Want to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions? Get More Sleep
According to sleep expert, Cathy Goldstein, MD, Professor of Neurology in the Sleep Disorders Centers at the University of Michigan, sleep is a key component many people neglect when striving to make improvements in just about any part of their lives. “We definitely take sleep as a luxury; it’s not,” says Dr. Goldstein. Whether intentional […]
Vitamin D Deficiency and Your Health
Depression Researchers found a significant relationship between low vitamin D levels and heightened levels of depression among individuals with a history of psychotic disorders.Source: Nerhus M, et al. Low vitamin D is associated with negative and depressive symptoms in psychotic disorders. Schizophrenia Research 2016. Headaches Researchers found that vitamin D levels below 16ng/mL were associated […]
Visualize Eating the Foods You Crave
According to researchers, picturing yourself indulging in the foods you crave most may actually decrease your desire to eat them. In one experiment, 51 participants first imagined eating either three or 33 M&Ms before being given access to a bowl of the candy. Those who imagined eating more M&Ms ate 60% less of the candy, […]
Tips for Getting Better Sleep
Strive for 7 to 8 hours of nightly sleep—and not just on weekends. Try to go to bed at the same time each evening, even on weekends. Otherwise, “you’re basically putting your body through jet lag on Sunday night,” says Cathy Goldstein, MD, sleep expert. Keep your bedroom as dark as possible. Install […]
Valuing Your Time More Than Money is Linked to Happiness
According to research published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, valuing your time more than the pursuit of money is linked to greater happiness. “It appears that people have a stable preference for valuing their time over making more money, and prioritizing time is associated with greater happiness,” said the lead researcher. In […]
Tips to Manage Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal disorder, also known as as SAD, is a type of depression that lasts for a season, typically the winter months, and goes away during the rest of the year. Symptoms of SAD are the same as those of depression. They can vary in severity and often interfere with personal relationships. Symptoms include fatigue, pervasively […]
Super Bowl “Big Game” Calorie Costs in Exercise
Well, Super Bowl 2017 has come and gone (and what a game!!). But some of the typical Super Bowl party food is sure to make another appearance at some point on your dinner table this year. Next time you are tempted by these fattening party dishes, consider these exercise equivalents from Charles Platkin, PhD, MPH, […]
Thinking Smoking is Sexy? Think Again.
There are over 80 carcinogens in a single cigarette, and 90% of lung cancer cases in the world are due to smoking. But if that’s not enough to scare you into quitting, how’s sexual dysfunction sound? In a review article published recently in Sexual Medicine Reviews, investigators examined multiple human studies, animal studies, case series, […]
Sunlight Stimulates Infection-fighting T Cells, Accordign to New Study
For the first time, a study has reported the direct response of human cells upon exposure to sunlight, beyond the synthesis of vitamin D and production of melanin. Sunlight exerts important biological effects on human skin. In fact, sun exposure has been shown to play a role in a variety of health outcomes, including strengthening […]
Smoking Cessation May Improve Depression
Individuals with depression who participated in a smoking cessation clinic and stopped smoking reported improvement in depression 1 year later, suggesting that smoking abstinence may improve depression. To assess associations between depression and smoking abstinence, researchers conducted an observational study using data from a smoking cessation clinic in Czech Republic from 2008 to 2014. Analysis […]
Signs of Food Allergies Can Begin at Birth
Little is known about the immunological causes of food allergies. Studies are showing that the blood in the umbilical cords of infants who went on to have food allergies had overactive immune cells at birth. Their cord blood had more monocytes, compared with CD4+ T cells, and decreased numbers of regulatory T cells. Moreover, the […]
Self-talk: What Is Is and How It Can Help You Achieve Your Healthy Lifestyle Goals
Self-talk is what goes on inside your head automatically. What you say to yourself will either put you in control of your life or give you a passive role in your own health and success achieving your lifestyle goals. Controlling your self-talk is key to sticking with your New Year’s resolution. Most people are unaware […]
