Will It Go Round In Circles? Paying It Forward, One Byte at a Time
In 2011, the FDA approved MelaFind, a new technology for use by dermatologists that uses specialized light waves for earlier detection of suspect lesions.
Knowledge is Power. Empower yourself.
Learn more here at the Huffington Post.
And here, in more detail, directly from MELA Sciences.
You actually HAVE an omentum and you really NEED to know what it is and what it does. HINT: if you let it get out of control, the omentum will actually function as an endocrine gland and completely sabotage your attempts at weight loss. . .
So visit the link and empower yourself!
Dead Link; SORRY–will update ASAP….
Did you know that your cells have a pulse, just like your heart? And that, no matter what animal or vegetable you may be, you’re alotted approximately one and one half billion pulses in your lifetime, and no more?
The tiny hummingbird pulses fast; its life is short. The majestic elephant’s cells pulse more slowly; its life is considerably longer.
And a physicist has developed a formula that explains this phenomenon.
Read this fascinating NPR piece by Robert Krulwich (from January 2013), which discusses the work of physicist Geoffrey West, and you’ll probably learn much more than you ever knew before about the very nature of being alive:
As we’re gathering together with friends and relatives, it’s always interesting to see how much–or how little–we’ve all changed in a year’s time. Some are blossoming as others fade. Children grow like weeds, voices lower, voices richen, some fall silent.
As a child, I was always fascinated by the adults in my circle. I had an extremely elderly, matriarchal and imposing great-grandmother whose light faded noticeably from year to year, to the point that once I had graduated from bibs she was relegated to them. Although I was quite small, I remember seeing her fed at the table one year and in her sickbed the next and then she disappeared altogether.
Remembering her this year, I thought about how apparent the decline had been, how no one was surprised as she made her transition from ruler to ruled one.
And I wondered if any of us has the ability to see this decline in ourselves, so we can actually DO SOMETHING before it overtakes us.
In my opinion, yes we can. And it’s the same old answer: STAY PHYSICALLY ACTIVE.
Here is a terrific analysis of the issue from a July 2012 New York Times article by Pam Belluck: Footprints to Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer’s are Seen in Gait.
Pam Belluck (@PamBelluck) does a masterful job detailing some studies performed in Basel, Switzerland that yielded some surprisingly simple diagnostic tools that can help reveal impending cognitive decline. In my own opinion, I think this also reveals an opportunity to some to “reinforce their wiring.”
Read the article and you’ll see what I mean. Be sure to watch the attached short video clip that shows a woman walking, then walking while counting backward by two’s; a picture is worth a thousand words.
Enjoy the holidays (and especially that vital after-dinner walk)!
Great way to start your day, eh Capricorn?
Researchers have been struggling to explain just why this phenomenon occurs, and they happened upon this surprising statistical proof: (don’t want to spoil it for you–it’s a great article & you can read it here at the Wall Street Journal all by yourself.)
Interesting to note that this article also mentions that families’ births (translation: you, your brothers and your sisters, if you have any) tend to be clustered around the same time of year.
That’s a 100% accurate observation for Only Children : )
Read the full article here.
WHAT IT IS: L-Theanine is an amino acid (a constituent of protein) found in green tea. “Suntheanine” is a brand name of L-Theanine produced by a Japanese company, Taiyo International, esteemed for its purity.
WHAT IT DOES: So, what does L-Theanine do, exactly? Well, like all supplements, its effects on your individual biochemistry may vary slightly, so I’ll tell you what it does for me.
I drink quite a bit of green tea on a daily basis (averaging a minimum of 4 cups a day), so I’m getting a bit of L-theanine throughout the day, every day. I’m a writer and I find that l-theanine gives me a mental edge: a relaxed concentration that makes it much easier for me to do my job (which involves a lot of research and editing).
HELP FOR ADD: I have very mild Attention Deficit Disorder and I find it noticeably easier to concentrate when I take L-theanine, hence my green tea habit. If I find myself getting impatient or frustrated with a project, it’s L-theanine to the rescue–it takes the “edge” off in about 10 minutes. I also feel more relaxed, but with a significant amount of calm, focused energy. It doesn’t make me sleepy, but I have experimented with it at bedtime & found that my dreams were more intense. I, however, prefer to take it during the day. Your mileage may vary.
OTHER BENEFITS: The research I initially did on this supplement (before I started taking it years ago) stated that l-theanine works to improve concentration by actually altering brain waves, enhancing the alpha wave phase. It also raises dopamine and serotonin levels (both are feel-good neurotransmitters). Personally, I don’t take the supplement daily (remember, I drink TONS of green tea). I take it on an “as needed basis”–if I feel my mind drifting too far afield of a mounting “To Do” List or find myself daydreaming, I supplement with an L-theanine capsule and regain my focus within about 20 minutes.
I’ve read on several health forums that many people take l-theanine as an anti-anxiety treatment and to help with panic attacks. Many others use it for enhancing sleep (but as I mentioned, I like it better during the day, myself). Many women swear it helps alleviate PMS symptoms.
COUNTERING MSG REACTIONS: My husband has an allergic reaction to MSG (monosodium glutamate), a “flavor enhancer” that’s often added to restaurant food. He gets terrible headaches, dizziness, & dry mouth if exposed. Much to my amazement, an L-theanine capsule after exposure has prevented his headache/dizziness reaction, which is astounding in itself. If you’re MSG-sensitive, try L-theanine and see if it helps. Even Jarrow’s label clearly states that l-theanine helps mitigate glutamate toxicity (very unusual labeling).
HOW TO TAKE IT: As with any amino acid, you want to take this either an hour before or 2 hours after eating and only with water or a protein-free fruit juice. Take it with any protein-containing meal or drink & you’re blunting its effect & more or less wasting your money. Start with 1 capsule mid-morning, on an EMPTY stomach. You can also take one mid-afternoon, and, as I mentioned, some people take one before bedtime. See how you react; if it makes you sleepy, you’ll do best using it as a sleep-enhancing supplement. If you’re like me, it will give you more mental energy.
QUICKEST ACTION: If you need REAL help real fast, open the capsule & pour the contents under your tongue. Let it completely dissolve. This method is quicker because the L-theanine gets absorbed directly into the bloodstream, bypassing a metabolic step in the liver. I never have to do this, but if I were someone who suffered from panic attacks, I’d certainly do so without hesitation.
200 MG DOSAGE COMMENT: I’ve been taking another company’s 100 mg Suntheanine capsule off and on for a couple of years and I was wondering if this 200 mg dosage would be too high for me. I’m happy to say it isn’t and I actually find it is more effective for me than the lower dosage I’ve been taking.
I highly recommend l-theanine, especially for anyone like myself who’s fought against attention deficit disorder since childhood. It won’t cure you, but it certainly makes it easier to calmly concentrate on any project. Good luck to all!
CAUTIONARY P.S. As with any amino acid, those on pharmaceutical antidepressants should talk to their doctor before supplementing with any substance that alters dopamine/serotonin levels. Just an FYI.
Have you ever wondered why so many people today have to wear glasses? I have.
Scientists are beginning to realize there appears to be a connection between a person’s childhood exposure to sunlight and proper eye/lens development.
Those children who are least exposed to the sun (and most exposed to artificial lighting) grow into myopic (near-sighted) adults.
Here’s a quick quote from an intriguing 2011 piece from the New York Times::
There is significant evidence that the trait is inherited, so you might wonder why our myopic ancestors weren’t just removed from the gene pool long ago, when they blundered into a hungry lion or off a cliff. But although genes do influence our fates, they are not the only factors at play.
In this case, the rapid increase in nearsightedness appears to be due to a characteristic of modern life: more and more time spent indoors under artificial lights.
I’m an avid exerciser, but I’ve always worked out to benefit my BRAIN more than my body.
I can say I’ve reaped many physical benefits from exercise over the years [I’m told I look “young for my age” (gee, thanks, junior!)]; my weight is in an excellent, healthy range; my blood pressure is low; resting pulse is low; and my HDL cholesterol’s a terrific 77], but what I like best about exercising is the side benefit of those powerful, feel-good endorphins. When I exercise, I simply feel better. That’s enough to keep me on the treadmill with enthusiasm.
I have an easier time focusing on challenging mental tasks than a lot of people in my age group and I get a LOT done in a day. Every day’s a new adventure for me, and I approach each morning with enthusiasm and excitement. I credit my exercise regimen (and my great example of a husband) for this other great side benefit: happiness.
So, I thought I’d share an interesting article that dispels a common misunderstanding. Lots of people think that exercise automatically results in this equation: exercise=muscle gain=fat loss=weight loss.
The real world truth is a little more complex. Many (if not most) people actually gain weight when they start exercising because their appetite increases due to the physical demands of exercise.
Read this compelling article by John Cloud, published in Time Magazine —Why Exercise Won’t Make You Thin.
Here’s a quick quote:
“…The muscle-fat relationship is often misunderstood. According to calculations published in the journal Obesity Research by a Columbia University team in 2001, a pound of muscle burns approximately six calories a day in a resting body, compared with the two calories that a pound of fat burns. Which means that after you work out hard enough to convert, say, 10 lb. of fat to muscle — a major achievement — you would be able to eat only an extra 40 calories per day, about the amount in a teaspoon of butter, before beginning to gain weight. Good luck with that. “
So, if you’re working out just to lose weight, you may be just spinning your wheels.
But if you work out to improve your cardiovascular system, improve your strength, improve your balance, solidify the brain/body connection, and to reap some feel-good endorphins for your brain, you’re on the right track!
You Go Girl (or Guy)!
Have some fun with a creatively-phrased QUIZ.
Take the Cat Person or Dog Person Quiz at CSMonitor.com.
My results made me laugh (of course, I love Dogs AND Cats and sundry other animals)–“Your results fell exactly in the middle. You like them both or neither. Why did you bother to take this quiz?”
Worth your time; you’ll actually learn a little about the Big 5 Personality Traits, while you’re at it.
Have fun!
“When sedentary adults in one study jogged for half an hour 2 or 3 times a week for 12 weeks, their memory and ability to juggle tasks improved by 30 percent. Just as important: Inactivity stops this process. When the participants returned to their couch potato ways, they lost 10 percent of the gain after 6 weeks.”
Next time you’re asked why you bother to exercise, tell them you’re building your Hippocampus. Believe me, 98% will think it’s a new muscle group:
“A 2007 study found that exercisers who did two 3-minute sprints memorized new words 20 percent faster afterward than those who skipped the workout. Cardio exercise increases blood flow, triggering growth in the area of the hippocampus responsible for memory and verbal learning, research shows. The proliferation of new brain cells may actually be linked to a bigger brain. In a University of Pittsburgh study, the most aerobically fit had an average 7 percent larger hippocampus size than their sofa-sitting peers did.”
Motivation! Now get back on the treadmill. Now.
Read the complete article, along with its 7-day plan called the “ultimate brainpower workout” here on MSNBC. Work That Hippocampus, People!