Love Harder AND Live Longer

Study results show that people in good, supportive relationships live longer and have better lives, according to research done by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

In addition, the research also revealed that happy couples look younger and are much healthier than those who are single (making the dating rounds), or in bad relationships.

There are several factors to consider when understanding why happily married couples enjoy life more than their single or unhappily married counterparts.

I. Happily married couples tend to be more sexually active:
Certainly everyone knows that “feel good” endorphins are released when someone is having enjoyable sex with a trusted person. These endorphins help the body to suppress pain and reduce depression. Sex also increases metabolic rates and causes blood circulation in the body to improve (even up to hours afterwards).

And according to the research done by University of Pittsburg Medical Center, About 40% of married people have sex twice a week, compared to 20-25% of single and cohabitating men and women. Over 40% of married women said their sex life was emotionally and physically satisfying, compared to about 30% of single women. For men, it’s 50% of married men are physically and emotionally contents versus 38% of cohabitating men.

II. Happily married couples tend to be more financially stable:
Two people tend to live as cheaply as one and a half person; says authors Linda J. Waite and Maggie Gallagher in, The Case for Marriage. Sharing food, furniture, insurance benefits, cars, and doubling income can be a big boost financially. And, limiting financial stress alone reduces the majority of stress experienced by most people in this day and age.

III. Happily married couples tend to have better health:
Based on life expectancies, nine of ten married men and women alive at age 48 are alive at 65, while only six of ten single men and eight of ten single women make it to 65. (Cohen et al, 1997). And married men tend to have better immune systems (due to regularly cooked home meals), and they go to the doctor more regularly for check-ups (due to most wives scheduling their appointments).

IV. Happily married couples tend to stress less:
Single people always have thoughts in the back of their minds that if they or their children become ill, loss their job, or have an unexpected tragedy…”Then who can they turn to for help?” And, these thoughts alone can contribute to subliminal stress.

What You Should Know About Mercury in Fish & Shellfish

Fish and shellfish are essential to a healthy diet because they contain high quality protein that is low in fat, and high in omega-3 fatty acids. Fish also contains many essential nutrients that are important to a healthy diet.

Fish has been contributed to improving heart health and the proper growth and development of children.

On the other hand, nearly all fish and shellfish contain concentrated levels of mercury in their bodies known as methylmercury.

Methylmercury is a highly toxic organic compound of mercury.

Fish that are higher on the food chain tend to live longer to accumulate larger levels of methylmercury in their system.This form of mercury is easily absorbed by fish, but slowly excreted.

Methylmercury can be harmful for children, women who are pregnant or becoming pregnant, nursing moms, and for young children.

Mercury affects the human body on a cellular level, hormonal level, and enzymatic levels. Therefore, the term micromercurialism is used to describe chronic low-level mercury toxicity.

The signs and symptoms of mercury toxicity can be vague and non-specific in nature.

SOME PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS OF MERCURY TOXICITY:

• Sleep disorders
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Autism
• Chronic fatigue
• Loss of sensation (Paresthesias and neuralgias)
• Amyotropic lateral sclerosis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Myasthenia gravis
• Vision, taste, smell and hearing disturbances
• Vertigo and tinnitus
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Other dementias
• Hypothyroidism/Cold Extremities
• Infertility
• Poor libido
• Impotency
• Underactive thyroid
• Other Endocrine problem
• Hypertension
• Fibromyalgia
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Gastritis and Colitis


WAYS TO REDUCE EXPOSURE TO MERCURY IN FISH AND SHELLFISH

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, “By following these three recommendations for selecting and eating fish or shellfish, women and young children will receive the benefits of eating fish and shellfish and be confident that they have reduced their exposure to the harmful effects of mercury.

1. Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.

2. Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.

            *Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, Pollock, and catfish.

            *Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week.

3. Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in your local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish you catch from local waters, but don't consume any other fish during that week.

Follow these same recommendations when feeding fish and shellfish to your young child, but serve smaller portions.”

TREATMENTS FOR MERCURY TOXICITY:

General treatment for mercury toxicity is done with the use of charcoal and a cathartic (laxative).

In addition, there are many herbal detoxification programs that are designed to cleanse the body of heavy metals such as excess iron, mercury, aluminum, and lead.

Although the presence of mercury in the body can cause many health issues, Harvard School of Public Health say that health benefits gained from fish outweighs the risks.

According to Maximum Immunity (2009), editors of Prevention Magazine, “In fact, (Harvard School of Public Health) their study reported that overall mortality was 17 percent lower among people who ate fish twice a week, compared with people who ate little or no seafood.”

Therefore, eating fish and shellfish is well worth the risk of toxicity, if no allergies to shellfish exit.

Nutritionist and colonic therapist recommend regular herbal cleanses that helps the body with removal of mercury and other heavy metals that are absorbed from the atmosphere, drinking water, foods, and body care products (such as in some deodorants).

Rare Cancer Linked to Saline & Silicone Breast Implants

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, both saline and silicone gel-filled breast implants may be linked to nearly 60 reports of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).

ALCL is a rare yet aggressive type of cancer that makes up only 3 percent of lymphoma cases in adults, according to the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

In 2010, there were 60 reports of ALCL in 5-10 million people worldwide. However, only 34 of these cases were discovered in the U.S.

It is important for people to understand that ALCL is not the same as breast cancer, but is a form of lymphoma.

Breast implant recipients have reported symptoms of ALCL years, sometimes decades, after implant surgery.

Symptoms of ALCL include:

• Swelling
• Puffiness
• Pain and soreness
• Lumps
• Asymmetry of the breast

This rare cancer almost always shows up in fluid and scar tissue capsule surrounding the implant sack.

In some cases simply removing the implant and scar tissue gets rid of the disease, but some women might need chemotherapy and radiation, said Dr. William Maisel, the chief scientist and deputy director for science in the drug agency’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

Since reported cases of ALCL are so minimal, women with no symptoms are simply advised to get their regular annual check-ups; and make sure to inform their general physicians about their implants.

Top Money Saving Tips

With the economy experiencing such uncertain times, people everywhere are searching for ways to save a buck or two. From grouping errands…to car pooling…to coupon cutting, and shopping for discounted services and used products; we all are searching for the most effective money saving tactics we can find.

When attempting to save money, it is better to start looking at things in a smaller scope.  

Record the expenses you’ll need to make in order to conduct your week successfully.

• First, make a list of your weekly transportation expenses and your household’s weekly food and medical expenses.

• Next, review your necessity list thoroughly, and circle the expenses you may be able to minimize or alleviate all together by shopping for better rates or bundling services.
• Finally, make a separate list consisting of all of your extra splurges. Splurges are anything you don’t need to survive, but things that makes life more pleasant like hair and nails, shopping, entertainment and eating out.

Once you have reviewed your entire spending habits and minimized, sometimes elevating, as many financial obligations as possible; then you are ready to add those fun rewarding splurges that makes life more enjoyable.

Rating your splurges from most important to least important is the easiest way to budget them.

Check for discounts on services provided by your favorite stylist, nail salon, massage therapist, and personal trainer on your social networking news feeds.  Deduct them from your remaining funds left over, after all revolving bills are minimized and paid.

Tips to help minimize expenses:

1.       Use less:  Always start using less first by buying less stuff to use. Start by making a list before going shopping. When making the conscious decision to use less stuff, first you must go back to your necessity list to find out what you need to live. Out of all the things you need to live, see if you can use even less of each than what you are currently using. For example, turn the lights off before leaving your bedroom. Dress warmer or cooler, depending upon the weather, so that you don’t run the heat and air as much.  Buy more frozen fruits and veggies to prevent spoilage.  And, buy less soda and junk food. Also, planning your meals by the week helps you to stretch ingredients better.

2.       Shop for sales and discounts: Shop for discounts on quality products and services. Check the Sunday’s paper for coupons.  Join discount websites such as Groupon, Living Social, and Scout Mob. And, check your local hair salon, your personal trainers, and your massage therapist to see if they are offering any deals. Join their Facebook and Twitter pages, and make sure you are included in their email list. It is important to have first hand access of their specials to help with your budgeting.

3.       Shop for cheaper utilities and insurance rates: Shop for cheaper home and auto insurance rates every year or two; and take a defensive driver’s class to lower auto insurance rates. Shop for cheaper rates on all utilities such as electric, gas, internet and phone, and cable service providers. 

  

4.       Buy in bulk: Even small households can benefit from buying in bulk. Get Ziploc bags and bag things based upon what is needed for each individual meal. It’s always cheaper to buy in bulk for a discounted price, rather than paying full price for smaller quantities.

5.       Establish a personal budget:  After you are done listing everything needed to live, subtract that from the amount of money that you make in a given month. Then divide that number by the average number of weeks in a month (4), and the remaining amount is your weekly spending budget for extra things other than survival necessities.  Once you have an idea of your personal spending budget, you know how much money you can use to play with. Then shop for discounts and specials on the things you’d like to have, but don’t necessarily need. 

6.       Car pool and group tasks: Completing all of your errands at the same time saves gas. You may realize that the very same product you drive across town to purchase can be bought at your local area stores, especially if you stay up on weekly specials. Saving gas by carpooling and grouping tasks also equals saving money.

7.       Don’t forget to save: When it comes to saving, the term “How can you miss what you never had” applies. After you have completed your budget make-over, contact your bank to open a saving account that is attached to your checking account. Try to save at least 10% of your monthly earnings in an interest bearing account.  But make sure you have the control to stop the drafting when needed, or simply have the funds capable of rolling it back into your checking account for emergency overdrafts or insufficient funds that can sometimes occur.

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Tips on Getting a Good Night's Sleep

In order to function properly, most people need 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night.

However, studies have shown that people are not getting the proper amount of sleep.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, the amount of sleep required is solely based upon each individuals needs; which can directly relate to a person's physical demands.

The level of quality sleep (hours spent in deep uninterrupted sleep) also has a big influence on the amount of time an individual should spend sleeping each night.

Although there is no established amount of time that everyone should spend sleeping each night, one thing experts are surely certain of is that the body doesn't function well when sleep deprived.

Sleep Deprivation Can Cause:

1. Loss productivity
2. Inability to remember and comprehend information.
3. Weight gain due to increased appetite cause by sleep deprivation.
4. Increase probability of diabetes and heart issues.
5. Psychiatric conditions such as depression and drug abuse.
6. Decreased ability to react to things.
7. Sickness

Northside Hospital's Sleep Disorders Centers offer these tips for getting a better night's sleep:

* Eliminate worries.

* If you are concerned about something, make a list of steps you will take to resolve the problem the next day.

* Take a warm, candle light bath with relaxing music.

* Do some light reading before bedtime.

* Don't nap during the day for longer than 20 minutes on a regular basis.

* Avoid naps after 5 pm.

* Make your bedroom more conducive to sleep (quite, dark, and comfortable).

* Don't read, watch TV, or do work in bed for extended periods of time.

* Finish eating at least 2 to 3 hours before bedtime.

* Exercise regularly, but finish at least 3 hours before bedtime.

* Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol after your evening meal.

* Keep a regular sleep/wake schedule. However don't get into bed unless you're sleepy.

For additional tips, visit northside.com/healthcast/Sleep.

Top Seven Reasons for Drinking Water

Certainly we have all heard the saying, “The human body consists of 75% water”. As a result we are advised to drink at least 64 ounces of fluids, preferably water, daily. This is especially important for physically active people, and during the summer season when we tend to perspire more.

• Muscles consist of 75% water

• The brain consists of 90% water

• Blood consists of 83% water

• Bone consists of 22% water

That is why it is of no surprise that we need water, not only to live but to function normally at our daily activities.

Water lubricates and protects our joints, regulates our body temperature, transports nutrients and oxygen to our cells, protects our vital organs such as the heart and lungs, and aids in digestion and detoxification.

Without adequate amounts of water one can experience the following symptoms:

• Dry Skin

• Constipation

• Tiredness

• Muscle cramps

• Attention deficit

• Migraines

• Irregular blood pressure


Top Seven Reasons for Drinking Water:

1. Youthful Looking Skin- water contributes to better skin elasticity. It helps to moisturize the skin, as well as aids in the formation of new skin cells. All of these elements help to improve the overall appearance and youthfulness of our skin.

2. Better Productivity at Work- water helps you think faster and concentrate more on a given subject. It has been proven that the proper amount of fluids in the body help the neurotransmitters in the brain and spinal cord to function more efficiently.

3. Loss Weight- water promotes weight loss by flushing down fat bi-products once they are broken down metabolically. Water also aids in metabolism. In addition, water helps to reduce hunger urges.

4. Less Muscle Damage- water keeps the joints and muscles lubricated so the likely hood of getting sprains and cramps are lower.

5. Relieves Fatigue- when water levels are low the heart and other organs have to work twice as hard to perform their normal functions, due to the lack of water to help facility the transfer of nutrients to our heart and lungs. Therefore, our body becomes fatigue as a result of the demand for more energy to perform its normal duties.

6. Natural Remedy for Headaches- dehydration is one of the main causes of headaches. So drinking more water helps to prevent headaches caused by dehydration.

7. Aids in Digestion and Constipation- Fiber and water works together to facilitate digestion. By drinking water food by-products are pushed throughout the system easier.

The Best Home Remedies for Sunburn Relief

Summer is finally here and it is time for poolside parties, beach vacations and lots of fun in the sun. But we must be careful.  As the Ozone layers are slowly fading away overtime; rays from the sun are becoming more and more intensely hazardous to our skin. 

Even people of darker complexions are starting to get skin damage from the sun’s prevailing rays.   

The worse thing about sunburn is that most of us don’t know we have it until the harm has already been done.

Therefore, it is good to have something on hand to soothe the skin from negative effects of the sun.  

Depending upon your genetics, hormones, skin sensitivity, and what kind of medications you are consuming; it is easy to get burned even after applying sufficient amounts of sunscreen or sun block. 

However, there are many home remedies to soothe the skin from intense sun damage. Before applying anything topical, it is always important to wash the area with cold water. Only use white cloths to pat the skin clean, as it reduces the irritation. And never use soap on sunburns, as it may cause farther drying to the skin.

1.       Witch Hazel:  Apply a generous amount of Witch Hazel directly on damaged skin with a dry, white cloth. You can use cotton balls for smaller regions. Witch Hazel is an amazing astringent with great anti-inflammatory properties. 

2.       Aloe Vera:  Aloe Vera has been use to correct and soothe skin damage and wound healing since the B.C. times. The aloe plant is the purest form of aloe you can get. Carefully cut ½ inch of the leaf, peel it open so that the juicy parts are exposed, and apply it directly to the damaged skin. However, it is important to test a small portion of undamaged skin for an allergic reaction beforehand. 

3.       Baking Soda: Sprinkle ½ cup of baking soda into lukewarm bath water (about the temperature of a baby’s bath water).  Soak for about 5 minutes, then get out and air dry. Let the baking soda solution dry into your skin as much as possible.

4.       Vinegar: Mix 1 cup of white or apple cider vinegar into room temperature bath water. Make sure the water is lukewarm, but tolerable (about the temperature of a baby’s bath water).  Soak for about 5-minutes and pat dry with a clean white towel. Similar to Witch Hazel, vinegar is a great astringent and helps to reduce the pain. Never apply vinegar directly on the damaged skin because it will cause farther irritation. Always dilute it when soothing sunburns.

5.       Yogurt:  Paste on a significant amount of plain yogurt to the irritated areas. Rise in a cool shower and pat dry with a clean white towel. Yogurt helps to soothe the burning.

6.       Tea Bags: Take a lukewarm bath and add 3 tea bags. Soak for 5-10 minutes and pat dry with a clean white towel. The tannic acid in tea reduces skins inflammation and relieves the pain. Tea bags are also good to apply directly to the eyes for sunburn of the eye lids and underneath the eyes.

7.       Lavender:  is the miracle cure for sunburn. If you have some lavender essential oil at home, it is best to use it for sunburns before resorting to any other method because it can prevent peeling later, if used properly. But more importantly, lavender can help keep the tan sometimes lost from peeling. Be careful with lavender essential oils because some are diluted with alcohol, which can cause burning and more drying to the skin. Make sure to select the pure 100% Lavender Essential Oil. When applying first cool and clean the skin with cold water. Then apply the lavender directly to the burn drop by drop. Get a cotton swab and spread it over the entire region. If you have a large area that has been damaged, add 10 drops of lavender to lukewarm bathwater and soak the area. Pat dry with a clean white towel. 

Sunburn remedies are not a onetime fix. It is important to repeat the process as needed, based upon the severity of the burn.

Always hydrate the skin with a natural oil or cream like olive oil, or pure Shea butter shortly after treating the burn. When using Shea butter in its natural form it is thick and hard to apply without rubbing. Never rub a sunburn. First you must heat the Shea butter (microwave or stove top) until is liquefies. 

According to about.com, see a doctor immediately if there are signs of shock, heat exhaustion, or severe sunburn such as:

• dizziness
• rapid pulse
• rapid breathing
• nausea, fever, or chills
• severe skin blisters
• extreme thirst, diminished/no urine output
• patches of purple discoloration
• intense itching
• spreading of the burned skin patches

Also, be sure to hydrate your body by drinking a lot of water after sun exposure. Water also helps to rehydrate the skin as well.