Clipmarks | LorisKnight's 'health' clips

When Giving Up is Good for You

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 18:14:01 GMT

clipped by: LorisKnight

Quitting may very well be good for your health, according to a study reported on by the Association for Psychological Science.

...the psychologists followed teenagers for a full year. Over that time, individuals who did not persist obtaining hard- to-reach goals had much lower levels of a protein called CRP, an indicator of bodily inflammation. Inflammation has recently been linked to several serious diseases, including diabetes and heart disease, suggesting that healthy but overly tenacious teens may already be on the road toward chronic illness later in life.

The lesson isn't necessarily a new one: know when to cut your losses. The upside to the study for those less willing to give up on goals easily is that of the participants who did quit, those who were more willing to set and re-engage in new goals had more sense of purpose. So just because it can be good for you to give up on a goal, that doesn't mean it's time to give up on tough goals altogether.

Tags: goals, health, motivation

Walk This Way to Fitness

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 21:27:09 GMT

clipped by: LorisKnight

Clip Source: www.beliefnet.com

It's easy, inexpensive, amazingly good for you, and has few undesirable side effects. Yet it's all to often overlooked when people consider which form of exercise is best for them. It is walking, and the evidence continues to mount that three brisk walks a week may be the most health-conscious thing you can do for your body.

The results surprised even JoAnn Manson, MD, MPH, DrPH, and she's supposed to know all about the subject.

"No, I didn't realize just how effective walking was," says Dr. Manson, the co-director of women's health at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "We always knew that walking was effective, but after looking at the results, I'm surprised that walking isn't readily adopted by more people."

Tags: health

Caffeine: Pregnancy & Fertility

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 14:17:04 GMT

clipped by: LorisKnight

Clip Source: pregnancy.about.com

In this day and age we are very concerned with our health. This often begins or peaks during periods of fertility awareness or pregnancy. We frequently make changes to what we eat, what we drink and how we live our lives.

Attention is often placed on caffeine during these periods. Caffeine is a stimulant. It is frequently found in our drinks, mostly associated with coffee, tea and soft drinks. Caffeine is also found in foods, like chocolate, etc.

There have been several studies that present conflicting information about caffeine use during pregnancy, impairing fertility and causing birth defects. So, the question becomes, which study do you believe?

A study in 2007 showed that in the second half of pregnancy, a moderate intake of caffeine (3 cups of coffee or less) had no effects on pregnancy.

Tags: health

Caffeine, Stress and Your Health: Is Caffeine Your Friend or Your Foe?

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 14:14:24 GMT

clipped by: LorisKnight

Clip Source: stress.about.com

The Verdict on Caffeine

With potential negative and positive health consequences, caffeine can be your friend, but in controlled doses. Here’s what you should remember about caffeine:

Don’t Take Too Much Because of the health risks (above) associated with higher levels of caffeine, as well as the risk of physical dependence that can come with four cups of coffee or more each day, it’s wise to limit your caffeine intake. (Withdrawal symptoms can include cravings, headache, fatigue and muscle pain.)

No Caffeine After 2pm Because sleep is important to proper physical functioning, and caffeine can stay in your system for 8 hours or longer, you should cut off or limit your caffeine intake to the first part of the day to ensure that your sleep isn’t disrupted.

Enjoy Caffeine With Physical Activity Caffeine is best ingested before exercise—that way your performance is enhanced and the stress-management benefits of exercise can keep you healthy and feeling less stressed throughout the day.

Tags: health

Does Caffeine Increase Blood Pressure?

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 14:09:10 GMT

clipped by: LorisKnight

Clip Source: highbloodpressure.about.com

Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in the nuts, berries, and leaves of certain plants. Caffeine is most commonly consumed as coffee or tea products, and some have estimated that these beverages may be the most widely consumed foods in the world.

Because caffeine is so common in all human cultures, a great deal of research has been done to discover the health effects of caffeine. Relationships between caffeine and heart disease, as well as the caffeine-blood pressure link have been especially active fields of study.

Stimulants, by definition, increase the activity of the central nervous system, which is why they make you feel more awake, focused, and alert. However, this increased activity can also cause blood vessel constriction, which may increase blood pressure and alter the supply of blood to the heart.

n fact, most of the dangerous effects of strong stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine are a direct result of their activity on blood vessels and the heart.

Tags: health