol, decreasing heart attack risk, according to the American Heart Association.
• However, when heart attacks strike early—before age 50—they’re twice as likely as men’s to be fatal.
• Heart attack symptoms in women tend to be different, and often more subtle, than those in men. According to the Women’s Heart Foundation, early heart attack signs in women can mimic the flu: extreme weakness, unusual fatigue, headaches, nausea and stomach upset. Chest pain may not be present. Other commonly reported symptoms are sleep disturbance, jaw pain, and shortness of breath.

Men and Heart Disease

• The average age for men to have their first heart attack is 66.
• Men are at greater risk for heart attacks, even after women experience menopause according to the AHA. One possible reason why: Much lower levels of estrogen.
• Arterial plaque in men tends to form in clumps, which makes it easier to find, according to WHF. Women’s tend to develop more evenly throughout blood vessel walls, and thus, more difficult to spot.
• Typical male symptoms of heart attack include chest discomfort or pain, upper body pain, stomach pain, shortness of breath, anxiety, lightheadedness and sweating.

What everyone needs to know:

If you experience any of the heart attack symptoms described above—regardless of your sex—call 911. Early, rapid treatment offers the best odds for treatment. If it turns out to be a false alarm, so be it. You can rest easier knowing that you put your health, and yourself, first.

Source : www.smartbalance.com

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Home Remedies for Smooth Skin

Smooth skin can be achieved using natural ways. The texture of your skin, pigmentation and tone can be improved with the help of some natural ingredients. Many of the time we are not aware of what miracle a simple ingredient in your kitchen cabinet can do for you.

Here is a collection of some less popular home remedies for smooth skin which are very effective and reliable. See how you can use the natural ingredients to get the smooth and glowing skin.

Turmeric Powder, Milk and Gram Flour Natural Scrub

Gram flour since many decades has been used to cleanse and beautify the skin. Gram flour helps in removing tan, lightens the dark skin tone and even helps in fighting pimple and pimple marks.

Milk contains lactic and this makes it the ideal ingredient to be used for skin lightening remedy. Try this awesome remedy of turmeric powder and gram flour scrub to lighten your skin tone naturally in just one application of this remedy!

Things you need

• Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
• Gram flour – 1 tbsp
• Milk – 3 tsp
• Lukewarm water – ½ cup
• Bowl

Process

1. Take a bowl and add the turmeric powder and the gram flour in it and mix it well.
2. Now into this gram flour and turmeric powder mixture add the milk and mix it well to form a smooth paste like consistency.
3. Later apply this gram flour and turmeric powder paste all over the face and neck area.
4. Leave it on for about 10-15 minutes or until it dries completely.
5. Later splash your face with lukewarm water and using the tips of your fingers gently massage the paste deep into your skin and scrub it gently in circular motions.
6. This process needs to be followed once in a week for two weeks to have a smooth skin.

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Attention Men: Here's the Basic Guide to Looking Good in 4 Easy Steps

For those who think that following a face-care regime is only for women, think again! Men have harder skin which undergoes pollution. When their shaved skin is exposed to pollution and sweat, it gets more susceptible to pimples, blackheads or even skin discolouration. Men and women alike should follow basic facial care regime including cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing and so on. A bit of indulgence in personal grooming will not only make you look good but also keep those years and wrinkles off your face. According to Chandrika Mohan, who works in the area of personal care, research and development at The Himalaya Drug Company, men should opt for face wash with natural ingredients, use after-shave products according to skin-type and more to take care of their facial skin.

Apart from that, she summarizes in few points some of the most basic facial care tips for men.

For daily face cleaning, a face wash with natural ingredients must be used to remove surface impurities to refresh the skin without over-drying it and subjecting it to any chemicals.

A right shaving routine is a must for every man. Usage of after-shave products that suit your skin is ideal more so, since after shaving men's skin pores get exposed to outside air. If needed, usage of natural or herbal face washes for cleansing post shave makes sure you are cleaning the skin naturally.

Moisturizing your skin is essential to avoid dryness. For a well-nourished skin it is recommended to use moisturizers according to your skin-type.

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Do You Need a Prescription for Exercise?

People who lead sedentary lifestyles could benefit from a medically prescribed, slow and progressive approach to physical fitness, one Mayo Clinic researcher argues.

Physical inactivity should be treated as a medical condition, rather than simply a cause or a byproduct of other medical conditions, Michael Joyner, MD, a physiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., writes in a position paper in this month's Journal of Physiology.

Americans spend about 10 hours a day participating in sedentary activities, from sitting at a computer to watching television to driving, the U.S. Census Bureau reports. All that couch time is widely seen as a great health threat — one recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine even linked sitting to a higher risk of all-cause mortality. (The more hours per day you spend sitting, the worse your health outlook, the study reported.) Numerous studies have found a correlation between sitting and cancer risk, diabetes, heart disease, and more chronic conditions.

“I would argue that physical inactivity is the root cause of many of the common problems that we have,” Joyner says in a release. “If we were to medicalize it, we could then develop a way, just like we’ve done for addiction, cigarettes and other things, to give people treatments, and lifelong treatments, that focus on behavioral modifications and physical activity. And then we can take public health measures, like we did for smoking, drunken driving and other things, to limit physical inactivity and promote physical activity.”

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How Fit Are You? A Fitness Test for Adults

Simple fitness tests – most of which you can do at home – will clue you in to your heart strength, balance, and flexibility and give you a blueprint for improvement.

You owe it to yourself to make fitness a priority. Physical fitness can help prevent more than 40 chronic diseases including potential killers such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, hypertension, and even cancer.

But how do you know whether you're fit? Your overall fitness is a measure of four physical abilities — endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility — and body composition or body mass index (BMI). BMI tracks height and weight only while a body composition test, which calculates your fat and lean muscle mass, is an excellent indicator of overall fitness. For a more hands-on approach, try these personal trainer-approved fitness tests to see how you stack up.

Endurance and Cardiovascular Fitness Tests
Your endurance level reflects the health of your cardiovascular system — your heart, lungs, and circulatory system.

The VO2 Max Test: When you exercise intensely, you'll eventually reach a point when your body cannot breathe any harder to keep up. That's your VO2 max — the milliliters of oxygen used in one minute per kilogram of body weight (ml/kg/min). The more oxygen that circulates throughout your body when you exercise, the fitter you are. This is a test endurance exercisers might want to determine how much oxygen they use during intense workouts, says Mario Serban, co-founder of the LA Training Room in Los Angeles and trainer of Dancing With the Stars contestants. Because the VO2 max test requires a special face mask and other equipment, it has to be administered by a professional, usually an exercise scientist or physiologist. Talk to your doctor about your heart health before pursuing a test.

The Step Test: A simpler way to test your cardiovascular strength is the step test, says Mark Reifkind, owner of Girya Russian Kettlebells in Palo Alto, Calif. To perform the test, you need a 12-inch-high step and someone to time you. Step on the block with your right foot and then with your left so that you're standing on the step, facing forward. Reverse, going down with your right foot and then your left. Repeat this process at a consistent pace for three minutes. Rest in a chair for one minute. Then, take your pulse for six seconds and multiply that number by 10 to determine your heart rate for one minute.

The results will vary depending on your age and gender. For men ages 18 to 25, a 60-second pulse rate between 85 and 100 is average to above average; 84 or less is good to excellent, while 101 or higher is fair to poor. For men ages 46 to 55, a pulse rate of 93 or lower is good to excellent, while 113 or higher is fair to poor.

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6 Toothpaste Ingredients You Need to Avoid

You're brushing your teeth to take care of your health, so don't use counterproductive ingredients.

"Brush three times a day!" You probably grew up hearing that conventional oral-hygiene wisdom, but unfortunately, doing so today could pose an unnecessary threat to your health, thanks to certain bad-actor ingredients cropping up in popular toothpaste brands. The kicker? Some of the worst ingredients don't even help keep your teeth cleaner. "Does the risk outweigh the benefits?" asks Linda A. Straub-Bruce, BS Ed, RDH, author of Dental Herbalism. "It's what I always ask my patients to consider."

She recommends avoiding these six ingredients that just aren't worth the risk.

#1. Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS)
SLS seems to fuel canker sores. Researchers have linked SLS to higher numbers of canker sore outbreaks. As if that's not enough, SLS also seems to cause more frequent outbreaks that last longer, too, Straub-Bruce says. She also points out that there is a definite correlation with cold sensitivity. No one likes canker sores or sensitive teeth, so manufacturers must have a really good reason to justify its inclusion, right?

Nope.

"All it does is foam," explains Straub-Bruce. "There is no other viable purpose other than the experience. This doesn't translate into better health or lower microbial load, but people associate foaming with clean." In fact, she suggests that you get more cleaning power from the scraping action of brushing or flossing (or even just eating a carrot) than you do from SLS.

#2. Triclosan 
"About 15 years ago, triclosan came to oral care because it fights the bacteria in plaque for up to 12 hours," says Straub-Bruce. Unfortunately, research is now showing that, much like BPA, triclosan is a hormone disruptor.

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The Crazy Way Seltzer Water Could Actually Rot Your Teeth

Seltzer water, or sparkling water, may seem like a natural alternative to regular water or a healthy swap for diet and regular soda, but a new collection of findings shows that your drinking habit is going to wreak havoc on your teeth. 

The fascinating question sparked immediate interest, and Khazan, who once drank a dozen cans of La Croix sparkling water in one day, discovered the awful truth about the popular beverage.

First, for the good news.

"Unless they're flavored with citric or other acids, seltzers tend to have more neutral pH values than soft drinks like Coke," Khazan writes. "While bottled flat water has a pH of about 7—or totally neutral—that of Perrier is about 5.5."

But when you add in the flavors, the essentially harmless drink starts to get worrisome. One 2007 study published in the International Journal of Pediatric Dentistry observed what happened to teeth after 30 minutes of exposure to flavored sparkling water and discovered that the drink was just as damaging to the teeth as the acidic orange juice.

The carbonic acid, which helps carbonate the water, starts to wear away tooth enamel over time. That news may cause some die-hard seltzer water drinkers to abandon their habit.


Source : www.prevention.com

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What a Good Depression Treatment Plan Looks Like

A good depression treatment plan may require you to change the way you exercise, eat, sleep, and take care of your overall health. Find out why.

Major depression is a complex illness, and the most effective depression treatment attacks it from a number of fronts. When you sit down with your doctor to map out a plan, expect a wide-ranging discussion about medication, therapy, your overall health, and even your eating, exercise, and sleep habits.

During your first appointment, you’ll need to schedule enough time for your doctor to review your medical history and diagnosis, says Sanjay Mathew, MD, a psychiatrist and an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

A good rapport with your doctor is a must. Research published in 2014 in the journal Health Communication showed that women who feel their doctor listens carefully to them are more likely to stick with their depression treatment. This is especially important because follow-through is essential to recovery.

Elements of a Good Depression Treatment Plan

Because each person is different, each person’s depression is different, and various factors can affect depression, a good treatment plan must encompass a range of treatment options and lifestyle changes. These may include:

• Therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), behavioral activation, psychodynamic, and interpersonal therapies have been shown to be effective treatment options for major depression. “Most people with depression could benefit from therapy,” Dr. Mathew says. And therapy can take place one-on-one or in a group setting. If you try one type of therapy and it doesn’t work for you, don’t give up. Ask for a referral to a different therapist who might be a better match.
• Antidepressant medications. Don’t assume that you’ll automatically be prescribed medication. “The decision is often a question of severity,” Mathew says. “If depression is severe, medication is likely to be used early. If the problems are more chronic, perhaps milder, but not associated with much disability in daily functioning, then other interventions might be

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6 Ways to Take a Mental Vacation

Sometimes you need to get away, but you don't have the time or money. Don't despair: A mental vacation can help reduce your stress.  


Small stressors can quickly add up to major stress and one big stressful event can send you reeling, with no idea of how to start addressing it. If you could just get away for a little stress relief, you know you would be okay. But too few of us have the time — or the money — to run off on an impromptu vacation.

Well, you don't have to spend a dime or go anywhere other than a quiet spot nearby to take a mental vacation.

Stress Relief: Take Off on a Mental Vacation

If you don’t find a way to reduce stress, your health will pay the price, both mentally and physically. It’s not necessary to get a lengthy massage or head to a beach to relax — you can unwind every day in simple ways and still get a major benefit.

"People who are under a lot of stress have physical problems related to constantly being under stress," says Sally R. Connolly, a social worker and therapist at the Couples Clinic of Louisville in Louisville, Ky. "And if you don’t find ways [to relieve it], even in small periods of time, you can have long-term consequences." It's crucial to add stress relief to your everyday routine, she says.

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Sleep deprivation can get you into serious trouble: Study

According to the study, sleep-deprived people are more prone to signing false confessions, leading to wrongful convictions. Makes you think what other kinds of trouble they could get into.

    The odds of signing a false confession were 4.5 times higher for participants who had been awake        for 24 hours than for those who had slept eight hours the night before.

Sleep deprived people are more likely to falsely confess to wrongdoings that never occurred, according to a new groundbreaking study that has important implications for police interrogation practices.

The odds of signing a false confession were 4.5 times higher for participants who had been awake for 24 hours than for those who had slept eight hours the night before, researchers found. “This is the first direct evidence that sleep deprivation increases the likelihood that a person will falsely confess to wrongdoing that never occurred,” said Kimberly M Fenn, associate professor at Michigan State University.

“It’s a crucial first step towards understanding the role of sleep deprivation in false confessions and, in turn, raises complex questions about the use of sleep deprivation in the interrogation of innocent and guilty suspects,” Fenn said. False confessions in the US are thought to account for 15-25 percent

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Eat barley to reduce blood sugar level, risk of cardiovascular disease

You can use barley in salads, soups, stews, or as an alternative to rice or potatoes.

       Barley leads to increase in gut hormones which regulate metabolism and appetite.

Eating a special mixture of dietary fibres found in barley can help reduce appetite and blood sugar levels, finds a new study.
According to researchers, barley can also rapidly improve people’s health by reducing risk for cardiovascular disease.

“It is surprising yet promising that choosing the right blend of dietary fibres can — in a short period of time — generate such remarkable health benefits,” said Anne Nilsson from Lund University in Sweden.

Approximately 11-14 hours after their final meal of the day, participants were examined for risk indicators of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The study was conducted with healthy middle-aged participants who were asked to eat bread largely made out of barley kernels (up to 85 percent) for three days — at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

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The Beauty Benefits of Exercise

By Nicole Blades
Working out not only helps your figure, but also improves your complexion. Learn why exercise may be one of the best skin remedies for acne, wrinkles, dull skin and more.

There are plenty of reasons to exercise. For some, it’s because you booked a beach vacation, while others are focused on staying healthy. No matter what your motivation is, we can all agree that the benefits of exercise are obvious. But there’s a stealthier payoff: healthy skin. Read on to learn more about the skin and beauty rewards that come from regularly working up a sweat.

Instant Glow 
When you get your heart pumping from aerobic exercise, you’re supplying your skin with a nice dose of oxygenated blood, says Noëlle S. Sherber, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist based in Baltimore, Maryland. “It gives you that great post-workout glow.”

Wrinkle Reduction 
Working out also helps maintain healthy levels of the stress-related hormone cortisol, Sherber says. “Elevated cortisol levels are linked to increased sebum production, which means more acne breakouts,” she says. Too much cortisol can also cause the collagen in the skin to break down, Sherber says, which can increase wrinkles and sagging. “Exercise actually supports the production of collagen,” says Amy Dixon, a Los Angeles–based exercise physiologist and celebrity trainer. “The boost in this protein helps to keep your skin firm, supple, and elastic.”

Acne Relief 
Regular exercise boosts circulation. “It nourishes your skin, bringing more blood flow and oxygen to it,” says Mauro C. Romita, M.D., a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Ajune Center for Beauty Synergy in New York City. “This will help draw toxins out of the body.” Plus, all that sweating cleans out the pores of congested skin. “Working out corrects the hormonal imbalance that can cause adult acne,” Romita says.

To reap the beneficial skin effects of working out, a few extra steps are required, Sherber warns. “If you're acne prone, make sure to keep gentle, fragrance-free cleansing wipes in your gym bag.” Be

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Facelifts May Make Women Seem More Likable

But this doesn't mean they'll be happier, expert says.

Lower eye lifts and full facelifts garnered the most positive responses from those involved in the study.

A facelift might make you look younger and friendlier at the same time, a new, small study suggests.

A team of plastic surgeons found that various facial procedures — from full facelifts to eye lifts or chin implants — can significantly boost the way a woman is perceived by strangers.

Women who'd had "work" done were perceived as more likable, attractive and feminine, said the researchers who showed before-and-after photos of 30 patients to 170 people.

"One of the goals of this study was to try and figure out, in a scientifically credible and accurate way, what other people are actually 'seeing' when they see the results [of facial plastic surgery]," said study author Dr. Michael Reilly, an assistant professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

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