Insomnia can lead to depression, diabetes, and weight gain.
Roughly 60% of Americans polled in a new survey say they don't get enough sleep. And when you set your clocks to "spring forward" on Sunday, you'll probably be joining them!
Besides costing an hour of sleep, adjusting to daylight savings can disrupt sleep patterns—and affect the body's circadian rhythms. Sleep disturbances are clearly linked to depression and other forms of mental problems.
For the first time, a new Dutch study shows that sleeplessness may actually shrink the part of the brain (gray matter) involved in decision-making… Continue reading Categories
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Sleeplessness May Shrink Your Brain
March 12th, 2010Insomnia can lead to depression, diabetes, and weight gain.
Roughly 60% of Americans polled in a new survey say they don't get enough sleep. And when you set your clocks to "spring forward" on Sunday, you'll probably be joining them!
Besides costing an hour of sleep, adjusting to daylight savings can disrupt sleep patterns—and affect the body's circadian rhythms. Sleep disturbances are clearly linked to depression and other forms of mental problems.
For the first time, a new Dutch study shows that sleeplessness may actually shrink the part of the brain (gray matter) involved in decision-making… Continue reading Antioxidants, Not Avandia, for Type 2 Diabetes
March 8th, 2010
Protect your heart safely and naturally.
A new Senate report, released by Max Baucus (D-Montana) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), blasts the popular diabetes drug Avandia. Between 1999 and 2007, this drug "caused approximately 83,000 excess heart attacks," they say.
Criticizing the FDA review process, Senator Grassley writes: "It doesn't make any sense to have the experts, who study drugs after they have been on the market for several years, under the thumb of the officials who approved the drug in the first place and [who] have a natural interest in defending that decision."
"The Avandia… Continue reading Sugar Addiction? Detox To Cut Cravings
February 26th, 2010
You'll also combat candida, depression, and heart disease in the process.
It's no surprise that sugary foods increase the rates of diabetes and obesity. But did you realize that too much sugar intake can lead to chronic depression?
New European research with rats—animals remarkably like humans in many of their brain functions—links over-consumption of sugar with brain changes that resemble addictive behavior. Unlimited access to sugar in the lab makes animals vulnerable to reward-related psychiatric disorders.
Reviewing beverage consumption in this country, Harvard researchers also link sugary drinks—everything from soft drinks, sweetened teas and lemonade… Continue reading Magnesium: A Must-Have Supplement for Your Heart and Bones
February 24th, 2010
This mineral also supports detox and cleansing big time.
An essential mineral involved in over 350 of the body's critical functions, magnesium doesn't get the attention it deserves. For starters, it helps coordinate the activity of the heart muscles and nerves that initiate heartbeat.
Magnesium appears to reduce high blood pressure, cutting the risk of heart attack and stroke. Because this mineral also lessens the risk of heart arrhythmia, it limits the complications of congestive heart failure.
Unfortunately, new research finds that women are getting less than 70% of the magnesium they need. Magnesium deficiency… Continue reading Type 3 Diabetes, What You Need to Know
February 15th, 2010
Overweight and invisible toxins can shrink the brain.
Most people understand that insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, is key to blood sugar control and diabetes. But did you know that it also plays a special role in learning and memory?
Numerous new studies suggest there's a third kind of diabetes—what investigators are calling Type 3—that impacts cognitive function. Not only can obesity and diabetes cause neurodegeneration, but they also appear to significantly reduce brain weight, basically shrinking the brain itself.
"Not long ago, it was thought that there was no connection between… Continue reading BPA in Plastics Linked to Heart Disease
February 3rd, 2010
Regular seasonal detox helps protect your heart and so much more.
Widely used in packaging, bisophenol A (also known as BPA) has been consistently associated with cardiovascular disease in American adults. More than 2.2 million metric tons of BPA are produced annually—in drink containers, food packaging, and the lining of canned goods.
Americans get additional exposure through dental sealants, drinking water, and inhalation of household dust. No wonder exposure to this toxic chemical is so pervasive!
Based on a new large-scale study of over 2,600 people with known BPA levels, researchers suggest that men in… Continue reading Lost That Loving Feeling?
February 1st, 2010
Rekindle romance naturally in time for Valentine's Day.
Julia R. Heiman, PhD, director of the Kinsey Institute for Sex, Gender, and Reproduction at Indiana University, estimates that 25 to 53% of women of all ages have low libido. And judging by all those commercials for erectile dysfunction, estimates that 30 million men experience sexual dysfunction don't seem at all unreasonable.
Candlelight and soft music may not be enough to spark that loving feeling in today's high-stress world. Before you invest in a bottle of bubbly or a slinky negligee for Valentine's Day, ask yourself… Continue reading Fight Flab and Keep Your Muscles Toned
January 25th, 2010
The right protein is as important as exercise.
Like it or not, muscle loss is a natural part of aging. To prevent flabby muscles, most people head to the gym. But even a consistent weight-lifting regimen may not be enough to prevent flab.
"The older we get, the more we need to eat sufficient protein to keep muscles from atrophying," writes Nan Kathryn Fuchs, PhD, in this month's Women's Health Letter. We also don't digest what protein we do get as well as we did when we were younger.
Recent research in the Journal of… Continue reading Ready for an Oil Change? Omega-9s Are Hot
January 11th, 2010
Surprise: Olive oil and nuts contribute to both weight loss and wellness.
For decades, scientists have linked the Mediterranean diet with cardiovascular health and longevity. But only recently have they recognized that one staple of this regional diet—olive oil—may be as beneficial as fruits and veggies or omega-3-rich fish and seafood. And not just because it's a healthier alternative to saturated fats or dangerous trans fats!
Olives, their oil (if carefully pressed), certain nuts and seeds (plus their oils), and avocados are sources of the hottest "good" fat—omega-9—or oleic acid. The specific kind of… Continue reading 10 Ways to Have a Super 2010
January 1st, 2010
Sure-Fire Tips for a New You in the New Year.
Now that 2009 has become 2010, it's a great time to make some changes. Coming on the heels of so much holiday feasting, you're probably considering a weight loss diet as well as other ways to become a new you in the New Year.
Here are 10 ways you can slim down, energize yourself, optimize your health, and look as great and as young as you'll feel.
1. Lose unwanted pounds permanently. Whether you choose Classic Fat Flush (the New York Times… Continue reading 
Visionary, health guru, diet/detox expert, author, spokesperson, role model, and natural foods icon, Ann Louise Gittleman has always been a trendsetter. 
