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Make Your Smart Phone the other Travel Companion

2012-10-21T10:35:00.000-04:00

When traveling, your Smartphone/mobile device can be a real friend to you when you're on vacation and/or business trip. 

These are tips I use to put my Smartphone to work when traveling. They've saved me a lot of headaches and even made my journeys more pleasurable.

Put your passport info in your Smartphone. Take a picture or video of your passport(the information). Incase your passport is lost or stolen, you'll still have your passport information with you. This can save you time and some headaches for accessing that information and replacing your passport.
When traveling overseas, keep the contact information of the embassy or consulate offices in your smart phone. For example:, as a U.S. citizen visiting a foreign country, I'll keep the contact information of the U.S. embassy in that foreign country. Put it somewhere in your mobile device where you can access it quickly and easily, i.e. speed-dial or favorites.
Before you leave on your trip: make some maps of the areas or places you plan visit and put them in your smart phone. This can help save on your data plan. Particularly in places where there is limited to no internet service. Its great when sightseeing.
Inventory checklist. Take pictures or even video of items you have when traveling. If something gets lost or stolen in transition, you'll have visual proof of it. This is especially helpful when traveling with valuables such as expensive jewelry and electronics(camera, laptop, tablet, works of art, etc.) Record the serial numbers or any other identifiable markings of items into your Smartphone.
Pocket Ambassador. When traveling to foreign countries-particularly for the first time-have some information about the local customs and culture(s). Depending on where you're going; the kind of clothing you wear and bodily gestures you display can make all the difference between a pleasant experience and a disaster. Remember, something that may seem perfectly normal to you, may not be socially-acceptable somewhere else. Its also a good idea to have some language lessons in your Smartphone(video or audio recordings). You can fill your downtime(sitting in the airport, on the plane)studying the material so you won't be completely "foreign"…in the foreign country you're visiting. Not that you will be fluent in the language and a culture-expert, but it helps to have some familiarity with the local culture/customs, and some basic language knowledge. Depending on your Smartphone, there maybe...an app for that. I highly recommend this for business travelers.
Perhaps the most important tip: before you leave. Call your carrier to make sure you have cellular service in the country of your destination. I can't count the frustrated or sad faces I've seen when a traveler discovers they can't make a call on their mobile device. But this is not a laughing matter, incase of an emergency. This is where it helps to know your plan. For business travelers and frequent flyers, I recommend a plan that allows to call anywhere in the world. For the vacationer, a pre-paid plan or calling cards should be suffice.(Footnote: it helps to have an unlocked phone in my opinion)

The take-away benefit of these tips is having information with you when you travel. Whether you're traveling overseas or domestic, these little details can help you avoid a lot of headaches if a problem occurs. They may even enhance your travel experience in using your Smartphone or mobile device in a whole new way. 

How Lonely You Feel Could Impact Your Sleep

2012-01-16T17:24:00.000-05:00

Feeling lonely at night? It just might be the cause of you not getting enough sleep. According to a study from the Dept. of Health Studies at the University of Chicago; a cause for restless sleep or lack of sleep may be linked to how lonely a person is. Lead author Dr. Kurina, PhD. Says, "The relationship between loneliness and restless sleep appears to operate across a range of perceived connectedness.

In the study, Dr. Kurina and her co-researchers compared the degree of loneliness reported by a close-knit population of 95 adults in rural South Dakota by measuring their sleep cycles. Although none of the individuals were socially isolated, their perceived notions of loneliness varied, Higher loneliness scores were linked to significantly higher levels of fragmented and restless sleep. The total amount of sleep and the degree of daytime sleepiness were not impacted.

"Loneliness has been associated with adverse effects on health," Kurina said. "We wanted to explore one potential pathway for this, the theory that sleep -- a key behavior to staying healthy -- could be compromised by feelings of loneliness. What we found was that loneliness does not appear to change the total amount of sleep in individuals, but awakens them more times during the night."

These recent findings, - which appeared in the Nov. 1 issue of the journal SLEEP-were similar to a 2002 study published by the American Psychological Society. It compared the loneliness reported by college students with their measured quality of sleep. The lonelier the students felt, the more their sleep was broken-up during the night.

The similarities among the studies help point out that loneliness and social isolation are two distinct concepts, Kurina said. Loneliness reflects perceived social isolation or feelings of being an outcast, the often-painful discrepancy between a person's desired and actual social relationships.

"Whether you're a young student at a major university or an older adult living in a rural community, we may all be dependent on feeling secure in our social environment in order to sleep soundly," Kurina said. "The results from these studies could further our understanding of how social and psychological factors 'get under the skin' and affect health."

Scientists Find That Giving Support Offers Health Benefits -To the Giver

2011-11-20T11:34:00.001-05:00

It really is better to give than to receive. This is the theory being explored by a group of life scientists at UCLA's Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center.

For their research, the scientists studied 20 heterosexual couples in good, stable relationships. The 20 women in the couples underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain scans while their boyfriends were just outside the scanner receiving painful electric shocks. At times, the women could provide support by holding the arm of their boyfriends, while at other times, they had to watch their boyfriends receive shocks without being able to provide support (each woman instead held a squeeze-ball). At still other times, the boyfriends did not receive a shock, and the women could either touch or not touch them.

So what's happening inside your head? The scientists discovered that when women gave support to their boyfriends in pain, the women showed increased activity in reward-related regions of the brain, including the ventral striatum and septal area. In addition, the more reward-related neural activity these women showed, the more connected they reported feeling with their boyfriends while providing support. Under conditions in which no support was provided, these regions showed decreased activity.

Senior study author and UCLA professor-Naomi Eisenberger explains; "The ventral striatum is the region of the brain that is typically active in response to simple rewards like chocolate, sex, and money. The fact that support-giving also activates this region suggest that support-giving may be processed by the brain as a basic type of rewarding experience. "

The findings suggests that support-giving may have stress-reducing efforts for the person who provides the support.

According to Eisenberger, the benefits of providing support might also apply when a loved one is experiencing a stressful event, including an emotionally painful event. "Giving support to those we are close to, such as family members or children, may increase their likelihood of survival and, therefore, the likelihood that our genes will get passed on," she said. "Because of the importance of support-giving for the survival of our species, it is possible that over the course of our evolutionary history, support-giving may have become psychologically rewarding to ensure that this behavior persisted."

Currently, the life scientists are conducting further research on how giving to others may reduce our stress responses and ultimately contribute to better health.

Details of the study are published in the online edition of Psychosomatic Medicine, a peer-reviewed health psychology journal.

Paralyzed Man Gets Bionic Arm

2011-10-10T12:34:00.000-04:00

Another great story of how science-fiction becomes science fact.

Tim Hemmes had been a quadriplegic for seven years since his motorcycle accident. But with the help of a robotic arm, Hemmes was able to overcome his paralysis simply by thinking about it. Mounted next to his wheelchair, he used a robotic arm to give his girlfriend a high-five. A seemingly simple act to most of us, but a milestone for Hemmes and the medical/science community.

The Pennsylvania man is among the pioneers in an ambitious quest for thought-controlled prosthetics to give the paralyzed more independence — the ability to feed themselves, turn a doorknob, hug a loved one.

At the University of Pittsburgh, researchers equipped the participants with electrodes that tap into the brain's electrical signals which control movement. Bypassing the broken spinal cord, the electrodes relay those signals to the robotic arm, thus making the arm move and controlled by the participant's thoughts.

Although Hemmes' progress is encouraging, scientists say they are years away from commercial use, but there are many teams investigating a variety of methods to use the technology. At the University of Pittsburgh, monkeys learn to feed themselves by thinking a robotic arm into motion. At Duke University, monkeys use a virtual arm on a computer and provides feedback which allows them to distinguish the texture of what they touched.

As for Hemmes; the emotional robotic touches he demonstrated have inspired researchers to recruit volunteers for soon-to-start year-long experiments. And hopefully one day, all disabled/paralyzed individuals will be able to overcome their limitations and experience a better quality of life through robotic aids.

Depression Increases Risk of Stroke

2011-09-21T11:24:00.001-04:00

Depression is already known to be a probable cause for other health ailments such as heart disease, diabetes, even cancer, but now it may also be linked for an increased risk of stroke.

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham
and Women's Hospital discovered that individuals who suffer from depression have a significantly increased risk of a stroke by as much as 45%. And the risk of dying from that stroke increases by 55%.

In the study, Harvard School of Public Health researcher/author An Pan and his colleagues found that depression contributed to the increased risk of stroke; and dying from it almost as much as smoking and obesity.

A possible connection may be due to hormones in the nervous system which are affected by depression and can increase the risk of stroke. Another factor is inflammation which is common to both depression and stroke. Lifestyle is also a contributing-factor such as smoking, healthy diet, and being overweight.

In addition, Pan says the treatment for depression might be another cause for the increased risk of stroke. Antidepressant medications may increase the risk of stroke in a number of ways. The body's chemical pathways can be affected, causing side effects such as weight gain. This results in the increased risk of stroke. Pan emphasizes that in spite of these findings, there's still a lot of information we don't know so we don't want to send the wrong message that patients should stop taking their anti-depressant medication(s).

Results of the study suggest to doctors that when screening for stroke, they should not only consider the typical risks (i.e. heart disease, and diabetes), but they should also ask about the patient's mental state. "We think that in the future, depression should be considered as a risk factor for stroke," says Pan. "We still need more evidence to see whether such screening is beneficial for patients, but our study provides convincing evidence to support more research."

Men Can and Do Care

2011-09-14T09:09:00.001-04:00

From a cultural perspective, we're led to believe that women are natural caregivers; particularly when it comes to children, but according to a recent study, this belief may change the minds of some.

A recent study by Northwestern University has revealed compelling evidence that men are in fact biologically wired to care for offspring. For the first time, the study shows conclusive evidence that fatherhood lowers a man's testosterone levels.

The effect is very similar to what is observed in other species in which males help take care of their offspring. Testosterone boost behaviors and other traits that help a male compete for a mate. After succeeding and becoming a father; mating-related activities might conflict with the responsibilities of being a father. As a result, the body will reduce the production of the hormone, allowing for more nurturing instincts to kick-in.

"Raising human offspring is such an effort that it is cooperative by necessity, and our study shows that human fathers are biologically wired to help with the job." said, study co-author- Christopher W. Kuzawa. Kuzawa is the associate professor of anthropology in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, and a faculty fellow at the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern.

In the past, similar studies were small and not conclusive. The new study takes a novel approach by following a large group of men who were not fathers and seeing if their hormones changed after becoming fathers.
The study followed a group of 624 males ages of 21.5 to 26 years old for 4.5 years in the Philippines. Titled, "Longitudinal Evidence That Fatherhood Decreases Testosterone in Human Males", the study was published Sept. 12, 2011, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The Benefits of Tai Chi

2011-07-16T12:58:00.001-04:00

If yoga isn't quite your thing, you may want to consider Tai Chi(TIE-Chee). Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art which involves slow, gentle movements. It's described as "meditation in motion" because it promotes serenity through the movements by connecting the mind and body. In many Asian/far-eastern countries, Tai Chi is used to reduce stress as well as help with a variety of other health issues.

Tai Chi exercises consist of a series of postures or movements in a slow, graceful pace. Each movement flows into the next without pause, thus keeping your body in constant motion. There are more than 100 movements and positions with Tai Chi, many of which are named after animals or nature because of there relation to the movements. Tai Chi has many different styles such as yang and wu, but all forms of Tai Chi include rhythmic patterns of movement that are coordinated with breathing to help you achieve a sense of inner-peace and balance. The concentration of the exercises forces you to live in the present moment, while setting aside distressful and distracting thoughts.

The research

Recent research studies have discovered the benefits of tai chi go beyond just stress reduction, but include:

reducing anxiety
Improved balance, flexibility, and muscle strength
Reducing falls in older adults
Improving sleep quality
Lowering blood pressure
Improving cardiovascular fitness on older adults
Relieving chronic pain
Increasing energy, endurance, and agility
Improving overall feelings of well-being

So who can do tai chi?

That's one of the best benefits. Tai Chi is inexpensive, requires no special equipment. It can be done indoors or outside; in a group or alone. This is probably why it is growing in appeal to more people. Although Tai Chi is relatively safe, you should still consider talking with your doctor before starting a Tai Chi exercise program. This is particularly important if you have any joint, back/spine, or heart issues; if you are pregnant, have any fractures, or severe osteoporosis.

How to get started

You can find a Tai Chi class in many communities today. Facilities such as:

YMCA
YWCA
Health Clubs
Community education centers
Senior centers
Wellness centers

There are also many tai chi videos, books, and DVD's available to buy or rent, but it's recommended to seek the guidance of a qualified instructor in order to gain the full benefits and learn the proper techniques.

Maintaining the Benefits

Like all exercise/fitness programs, results are not instant. While you may get some benefits from a typical 12-week class, you will enjoy the longer, bigger benefits if you continue tai chi for the long term and become more skilled. Essentially, it should be incorporated as part of your life-style for better, healthier living.

What to do when you don't the job

2011-05-15T12:05:00.001-04:00

So you've inquired about that dream job. Sent in your resume and cover letter. You get the call for an interview and assume they(HR manager, etc) must like something about you. You meet and greet with the interviewer and some of the staff you might be working with. You have your best interview game-face on and answer all the questions like a real pro. You leave satisfied believing you just aced that interview. Then the call or letter comes informing you that they decided to hire someone else. Surely your disappointed and racking your brain over what happened. You’re left asking yourself, ‘Was it something I said or didn't say?’ That's for another blog post.

So you didn't get the job, now what?

First and foremost, don't get mad, get gracious. Although its easier said than done, remember you are still a professional, even when things don't go your way. Don't post anything negative about the interview and/or company online. This is one of those times when you need to keep your rant to yourself. Negative or disparaging remarks can come back to bite you in the "ca-reer".
Send a thank you letter. Send a what? Remember, you're a professional. Thank the interviewer for giving you the opportunity to meet with him or her. They already know you're disappointed, but it shows the good character in you. Keep your letter brief and to the point. There's no need to sell yourself again. A short and simple email or even a phone call may be suffice. Do this for every interview.
Turn a negative into a positive. Keep interviewer's contact information in your files. Even though you didn't get the job this time doesn't mean you won't be considered for other positions in the future. The contact you saved can be a great source of inside information on upcoming positions. Should you decide to work for yourself, the company you didn't get the job with, could be a possible client for your services.
Stay in-touch. If the company or interviewer has an account, follow/connect with them on Facebook,Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. This will keep you up-to-date of any changes and developments going on inside. Information you could use in a possible future interview with the company. Its also a good idea to contact the interviewer periodically. Make an effort to send a brief email or even a phone call to say hello. Remind them that you're still job-hunting and still interested in a position with their company. Update the interviewer with any changes in your professional status, i.e. a degree, license, or certification you earned, an award you received, work you may have published, or a professional organization you recently joined. These are all valid reasons for staying in-touch. Reasons which can work in your favor for an up-coming job-opening.
Some may think of these efforts as a waste for time, particularly for the busy job-hunter, but its these tasks that will pay-off in the long run. By staying in-touch with the interviewer or other company representative, you're keeping your name in the fore-front of other job candidates. Its more likely they will hire you rather than someone they don't know. Should you do this for every single job you interview for? My advice: focus on the companies where you honestly believe you have a real chance of being hired. In reality, there are some companies that are worth the effort more so than others. Only you can make that determination. These tasks are simple, quick, and can be done during the convenience of your free-time.
Footnote: the truly best jobs within most companies are not advertised in the classifieds and they don't go to strangers.

What movie stars can tell us about marriage

2011-05-11T10:35:00.001-04:00

In spite of the many celebrity-splits we see, movie stars may actually hold the key to why people of similar educational backgrounds tend to stay together.

Social scientists have known for years that married people tend to be sorted by their levels of education, but the reasons for it have been elusive. It could be all about money. People may assume that a partner with similar education will have a salary that matches theirs. Or it could have to do with lifestyle factors. Similar education may lead to similar interests in books, music, and hobbies.

On the other hand, sociologists might argue that sorting by education has less to do with personal preference and more to do with who we're likely to meet. People often meet their future spouses in college or grad school. Also, people of similar educational backgrounds tend to end up side-by-side in the workforce, leading to ample opportunities to strike up romance.

Movie star marriages can help sort all this out, according to Gustaf Bruze, an economist at the Aarhus School of Business and Social Sciences in Denmark.

Bruze assembled a large data set of top movie stars' marriages, earnings, and education levels. He found that level of formal education has no correlation with a movie star's success, either in terms of box office earnings or the likelihood of winning an Oscar. Yet despite the disconnect between education and success, movie stars who marry each other still tend to have similar educational backgrounds, Bruze's analysis shows. His data also show that actors are unlikely to meet their spouses in school, or be cast together in movies due to their education level.

The findings suggest that sorting on education isn't all about the money or solely an artifact of professional affiliations. "What it says is that men and women have very strong preferences for nonfinancial partner traits correlated with education," Bruze said. "And educational sorting would remain even if the tendency of men and women to work with colleagues of a similar educational background were to disappear or if the role of educational institutions as a meeting place for future husbands and wives were to disappear."

It also means that if you're looking to marry actor and Ph.D. student James Franco, you might want to hit the books instead of the Hollywood social scenes.

Source: University of Chicago Press Journals, 2011

FDA Proposes Calorie Labels on Foods

2011-04-02T17:08:00.001-04:00

Pretty soon, you might see this familiar label on a lot more foods, or at least something similar to it.

In the fight against America's obesity epidemic, the FDA is proposing the labeling of calories on the menus of chain restaurants, vending machines, and other retail food outlets.

According to HHS(Health and Human Service) Secretary-Kathleen Sebelius, "These proposals will ensure that consumers will have more information when making food choices. Giving consumers clear nutritional information makes it easier for them to choose healthier options that can help fight obesity and make us all healthier."

The FDA wants customers to be able to view calories listed in restaurants and food outlets which form part of a chain consisting of about 20 locations which conduct business under the same name. This might include fast food restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, and bakeries. Excluded will be such places as airports, movie theatres, and sports centers.

If you have any suggestions, the FDA is inviting the public to offer suggestions and ideas that might improve the proposal, such as adding other types of food outlets which might have been excluded or how the labeling should look, etc. Final rules are planned to be finalized by the end of this year.

Click here to go to a web page where your proposals can be registered.

To submit a proposal:

Chose Submit a Comment
Enter the follow docket numbers in the "Keyword" space: docket number FDA-2011-F-0172 for menu items in restaurants and similar retail food establishments, and docket number FDA-2011-F-0171 for vending machines.
Select Search

Source: Medical News Today

Fish Love Women...and hopefully Men too.

2011-03-17T21:21:00.001-04:00

A study has revealed that women whose diet was rich in Omega-3 fatty acids were at drastically lower risk of developing macular degeneration.

In a Harvard Women's Health Study, researchers followed 39, 876 women in midlife since 1993. After 10 years of follow-up, 235 of the women had developed macular degeneration, a progressive eye disease that is the leading cause of vision loss in the elderly. But the women who reported eating one or more servings of fish per week were 42 percent less likely to develop macular degeneration than the women who ate less a serving per month.

According to the study's lead author, Dr. William G. Christen of Harvard Medical School; "We know that inflammatory processes are involved in A.M.D.(age-related macular degeneration), and the omega-3 long-chain fatty acids do have an anti-inflammatory effect."

So which are the best fish to eat? Canned tuna and dark-meat fish such as mackerel, salmon, sardines, bluefish, and swordfish appeared to have the most benefits.

Photo Sharing Reflects Focus on Female Appearance

2011-03-08T17:24:00.001-05:00

A new study published in the journal Cyberpsychology, females who base their self-worth on their appearance tend to share more photos online and maintain larger networks online-social networking site to be exact. The findings were discovered by researcher-Michael Stephane, PhD and his colleagues at the University at Buffalo.

The results suggest persistent differences in the behavior of men and women that result from a cultural focus on female image and appearance.

In the study, 311 participants with an average age of 23.3 years -- 49.8 percent of whom were female -- completed a questionnaire measuring their contingencies of self worth. The subjects were also queried as to their typical behaviors on Facebook.

"Those whose self esteem is based on public-based contingencies (defined here as others' approval, physical appearance and outdoing others in competition) were more involved in online photo sharing, and those whose self-worth is most contingent on appearance have a higher intensity of online photo sharing," Stefanone says.

Stefanone notes that the women in this study who base their self worth on appearance were also the most prolific photo sharers.

Participants whose self worth is based on private-based contingencies (defined in this study as academic competence, family love and support, and being a virtuous or moral person), For these people, social media are less about attention seeking behavior.

Contingencies on which people assess their self worth represent a new approach to understanding how personal identities are developed and maintained. "This study provides a framework for future explorations of identity construction, social interaction and media use in a rapidly changing communication environment", says Stephanone.

"Although it's stereotypical and might have been predicted," he says, "it is disappointing to me that in the year 2011 so many young women continue to assert their self worth via their physical appearance -- in this case, by posting photos of themselves on Facebook as a form of advertisement. Perhaps this reflects the distorted value pegged to women's looks throughout the popular culture and in reality programming from 'The Bachelor' to 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians.'

Stefanone's research emphasis is on group-level, computer-mediated communication (CMC), distributed groups and Internet-based communication tools like social networking sites. He also explores novel uses of CMC technologies like blogs and social network sites, and the effects these tools have on interpersonal relationships.

Social & Family ties Influence Obesity

2011-02-24T10:34:00.001-05:00

So can your friends and family members make you fat? That's what researchers at the Miriam Hospital's Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center set out to answer.

In a study published by the journal Obesity, young adults ages 18-25 were more likely to have overweight romantic partners and best friends, casual friends and even family members compared to normal weight peers. Overweight young adults also reported having social connections with other people trying to lose weight, had great weight loss intentions.

Why is this important? Forty percent of young adults age 18-25 are considered overweight or obese. This age groups is also experiencing the highest rate of weight gain per year-about one to two pounds.

The participants completed questionnaires to determine their weight and height, number of overweight social contacts (including best friends, romantic partners, casual friends, relatives and colleagues/classmates) and perceived social norms for obesity and obesity-related behaviors.

Overweight and obese study participants completed additional questionnaires to assess how many of their overweight social contacts were currently trying to lose weight, perceived social norms for weight loss (such as how frequently social contacts encouraged them to lose weight or whether the people closest to them would approve if they were to lose weight), and intentions to lose weight within the next three months.

Compared to normal weight young adults, those who were overweight or obese were more likely to have an overweight romantic partner (25 percent vs. 14 percent) and an overweight best friend (24 percent vs. 14 percent). The data suggests that obesity 'clusters' in this population. But interestingly, social norms for obesity did not differ between the two groups and did not account for the clustering. Both groups reported low levels of social acceptability for being overweight, eating unhealthy foods and being inactive.

The study also showed overweight and obese young adults who had more social contacts trying to lose weight were more likely to want to lose weight themselves. Social norms for weight loss, such as encouragement and approval from social contacts, account for this association.

The Miriam Hospital's Weight Control and Research Center also points out that young adults are less likely to participate in behavioral weight loss intervention programs, but when they do, they tend to lose less weight than older adults. According to one researcher, the key to an effective obesity treatment and prevention program; is identifying the factors that influence both weight status and weight control in this high-risk group.

Enhance Romance by Going out With Other Couples

2011-02-16T19:45:00.001-05:00

Romantic relationships often start out as enjoyable or even exciting, but sometimes may become routine and boring. A Wayne State University study reveals that dating couples that integrate other couples into their social lives are more likely to have happy and satisfying romantic relationships.

Richard B. Slatcher, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology in WSU's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and a resident of Birmingham, Mich., specializes in social and health psychology. His recent research suggests that spending quality time with other couples may be an important way to improve long-term dating relationships.

His study, "When Harry and Sally met Dick and Jane: Experimentally creating closeness between couples," which recently appeared in Personal Relationships, investigated 60 dating couples in a controlled laboratory setting. The object was to better understand how friendships between couples are formed, and to learn how these friendships affected each couple's romantic relationship.

Each couple was paired with another couple and given a set of questions to discuss as a group. Half of the groups were given high-disclosure questions intended to spark intense discussion, while the other half were given small-talk questions that focused on everyday, unemotional activities.

"In this study, we discovered that those couples who were placed in the "fast friends" group felt closer to the couples they interacted with, and were more likely actually to meet up with them again during the following month," said Slatcher. "We also learned that these same couples felt that this friendship put a spark in their own relationships, and they felt much closer to their romantic partners."

The couples in the high-disclosure group reported greater increases in positive feelings after the intense interaction. They also felt the interaction was more novel and that they learned new things about their romantic partner compared to couples in the small-talk group. In addition, one-third of the couples in the high-disclosure group contacted the other couple they met in the study, while none of the couples in the small-talk group initiated contact with the couple they had met.

"This study suggests that if your romantic relationship has a case of the doldrums, having fun with another couple may help make your own relationship more satisfying," said Slatcher.

(Science Daily)

The Benefits of a Vacation

2011-02-12T13:24:00.001-05:00

If you haven't taken a vacation in a while, you probably should make plans for one soon. Your mind and body will thank you for it.

In our fast-paced, hectic world, we're plagued with negative economic news and a questionable job market which adds to the stress that so many people already endure on a daily basis. So much so that many people have avoided taking a vacation for fear of losing their job. All the more reason to take that vacation.

Studies have shown that taking a vacation can reduce the risk of dying from heart disease-often brought on by stress-in addition to contributing to a more healthier life. In a study conducted by the University of New York in Oswego; 12,000 men, ages 35-57, participated in a heart disease prevent program. The results showed the men who took vacations every year reduced their overall risk of death by 20 percent and their risk of death from heart disease by 30 percent.

Stress is the cruelest trick played upon the mind. When our mind is constantly occupied with work ,other responsibilities, and problems; it is the stress which often manifest itself into the health problems which cause us to get heart disease and other ailments. Its important to take a vacation; to have that time to relax the mind and body. By doing so, you can come back refreshed and better able to handle those challenges and stresses of work and other responsibilities that were slowly killing you from within. Finding that balance is what its really about. A study from the University of Pittsburgh's Mind-Body Center, says that people who had more leisure activities reported more life satisfaction and more meaning in their life.

So what makes for a good vacation? Here are some helpful suggestions:

Make sure to have a vacation budget. You shouldn't be thinking about whether or not you can afford a vacation during the process of taking one, or running out of money.
Let your boss and co-workers know about your vacation early.
Reserve the flights and hotels early. This will help avoid any confusion which can ruin a vacation.
Pack light. You're on vacation, not relocating.
Leave the laptop at home and the cell phone off or at home. Too many people take these devices with them to do work, which defeats the purpose. But as for electronic devices, do take a digital camera to record those fun memories. I would even suggest a journal, if you prefer to write about your experience.
If traveling outside your perspective country, make sure your passport and other documents are up to date.
Try taking a vacation somewhere you've never been before. Doing something you've never done before. New experiences are very stimulating to the mind, body, and soul.
To help plan your vacation, visit these helpful links which offer a wealth of information on great deals that can fit into your budget.

Smarter Travel.com

Vacation Outlet.com

Orbitz.com

Scam.com

2011-02-05T14:01:00.001-05:00

This is the time of year when many scams are abundant on the internet. Those holiday bills are coming in and debts are starting to increase as a result. With job market looking scarce; many people tend to seek out online money-making opportunities-usually in form of some home-based business or work-at-home job which promises a lucrative income. Unfortunately, many of these deals require you to pay fee or subscription to access a specific website or to download the materials needed to work the business/program.

Of course the flashy advertising doesn't hold back on the claims it makes and it is these claims which entice you to buy. Unfortunately, the claims made by many of these ads are not true or they are overly exaggerated. Which all comes down to one word; scam.

When considering buying into an online money-making program, its important to do your home work first.

Being internet street-smart can save you a lot of time, money, and headaches.

First and foremost, make sure the business has contact information-a phone number and address. I would suggest calling the business and ask some questions about the program or opportunity before buying. Make sure you get to speak with a live human being and not just leaving messages on a voice mail.
Check if the business is listed with the Better Business Bureau. Note: not every business/advertiser is listed in the BBB, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they're not legit, but in all honesty, it does add to their credibility.
Making a payment, make sure the website is secure. Look for the "https" in the address bar. This indicates a secure site. FYI: not all websites are truly secure. Some phishers use websites which appear to have padlocks. To check, click on the padlock icon on the status bar to see the security certificate.
Use a PayPal account when making purchases on line. Its separate from your checking or savings account and PayPal can take steps to refund your money if necessary. Which reminds me.
Stay away from online money-making deals that don’t have a refund policy. This can be a red flag of a scam. Make sure the policy is clearly stated. You might even want to copy and paste it to a note pad for your records. There are numerous sites that make it easy for you to buy, but make it very difficult to get your money back.
Spam-junk e-mail is often used to promote bogus investment schemes. With bulk email software, spammers can send out millions of email ads, some even personalized with your name and address on it. Many scam artists use spam to reach potential victims.
Work at home deals. Be very careful of those work-at-home opportunities. There are so many of them which require you to pay a fee. Hmmm, paying a fee to work for a company. That should be a red flag to you. Keep in mind that truly legit work-at-home deals will not require a fee.

If you are scammed, you are not powerless. There are steps you can take to recoup your money and even bring the scammers to justice.

If you're having a problem with a online business your dealing with, don't hesitate to contact the Better Business Bureau. Businesses hate complaints filed against them and this is particularly true if they are members of the BBB. Another option is contacting the state's Attorney General in the state where the business is located. Many state Attorney Generals' offices have websites where you can file a complaint online and report scams. You can even contact your local FBI office or go to their website where you can report a scam at http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/ . Try working out the matter first with the business, often just the threat of filing a complaint or being reported to the authorities is enough to get justice.

Roasting Coffee Beans Dark Brown Produces Valued Antioxidants

2011-02-03T13:30:00.001-05:00

Food scientists at the University of British Columbia have been able to pinpoint more of the complex chemistry behind coffee’s much touted antioxidant benefits, tracing valuable compounds to the roasting process.

Lead author Yazheng Liu and co-author Prof. David Kitts found that the prevailing antioxidants present in dark roasted coffee brew extracts result from the green beans being browned under high temperatures.

Their findings will appear in a forthcoming issue of Food Research International.

Liu and Kitts analyzed the complex mixture of chemical compounds produced during the bean’s browning process, called the “Maillard reaction.” The term refers to the work by French chemist Louis-Camille Maillard who in the 1900s looked at how heat affects the carbohydrates, sugars and proteins in food, such as when grilling steaks or toasting bread.

Antioxidants aid in removing free radicals, the end products of metabolism which have been linked to the aging process.

“Previous studies suggested that antioxidants in coffee could be traced to caffeine or the chlorogenic acid found in green coffee beans, but our results clearly show that the Maillard reaction is the main source of antioxidants,” says Liu, an MSc student in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems (LFS).

“We found, for example, that coffee beans lose 90 per cent of their chlorogenic acid during the roasting process,” says Kitts, LFS food science professor and director of the Food, Nutrition and Health program.

The UBC study sheds light on an area of research that has yielded largely inconsistent findings. While some scientists report increased antioxidant activity in coffee made from dark roasted beans, others found a decrease. Yet other theories insist that medium roast coffees yield the highest level of antioxidant activity.

(RedOrbit.com)

Super Bowl could be hazardous to your health

2011-02-01T18:02:00.001-05:00

(Health.com) -- This Sunday's Super Bowl could prove to be a real heartbreaker for some fans of the losing team.

A new study suggests that the emotional stress fans feel after a loss may trigger fatal heart attacks, especially in people who already have heart disease. Stress generates the so-called fight-or-flight response, which causes sharp upticks in heart rate and blood pressure that can strain the heart.

For people with heart disease -- or for those who are at risk due to factors such as obesity, smoking, and diabetes -- such strain can prove harmful, if not fatal.

In the study, which was published Monday in the journal Clinical Cardiology, researchers analyzed death records in Los Angeles County for the two weeks after the 1980 and 1984 Super Bowls, both of which featured teams from Los Angeles. (The game days were included.) Then, as a control, the researchers looked at the same data from the corresponding days in the intervening years.

In 1980, when the Pittsburgh Steelers staged a fourth-quarter comeback to beat the underdog L.A. Rams, heart-related deaths shot up 15% among men and 27% among women in the subsequent two weeks, compared with the same period in 1981 through 1983.

There was also a significant increase in deaths among people ages 65 and older, the study found.

Breast Implants still have Safety Concerns

2011-01-29T12:31:00.000-05:00

After a decade of worries over silicone, they have had a number of years without bad press. But now comes news of an increased risk of a rare cancer.

Though modern breast implants have been around for decades, questions of safety continue to plague augmentation even as the artificially enhanced bosom has become common.

The latest development: On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration announced it was investigating a possible link between breast implants and an increased risk of a rare cancer called anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, or ALCL.

As many as 60 women have developed ALCL among the 5 million to 10 million worldwide with implants. That compares to the rate of breast tissue ALCL in the normal U.S. population — about 3 in 100 million. The disease arises in scar tissue that forms around the implant, either silicone or saline, and is treatable.

The cancer risk, if it exists, is miniscule, and women with implants need not undergo tests or have implants removed if they are not having problems, the FDA said. But they should be aware of the symptoms of ALCL, which include swelling, pain or lumps around the implants.

The news shouldn't be cause for panic, said Los Angeles plastic surgeon Dr. Geoffrey R. Keyes, president of the California Society of Plastic Surgeons. "But it will require substantial research to determine exactly what the risk is," he said.

The development comes at a time when breast implants have had a number of years without bad press. Indeed, breast augmentation remains the most popular elective cosmetic surgery in the U.S.: Even with a drop during the recession, the surgeries have risen 36% since 2000.

Much of the popularity involves resolution of a decade-long battle over the safety of silicone implants.

In 1992, the FDA placed a ban on silicone implants, except as part of clinical trials, because of fears that silicone leaking from the implant could trigger autoimmune disease and other health problems. The agency lifted the ban in 2006, but asked the two U.S. manufacturers, Mentor and Allergan, to continue to collect data on 40,000 women for 10 years to further monitor safety.

Today, although both silicone and saline implants are available, "virtually nobody picks the saline anymore" because the safety concerns over silicone have been alleviated and because silicone looks and feels more natural, said Santa Monica plastic surgeon Dr. Michael McGuire, former president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. "Breast implants are the most studied device in the history of medicine. When you look at the magnitude of the studies around the world, there is just about no evidence to support many of the fears that arose in the '90s," he said.

But though the FDA no longer considers autoimmune disease a risk, the agency lists other complications. The main ones are the need for additional operations, pain, changes in nipple and breast sensation, capsular contracture (shrinkage of a lining of scar tissue that forms around the implant, causing pain and breast hardness), rupture, and, for silicone-gel implants, migration of silicone should a rupture occur. Implants can also make it more difficult to read mammograms.

The rate for the most common and bothersome problem, capsular contracture, is roughly 10% in the first five years for saline implants and about 30% in the first three to five years for silicone implants, according to FDA data. More data are available at http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices.

Researchers are continuing to explore the pros and cons of a growing variety of implant designs, including textured silicone-gel implants — versus the traditional smooth silicone gel — and so-called extra-high-projection implants, which are larger implants that project out further from the chest. Recent studies suggest highly textured implants may increase the rate of capsular contracture.

Manufacturers are testing a different type of implant, the cohesive gel implant, available for now only in clinical trials.

The FDA cautions that most women will need operations to correct ruptures, complications or poor cosmetic outcomes. Complication rates increase for each revision surgery. But many don't heed the warnings, Keyes said. Even when doctors explain the risks, "patients … often de-emphasize the negatives and accentuate the positives."

The market for breast implants, which have with a price tag of about $4,000, is expected to grow about 7% per year over the next four years, said Sana Siddiqui, manager of the aesthetic division at Millennium Research Group, a Toronto-based market research company. Women ages 19 to 34 are a fast-growing segment of the market.

How to stay Healthy during the Winter Season

2011-01-29T11:56:00.000-05:00

Lower temperatures and stressful holidays can present a host of challenges to your health. Try these simple tips to help ward-off winter blues.

Dance away the blues

Short days and frigid temps turn you crabby. But a good workout (and that includes boogying to your favorite tunes) can hike feel-good endorphins. In fact, studies show that music activates parts of the brain linked to happiness.

Phone a friend. Feeling that strong emotional bond may raise your levels of progesterone, a mood-boosting, stress-reducing hormone.
Have sex. Estrogen and prostaglandins in semen may ease feelings of depression, a State University of New York study says.
Cue a comedy. Just anticipating how much you’ll laugh while watching a funny movie is enough to boost endorphins.

Traffic is Bad for You

2011-01-26T15:32:00.000-05:00

A medical study done in Denmark shows exposure to traffic noise can raise a person's risk of having a stroke, especially in people age 65 and older.

Researchers found stroke risk in that age group rose by 27 percent for every ten decibels of higher road traffic noise.

The lead researcher says the finding adds to evidence from previous studies on how traffic noise may cause cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure and heart attacks.

She says noise acts as a stressor and disturbs a person's sleep while increasing stress hormones.

The tendency for older people to have more fragmented sleep patterns and sleep disturbances may explain why the link between traffic noise and stroke risk was seen mainly in the study's older participants.

Sick-Proof Yourself for the Winter

2011-01-26T15:28:00.000-05:00

A hot cold cure

Not a tea drinker? Any warm liquid—including chicken soup and fruit drinks—can help relieve cold and flu symptoms. Heated drinks help loosen congestion and stimulate the flow of mucus, as well as keep you hydrated.

Citrus Firewall

Stock-up on fresh oranges and grapefruit.

Private juice bar

Sip antioxidant-rich juice with the help of a juicer. Pop the fruit on top, and it extracts the juice in seconds.

Whistle blower

Next time you're feeling under the weather, put on this cheery Copco Camden kettle ($20; amazon.com) and curl up with a cup of tea. (Snuggly blanket and trashy TV optional).

Lather, rinse, repeat

It may seem old-school, but washing hands with soap and water is your first line of defense against bugs. No need for harsh antibacterial suds—a luxe version like L'Occitane Soap with Verbena Leaves (soap, $6, dish, $8; loccitane.com) is just as effective.

Clean swipe

After you're done with your yoga routine, de-grime your mat with Herban Essentials Yoga Towelettes ($15 for pack of 20; herbanessentials.com). They're infused with lavender essential oil, believed to have antibacterial properties.

Sharing isn't caring!

Avoid drink mix-ups (and sickness-spreading) by using ClinQs ($6; clinqs.com), chic reusable stickers for marking glasses or bottles. Cheers to not taking a swig from someone else's water bottle! These are great when you host parties.

Brush off germs

Keep your toothbrush clean with the Zapi Toothbrush Sanitizer ($30; violight.com), which uses ultraviolet-light technology to eliminate up to 99% of bugs (such as E. coli, H1N1, and salmonella).

You can never have enough

Change pillowcases often, especially when you or anyone who shares your bed feels ill. Stock up on fun linens like these Garnet Hill Zinnia Sateen pillowcases ($30 for a pair; garnethill.com), and wash 'em at least once a week.

Why You should not Smoke

2011-01-23T12:26:00.001-05:00

I find it ironic that I don't smoke and like to smoke having come from a family of smokers. My mother smoked, but quit many years ago when I was a child. My father was a heavy smoker and smoked well into my adult years. He only stopped upon progression of his cancer. My sister still smokes to this day, but is in process of quitting. Good for her.

For all the reasons you should not smoke, this piece of information should make your decision much easier and clear.

Cigarettes damage the body within minutes of taking a puff, new research suggests. In a small study, scientists tracked the level of a chemical associated with cancer—one polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)—in 12 smokers and found it began damaging their DNA within 15 to 30 minutes of finishing a cigarette, according to a report published in the American Chemical Society's journal Chemical Research in Toxicology. "Almost everybody knows that smoking can cause lung cancer," Martin Dockrell, director of policy and research at the advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, told BBC News. "The chilling thing about this research is that it shows just how early the very first stages of the process begin—not in 30 years, but within 30 minutes of a single cigarette. But it is never too late to quit."

Home Gym Ideas for $100 or Less

2011-01-21T11:50:00.001-05:00

You don't have to break you budget to get in shape. In fact, you don't even have to join a gym with their pricey membership fees.

Here are some great tips for making your open home gym for $100 or less.

Don't buy anything that's going to gather dust. Buy what you'll use. Determine what fitness goal you want to accomplish and buy the equipment that will help you accomplish it.
Look at what you already have. Chances are you already have all the equipment you need. Before you spend any money, look in that basement, garage, or closet. Items around the house can make for good substitutes: chairs for dips and push-ups, a towel for resistance training, Cans of food and jugs of milk or detergent for free weight exercises. You can even craft a homemade jump rope from cords or other ropes you have around the house.
DIY. Buy foam roller and you've got your own self-massage tool. Use tennis balls for a self-massage. Lie on you back and bend your knees, then put them under you butt and hips to work out those tight spots. Use One ball on each side of your spine to work out knots there. Use a hot-water bottle for your feet.
Buy the basics. Keep it simple. Usually a plain set of dumbbells is all you need. You can find dumbbells for just 50 cent per pound of weight. For women 5-12 pounds is sufficient, for men 12-25 pounds. Inflatable stability balls and medicine balls can be bought for $25 or less. An adjustable chin-up bar is also helpful.
Technology. There are many exercise DVD's and videos available for less than $10. Try Amazon.com. Your local dollar store might even carry some exercise DVD's or CD's.
Don't forget your shoes. A pair of good sneakers is essential for exercising. But that doesn't mean it has to be expensive. Just make sure the shoe fits you well and is appropriate for the activity you're doing.
Go outside. Alternatively, hit the park. Stand on rocks, this will challenge your balance, use rocks as weights. Hang from a tree branch for chin-ups. Do sprints across the grass.

Remember, people have been exercising for thousands of years without any equipment. They used what was around them and you can too.

Snow Business

2011-01-19T12:17:00.001-05:00

For some, snow means fun, but for those of us who have to shovel it, now can mean the onslaught of injuries when you to shovel it. Back injuries are especially common this time of year, as more people are out doing this laborious task.

In a study, from Cornell University, the L5/S1 disk is the weakest link in the spinal column/body chain and most susceptible to injury. For us non-doctors, this is the lower back area. Which unfortunately, gets a lot of wear and tear during a task such as snow shoveling.

Some helpful tips to make your snow shoveling safer and smarter:

Stretch. Stretch your muscles before shoveling. This will help avoid pulled cramps and other muscles injuries.
Be heart smart. Don't eat or smoke before shoving snow. Avoid caffeinated drinks and other products. Caffeine will increase your heart rate and cause blood vessels to constrict. Not good when shoveling snow.
Dress for the weather. Wear clothing that is easy to move in. Always wear a hat-most of your body heat is lost through your head. Proper boots are essential. Make sure they will keep your feet warm and dry. They should have a good grip to help prevent slipping on the snow and ice. Choose gloves that will keep your hands warm and dry, and have a good grip to them for easy handling of the shovel. A thick-layered glove is recommended.
Shovel ergonomics. Choose a with a curved handle. The special of the handle helps keep your back straight. This is ideal for anyone who has back issues. You can find these shovels at many hardware or improvement stores.
Consider a shovel with a plastic blade. Plastic blades are lighter than the metal blades, thus making the shoveling chore easier.
Smaller is better. A smaller blade may mean less of a load per shovel, but it will be lighter and less strain on the back.
Pushing instead of lifting. It's actually easier to push snow aside than to lift it. There shovels specifically-made to push snow. Check your hardware store to see if they have them.
Technique. You've probably heard it all before, but it's true. Lift with your legs, not your back. Squat with your legs about a shoulder's width apart. Lift small amounts, nothing too heavy. Don't twist your body. Dump the snow in front of you. Not over your shoulder.
Feeling cold. When you start feeling cold, that's the time to go inside and warm-up.
Stop when feeling tired. Don't shovel to the point when you're feeling exhausted. Know your body and limits.
Hire help. If shoveling snow is out of the question for you, budget to pay someone do it for you. Advertise in local newspapers, even social networks like Facebook or Twitter can be good places to find someone near you willing to help.