I must be famished, because all sorts of health bites have accumulated in my office! (Bad joke, I know…) So, without further adieu, here’s a grab bag of morsels to help us all lead happier, healthier, fitter lives.
Pump It Up!
Regular workouts can help you not only build a stronger body, but a stronger brain. According to a study published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, working out as little as three times a week can increase the size of the brain’s gray matter, yielding more brain power and enhanced memory skills. Researchers argue that exercise triggers biomechanical changes that produce an increase in new brain neurons, among other benefits. So those fellas you see in the gym with the tree-trunk size legs and necks? They might just be working toward a PhD.
Does your brain need another reason to get to the gym? In a recent study from the American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, researchers found that women who undertake a weight training routine for six months produced more biologically active growth hormone. This aids bone and muscle development, enhances metabolic function, fights tissue breakdown, and protects against stress fractures. The study concluded that women need to have heavy-loading (heavy weights, fewer repetitions) workouts incorporated into their resistance training routines for stronger muscles and bones.
Write It Out
I started journaling when I was eight years old. Back then, my entries were pretty simple, but as the years went on, my journals became a place for me to express my deepest feelings, explore my fears, and work out my problems. It turns out that this process, called “journal therapy,” or “expressive writing,” can help any number of individuals facing life challenges, even those faced with such weighty issues as cancer. Harvard researcher Susan Bauer-Wu works with people struggling with this disease, and hands them a pen and paper to help them cope. Research suggests that by spending 30 minutes a day for four days writing out their innermost feelings and thoughts, patients can significantly boost their mental and physical health.
Experts say nearly everyone can benefit from this tool, even those who don’t think they’re a good writer or feel reluctant to scribble out ideas. Patients who turn to journal therapy can experience a catharsis, and can potentially come to terms or let go of fears that may have been gripping them for months, or even years. The next time you feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders, try putting your frustrations in writing. In doing so, you just might find a solution, or discover that a particular dilemma may not be as terrible as you once thought.
Dial It In
The Mayo Clinic is rolling out a health information service that will be available through most cell phone carriers for as little as $2.99 a month. Users who sign up for the “Mayo Clinic InTouch” service can receive first-aid tips, watch health videos or find the nearest emergency room via their cell phone screen. Visit www.mayoclinic.com/health/intouch/AM00070 for more info. Sprint offers a similar service, SkynetMD that includes symptom and drug interaction checkers, among other services, for about $4 a month.
Keep It Whole
A recent study found that women between the ages of 55 and 69 who ate whole grains for at least three of their daily carbohydrate servings were found to have better heart health during the next 10 years, thus significantly reducing their risk of heart attack. Whole grain breads, crackers, cereals, and pastas protect against heart disease and diabetes. They’re high in fiber, vitamin E, folate, magnesium, and packed with cancer-fighting phytochemicals. So go for the dark stuff! Look for products that list “whole grain” or “whole wheat flour” as the first or second ingredient.
Drive Away
The Coca-Cola Co. recently announced that it will include caffeine content information on the labels of all of its caffeinated drinks distributed in the U.S. They’re also going to unleash a new Diet Coke beverage called Diet Coke Plus, a zero-calorie soda containing niacin, vitamins B6 and B12, magnesium, and zinc.
Another junk food-making corporation that’s trying to appear health conscious, Krispy Kreme now offers a glazed, caramel-flavored whole wheat doughnut. The sugar-coated roll with a hole contains 180 calories, only 20 calories less than a traditional glazed, one less fat gram (11 vs. 12) and all of the sugar. Best advice: go for an unglazed whole-wheat bagel instead. While you’re at it, skip the fancy diet soda and go for fruit juice or water and a piece of fresh fruit.
