Author: Hill Castle
Do you feel more stressed after checking your phone? Are your notifications constantly on your mind? According to a report by the American Psychological Association (APA), more than four out of five adults in the U.S. are always checking their emails, social media accounts, and texts on their phones. The second part of APA’s report, called “Stress in America™: Coping with Change,” revealed that this unhealthy attachment to mobile devices is linked to higher stress levels among Americans. Phone use and high stress levels Because of technology and social media, “constant checkers” can easily check their emails, social media accounts, and texts. The survey results…
Have you ever “heard” silent flashes? You might have a condition similar to synesthesia, where you can perceive one sense differently. According to a study, at least one in five people may have signs of a synesthesia-like phenomenon where they can “hear” silent flashes or movement. Researchers from the City University of London report that even if there isn’t that much scientific data about this effect, “visually-evoked auditory response” (vEAR) is more common than other types of synesthesia, where some sounds may evoke certain colors. Flashing lights and motion may evoke vivid sounds in people who experience vEAR. This association could also be the reason…
Music is known to help children with cognitive development, but one study published in Frontiers in Neuroscience found that structured music lessons significantly enhance children’s academic performance by improving their cognitive abilities, including language-based learning and short-term memory. In addition, visual arts lessons were also found to improve children’s visual and spatial memory. Schools have prioritized academic learning in their curriculum over learning music, which is seen as more of a luxury now than a necessary part of education. “Despite indications that music has beneficial effects on cognition, music is disappearing from general education curricula,” according lead author Dr. Artur Jaschke, from VU…
Studies have shown that developing children gain more neurons in their brain’s amygdala – the region that regulates emotions and controls social behavior – as they grow older. However, researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute found that this phenomenon does not happen in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and instead appear to lose the neurons as they become adults. The amygdala is the region of the brain that regulates emotions and governs social behavior and interaction. It develops rapidly through childhood and adolescence, as the individual becomes more socially and emotionally mature. “Any deviation from this normal path of development…
Would you mind living in a world where telepathy is normal? That’s pretty much where we’re headed, according to one expert on the subject, after looking at the study methods and technology available for the human brain today. Indeed, Dr. Eric Leuthardt from the Washington University stated that a new breed of superhumans could exist fairly soon, with advanced mental capabilities that are currently just the stuff of science fiction. What’s even more surprising is that it could happen within just a few decades. Dr. Leuthardt thinks that the technology of today will truly be able to advance to the point…
Most people know at least two fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6, but there are other forms that, while not as prominent, greatly benefit our health. One such case is omega-7, a non-essential fatty acid found in certain fish and some plants, which is now getting attention, thanks to efforts to understand and develop the “science behind the ingredient.” The effort to further study this fatty acid is led by Dr. Tina Sampalis, who had previously developed krill oil as a dietary ingredient. It was during this time that she became familiar with the benefits of omega-7, and after further research,…
People suffering from Type 2 diabetes have a new reason to take up muscle-building resistance training. In an American Physiological Society article, a Japanese study recently reported that this particular type of physical regimen could increase the effectiveness of a protein that controls the rate at which it absorbs glucose. Resistance exercise could therefore be a way to decrease a diabetic’s growing resistance to insulin treatment. Insulin is a natural hormone responsible for helping the body absorb blood sugar. The absorbed glucose is transformed into energy that powers bodily functions, such as muscular action that moves our limbs. Unfortunately, people…
An Indian study using diabetic rats determined that the Ayurvedic medicine Chandraprabha vati (CPV) can treat and manage Type 2 diabetes just as effectively as metformin. CPV was shown to control blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides levels just as well as first-line diabetic medicines. Diabetes mellitus is indicated by abnormally high blood sugar levels that come from defects in the secretion and/or action of insulin. This condition is called hyperglycemia, and it has a negative effect on many parts of the body. The ancient Ayurvedic system prescribes CPV treatment for various indications such as prameha, a syndrome that shares symptoms with diabetes mellitus, obesity, and other diseases and…
When you see weeds in your lawn or garden, your initial reaction would usually be to eliminate all of them. But did you know that certain weeds, like beautiful wild violets, have various survival uses? (h/t to TheSurvivalMom.) Take note that you should learn how to differentiate between wild violets and African violets. While the former are edible, the latter are houseplants that can be toxic once ingested. Wild violets usually have purple flowers and heart-shaped leaves. But there are also flowers that come in different shades of purple and even white. The flowering weed grows in clumps. Wild violets only…
When you go to a pharmacy, you expect a certain level of confidentiality. Even if you don’t know the ins and outs of the law, most Americans are aware of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) laws that protect their privacy when it comes to medical matters. However, it appears that not all pharmacy workers take that responsibility seriously, as a recent New York case illustrates. When Michael Feinberg went to the CVS on Merrick Road in Long Island with a prescription for Viagra, he explained that he would pay for the medication himself rather than using his…
Do you remember any of your dreams when you wake up in the morning? Or do you feel frustrated when you can’t recall anything but incoherent fragments? According to a study, eating foods like bananas, fish, and potatoes can help you remember your dreams. The study was spearheaded by experts from the University of Adelaide, and the results showed that consuming foods rich in vitamin B6 can help individuals recall what they dreamed about even after they wake up. Other foods that are full of vitamin B6 include avocado, cheese, eggs, and milk. For five consecutive nights, the participants were given vitamin B6 supplements…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one in three Americans are sleep-deprived. This shoc犀利士 king statistic is believed to be the reason many of us are overweight, practicing unhealthy lifestyle habits, and dying younger. And while the pharmaceutical industry pushes for more chemical drugs that can help us sleep better, a simpler solution might be all that is needed for a restful slumber: turning off our mobile phones. Dr. Sunita Kumar of the Loyola University Medical Center says that simply turning off our phones 30 minutes before sleep could radically affect the quality of our rest.…
If you’re planning a base on the Moon, it looks like you have more than just logistics to worry about. Scientists from Stony Brook University have discovered that with prolonged exposure to moon dust, astronauts could end up contracting bronchitis – or worse. The research team, led by Rachel Caston of the Stony Brook University School of Medicine, sought to understand how the Moon’s regolith – the dusty layer that covers its surface – would affect cells from humans and mice. They used live human lung cells and mouse brain cells cultured in a lab as test subjects. Because lunar dust is too valuable and…
A foreign breed of tick has claimed New Jersey as its own. First discovered on an infected sheep in Hunterdon County last fall, the East Asian or Longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) has since been found in other areas of New Jersey, namely Union County. However, experts warn that it may only be a matter of time before the East Asian tick makes its way westward. Speaking to Today, James Lok, professor of parasitology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, stated that the tick has already managed to migrate from its native Asia to Australia and New Zealand,…
When it comes to managing one’s weight, it’s known that diet plays a huge role. After all, how big or small you become through weight management depends a lot on what you eat. But did you know that there are a number of other important factors involved as well? Indeed, and your stress levels is just one of them. Now a new study shows great insight into exactly why this is the case. In particular, the study offers the first understanding, on a molecular level, of why people tend to gain weight due to chronic stress, disrupted circadian rhythms, and treatment…
Thanks to a recent study by California-based chemists, recycled water may become much safer for consumption. The researchers announced that they have tracked down the specific chemical molecule responsible for the creation of a highly potent carcinogen in treated wastewater, according to a ScienceDaily article. Formally known as N-nitrosodimethyalmine, NDMA is a cancer-causing byproduct of the wastewater treatment process. Environmental researchers conducted several studies into the chemical process that created it, but they came up with conflicting results. Unable to agree which finding was the correct one, the experts were unable to recommend an intervention method for adoption. Researchers from the University…
There’s something to be said about guilty pleasures: You know it’s bad for you, but you go for it anyway. Take fried desserts, for instance. Most people know it’s unhealthy, but they will still flock to state fairs and carnivals for fried chocolate bars and even fried ice cream. However, a study in CyTA – Journal of Food may provide some form of relief: Mixing in oat bran and psyllium husk fiber in the dough before frying them reduces the amount of oil it soaks up. Researchers from the University of Venda in South Africa have tested it by using their own version…
If there’s one thing you can’t find in regular store-bought milk, it’s the presence of good bacteria – which have been destroyed by pasteurization. However, a study published in CyTa – Journal of Food revealed that fortifying milk with plant products that have been fermented with lactic acid bacteria could improve its nutritional value. The paper, led by researchers from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences and the Food Institute of Kaunas University of Technology, also added that these newly established products could very well add to the diverse assortment of food products available in the market. Researchers looked at two ingredients in the study…
A study published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine fo壯陽藥 und that extracts of herbal plants, such as Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, Aegle marmelos, and Musa paradisiaca flower, can be used as an anti-aging agents in skin creams and as anti-proliferation compounds against cancer cells. A team of researchers at Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering and SRM Institute of Science and Technology in India examined the anti-aging properties and cytotoxicity on cells of the leaf extracts of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, unripe and ripe fruit pulp extracts of Aegle marmelos, and terminal meristem extracts of Musa paradisiaca flower. The research team analyzed the phytochemical…
A study published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine has found that Cinnamomum cassia twigs may provide anti-cancer effects. Researchers from the National Institute of Forest Science, Andong National University, and Kyonggi University in South Korea looked at the anti-proliferative effect and the induction of apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells mechanism of C. cassia twigs. The research team used the extracts of Cinnamomum cassia twigs in the study. They assessed the anti-cell proliferative effect of C. cassia twigs through an MTT assay. To evaluate the change of protein or mRNA level by the extracts, they used Western blot and…
A new study published in the journal Rheumatology has found that menopausal status is linked to a functional decline in women with rheumatoid arthritis. In earlier studies, it has been shown that women with rheumatoid arthritis suffer changes in their disease surrounding reproductive and hormonal life events. Past studies also showed that women who experience early menopause have more chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis in comparison to those who experience normal or late menopause. The authors of the study aimed to evaluate the link between menopause and functional status in women with rheumatoid arthritis by conducting an observational study. In the study,…
A study published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine has examined the effects of the treatment of garcinia cambogia and glucomannan on long-term weight loss in people who are overweight or obese. The study authors found that both treatments reduced weight and improved lipid and glucose blood profiles of the study participants. Researchers from the University of Cordoba in Spain recruited 214 overweight or obese people to participate in the study. The research team administered the study participants with 500 milligrams (mg) of garcinia cambogia and glucomannan twice a day for six months. They also assessed the participants’ weight,…