Are you a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty type of person? Well, if you want to improve your health you might want to consider filling up your glass a bit! Positive psychology is becoming more and more popular as a way to boost not only your emotional health, but your physical health as well. Keep reading to find out why you should keep your glass half-full all of the time. . .
Stress can have a profound impact on your health.
Foods that are specifically packaged for weight loss can be found everywhere. They range from cereal and frozen meals, to snacks, breads, and even chocolate! Most people would agree that the “diet” version is never quite as tasty as the original, and is often “bland” or “blah-tasting.” There has been some recent research that shows what happens when you deny yourself food in its full calorie form. It is important to understand how such a habit affects the process of losing weight.
Do you remember your mother telling you that if you went outside in the cold with a wet head that you'd catch your death of a cold? While your mother had good intentions, she wasn't exactly correct. Leaving the house with wet hair in the winter won't cause you to catch a cold or the flu; it will only make your hair freeze. But what about catching summer colds? Since it isn't cold outside, a wet head can't be the cause.
According to Dr. Rob Danoff, a board-certified family physician and medical correspondent for many media outlets, you will only catch a cold or the flu if you have been exposed to one of the many viruses that cause them. If you want to avoid getting ill this season, here's what to do:
1.Stay Moist
We've all experienced that feeling of razor blades in our throats when we wake up on a cold, winter morning. This is often one of the first indicators for many that the air inside of their home has dried out. When you start waking up with a dry throat and cracked lips, it's time to kick the humidifier into high-gear. Keeping your lips, mouth and throat moist will give you more power in fighting off viruses.
2.Don't Share
Your mother was right about this one: Don't share toothbrushes, lip balms or drinking glasses. One of the easiest and quickest ways to catch a cold is to share these items. Even if the person you're sharing with isn't showing symptoms, they could still be carrying a virus. If you're thirsty, go get your own glass of water, if your lips are chapped, buy your own tube of lip balm. Remember that sharing goes both ways; never let anyone use your lip balm or drink out of your glass.
3.Avoid Towels
Towels in public restrooms are never a good idea. They're also a poor idea in the employee bathroom at work. Towels are almost never washed or replaced often enough. If you use a shared bathroom, make sure that you use a paper towel or hand dryer after you wash your hands. This will prevent you from picking up any viruses left behind on a shared towel. And, while you're at it, make sure that you're washing your hands frequently throughout the day.
4.Always Turn Down a Handkerchief
The next time you're teary-eyed and a lovely gentleman offers you the use of his handkerchief, politely decline. Handkerchiefs are one of the most germ-filled items that people can carry. In fact, if you are using your own handkerchief, break the habit and throw it in the trash. Each time you have to blow your nose or wipe your eyes, you should be using a fresh tissue. Also avoid using your shirt sleeve like a child; you'll transfer your germs to everything that you touch.
5.Be a Hermit
When it comes to the summer cold season, one of the best things that you can do is to stay home. Heading out to the mall, the local big box store or even a restaurant puts you at greater risk for catching a cold. These places are usually crowded with people and, unfortunately, not all of those people are as conscious of their personal hygiene as you are. Think about this: One lady sneezes into her hand, wipes her hand on her jeans and picks up a pair of earrings. You come by 30 seconds later, pick up the same pair of earrings, put them down and then touch your face; you've just transferred germs.
While your mom was right about lot things, you aren't going to get sick simply by going outside with a wet head, especially in the summer months. If you follow the common sense advice above, you can go outside with dripping hair every day of the year and still survive the cold and flu seasons.
It’s a fact: far too many people today are living a sedentary lifestyle. What defines a “sedentary lifestyle” you ask? Well, you might be more familiar with the casual term of “couch potato.” People who live sedentary lives spend most of their time inactive, often sitting - usually in front of the TV, the computer, or a video console.
One of the most bothersome and often debilitating pains a person can be afflicted with is back pain. Back pain can inhibit your ability to enjoy life and function normally. The culprit for back pain is weak muscles. Then it makes sense that proper treatment would involve strengthening those muscles. If you suffer from back pain here a some of the best exercises that you can do to help decrease and eliminate pain.
There’s no magical route to a clear complexion, but with a little due diligence and a lot of preventative maintenance, you can keep your skin looking lovely for years to come.
Good news for people with at-risk signs of oral cancer: a recent study from Texas reveals that green tea extract may be the preventative measure these people need. In fact, the journal
Cancer Prevention Research published findings showing that more than 50 percent of study participants at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center had a clinical response to the green tea extract. Keep reading for more information on this important discovery.
Constipation can be uncomfortable, as well as painful. If you’ve ever suffered from constipation (and who hasn’t?), then you know! The good news is that relief is within reach – and not by resorting to expensive or harsh over-the-counter methods. Keep reading for some natural ways to relieve constipation.
As if the laundry list of negative health effects from drinking cola and other sodas wasn’t long enough, now research has found a new detriment: hypokalemia.
Because caffeine acts like a stimulant, most people feel it has a positive impact on their lives. Heightened alertness, improved focus, better coordination, and a faster thought process have all been reported by individuals who have ingested high quantities of caffeine. However, self discipline and moderation must also be required if someone is to continually consume caffeine. Keep reading for a scientific look at caffeine's benefits, as well as its drawbacks, due to its ability to inhibit phosphodiesterases within a cell.
A trip to the ER is seldom a planned or welcomed event. It’s usually reserved for the most serious of “oopsies” and, thus, we often arrive there with little knowledge of what to expect and what treatment we will receive. This leaves us vulnerable to the medical and financial unknowns that span a wide spectrum between life-saving or entirely superfluous. But by understanding the culture of the ER, the logistical realities of emergency medicine and the empowerment of patient choice, we can effectively protect ourselves from falling victim to a thorny system. My own medical mishap sets the context for these lessons.
Wouldn’t it be a great if just the mere smell of coffee could benefit you and help you to “wake up”? It would certainly be a welcome option for those of us who love the smell of coffee, but cannot stand the taste! Well, one study was conducted to discover that very possibility. The study was done on lab rats and sought out the effects of simply smelling coffee, rather than drinking it. Let’s take a look at what they found out . . .
The Telly Awards has named InfoTV Studios as a Bronze winner in the 34th Annual Telly Awards for their documentary on all-natural fitness competitions titled Any Body’s Game. The documentary follows two unlikely competitors, an overweight mother of two in her thirties, and a young man who had always struggled with obesity, as they prepare their bodies and minds for the stage, encountering many unexpected obstacles and rewards along the way.
If you need another reason to avoid using statins to lower your cholesterol levels, here it is. According to the Alliance for Natural Health, statins interfere with your disease-fighting cells’ ability to kill bacteria.
You may have never heard of Salba, but you have certainly heard of a different variety of the product that comes from the same plant family: chia seed. That’s right those goofy looking Chia Pets that you find all over during the Holiday season. Fortunately, the Salba chia seed has many more benefits than serving as an unwanted holiday gift!
Your daily diet plays a crucial role in proper functioning of the brain as well as its efficiency. Appropriate diet can prevent brain related issues as well as assist in increasing the capabilities of your brain like motivation, concentration and can even restrict brain aging to a great level.
Summer is coming quickly - are you ready for your bikini debut? Keep reading for some summer shape-up tips from Insider's Health Contributor, Lisa Avellino of
Focus28.
As summer rolls around, many people find themselves enjoying the outdoors. Whether outside intentionally to exercise, garden, enjoy a barbecue, or family gathering, warm temperatures and clear days mean constant sun exposure.
At the 9th Annual Nutrition and Health Conference, Dr. David S. Ludwig, Harvard Professor and Director of the Optimal Weight for Life Clinic, discussed the economic impact of obesity on society. Manifesting in the costs of resultant conditions like diabetes, pre-diabetes and cardiovascular disease, it teeters around $170 billion. At the rate this problem is escalating in the US, experts expect these economic costs to exceed $1 trillion by 2030.
