Category — Research

photo by moriza

We need to talk.

(No, you’re not in trouble.)

It’s just that I’ve been seeing a trend around these interwebs and I thought, Who better to chit-chat about the trend with than my blog friends? It started with this article. And this one. And then this blog post. And some more that I foolishly let expire from my Google Reader before starring them. Suffice it to say, there’s been some gabbing going on about our plugged-in culture.

To sum up: Our brains need downtime to process information and do basic functions. Like think. The thing is, we’re always jamming information down our brains’ metaphorical throats. (If I could draw an even halfway decent brain, I’d totally illustrate that.)

We don’t just go for a run. We listen to music and watch TV and e-mail and Tweet and send important updates to Facebook like: “So hot outside.”

We don’t just watch TV. We watch TV and blog and read blogs and talk to our spouse with little grunts to let him know we still understand he’s alive and sitting next to us.

I’m going to let you in on a low moment for me. Don’t judge, or I’ll come beat you up. (Not really.) I’ve woken up and checked my e-mail on my phone before I even put on glasses. Yes, I’ve done that. (Shame, shame, shame.)

photo by brandon christopher warren

But researchers quoted in that New York Times article say uploading teensy bits of info to our minds on a near-constant basis never gives us a chance to be still and let all of that information sink in.

Without the downtime, I fear I might start talking in 140-word bites.

THE MAN: Hey, Trace, how was work?
TRACEY: Fine. #isitfridayyet #omgineedsleep

Right, so bad things would happen. Chaos.

So, what’s the solution? Well, one option is to unplug completely and endlessly annoy everyone you know by saying things like, “Sorry, I don’t own a computer. If you need to contact me, you’ll have to stop by.”

That, my friends, is not the answer.

But I don’t think shrugging it off as a byproduct of our fast-paced society is the answer either. Because, don’t you think, one of these days your brain just might put out one of those signs for you? Gone Fishin’.

For now, I’m working on balance. I might overload with micro tasks all day long, but one I’m off work, that’s it. It’s me time. I’ll pick a TV show and watch it without distractions. I’ll read in a silent room. On weekends, I shut the computer. I don’t read other people’s blogs. I don’t write mine. I may even have a conversation with The Man—but that might be pushing it.

That is, until I invent a device that downloads pertinent information straight to my brain. In seconds flat.

Do you unplug? Do you need to? Let’s continue the discussion in the comments.

photo by darwin bell

Before I go any further into this post, lemme remind you that the final beauty giveaway is almost over. Tonight, that’s it. So go here and enter one last time. Or three, really, since there are three ways to enter per day.

Besides, isn’t there some big and wondrous question you’ve been fixating on but had no one to ask? (Like, for instance, who would win a physical throwdown between Paula Deen and Bobby Flay?) Well, that’s what your entry is for. Ask away.

There, you’ve been reminded. My job is done.

I’m erring on the short side today because A. It’s Friday, and thus my brain is fried from too much work (it’s a real syndrome), and B. I’m still mentally exhausted from the rollercoaster ride that was Mockingjay. And if you haven’t already bought The Hunger Games series, then take my word now that I’m totally done: STOP EVERYTHING AND GO READ IT NOW.

Ahem. Right, so this is a health blog, yes? And you expect more than a book review. So how about this:

Natural compounds in berries may protect against age-related memory loss or a drop in mental functioning. Not that you all don’t eat berries, but consider this another reason to mix ’em into your smoothie. Or shovel them into your mouth by the handful.

Or grab a partner and take turns throwing them into each other’s mouth.

What’s your favorite berry? Right now, I’m loving my morning oatmeal with blueberries.

OK, and finally—because it’s Friday—here you go:

Insanely cute puppy photo from cute overload

You’re welcome.

This is me in my tight-hair-on-top-of-the-head, big-as-you-can-get-scrunchie days. Shut up, it was the early ’90s.

Dear Sister,

Remember that time we ventured into the deep end of the pool? Or when we cut Barbie’s hair into a bob then stuffed the evidence under the couch? Or when we went to see Event Horizon at the drive-in and almost scratched our eyes out from the ridiculousness of the film? Or how about when we had a contest to see who could stuff the most grapes into their mouth (Exhibit A, above)?

Yeah, well a new study says we’re better for it. The study of nearly 400 families found that having a sister makes kids less sad. Which I think is generally true unless you count the times you get yelled at because you’re the older child and that’s just what happens when you’re older. (Grumble, grumble.)

Anyhow. The researchers found that even when you take parenting into account, having a sister made kids happier, less lonely, and so on—whether your sister is older or younger. And having any type of sibling (see, brothers matter too!) makes kids more likely to do good deeds.

So let’s sum up:

Even when she’s screaming at you (not that I did that) or spitting bubblegum into your hair (not that you did that) or stealing that thing you love more than anything else in the world and would die in a fit of rage if anyone took (not that either of us did that), she’s doing you good. One psychologist interviewed here says fighting preps siblings for real life where—shocker—the world isn’t fair.

In other news, your sister can save you from total mutilation by dresser:

Remember that time when you were three and climbed up the dresser, which promptly threw you to the floor and started plummeting to the earth? And remember how I was on the floor, holding the dresser up with my teensy 5-year-old legs while you ran to get Mom?

But that’s another study for another time.

Sisterly Yours,
Tracey

What’s one way your sibling (brother or sister) has helped you become who you are today?

GIVEAWAY: There’s another awesome beauty product contest going on (till Friday, friends), so head here to enter. The world is much prettier in pink, no?

photo by pieter musterd

There was a time in this long (or very, very long depending on whose counting) life of my when I wore high heels with a passion. Because, folks, here are are the facts:

1. High heels make your legs look longer, leaner, and sexier. Yes. Yes, they do.
2. High heels make a blah outfit look fancy.
3. High heels make you feel important because nothing says Power like the clack, clack, clacking of heels on tile. Nothing.

So I know why we wear them. And I agree that when it comes to fashion there’s no argument against them. But.

(I bet you knew there was a ‘but.’ You guys kill me with your intuition.)

But here are some other facts:

High heels turn normal feet into creepy bulbous triangles. Yes, I said it. High heels are cute. High heel feet? Notsomuch. I understand the pointy shoes, I really do. (In my dreams, where I can fly and breathe under water, I also wear high heels that don’t damage my feet. Oh, and I date Leonardo DiCaprio. Just so ya know.)

(Speaking of Leo—yeah, we’re on a nickname basis—if you haven’t yet seen Inception yet get yourself to a movie theater ASAP. I swear you’ll thank me. Because it’s kind of awesome. No, really awesome.)

What I don’t understand is a love for high heels that runs so deep women will walk around with the misshapen, bunioned feet that go with them.

But that’s not the point of this post.

(Did I surprise you there? Hm? No? Sheesh, you guys know me so well.)

OK fine. The point of this post is that a real, live study found that wearing heels—what with their sloping soles and all—causes calf muscles to contract. OK fine, you say. But get this: Eventually, with enough wear, the calf muscle fibers actually shorten. And the Achilles tendon thickens. The result is mucho pain, pain, pain.

That’s right: Wearing high heels changes your anatomy.

Lemme ask you—would you keep wearing socks if you knew that over time they crushed ankles into nothingness? I think not!

Sure, slipping on a pair is OK every once in a while but constant use? You crazy.

This is my favorite quote from an article about the study:

“You put on heels, you are going to deform your body. End of story,” said New York City podiatrist Dr. Johanna Youner, a spokeswoman for the American Podiatric Medical Association.

I’ll also tell you another secret I learned some time ago. High heels are killer if you have bad knees. Which is why I haven’t worn a pair since 2005. (And, trust me, I know. I learned the hard way if you know what I mean.)

So, finally, here are the last few facts you should know:

1. Your legs look just fine in flats, I swear.
2. Models wear flats when they’re not parading around the runways. Why? Because no one likes looking at deformed feet. And incredibly deformed feet are unbelievably difficult to Photoshop.
3. I got a letter from 70-year-old you. She said, Put on flats, will ya?

Fess up: Who wears heels religiously?

Somewhere deep down in The Man, there is a vulnerable, sensitive guy. Science told me so.

Sometimes I’ll poke fun of a study because the researchers spent mullah to discover something incredibly obvious. (It’s genius, of course. Which is why I’m soliciting funding to determine whether water is healthier than Tang.)

Today, though, I’ll tell you about a study that shocked me. Nah, it didn’t find that steak cures headaches—though that’d be nice because I’m craving a steak right now and have a massive headache. (What else is new? My brain hates me and I’m considering that brainectomy idea.)

Anyhow, I read about a study today that found men are more affected by the ups and downs in a relationship than women are. Yeah, men.

Maybe you’re not shocked, but I stunned that guys benefit from the happy times—and feel the pain of the bad times—more than women.

Apparently after a big fight, while you’re stuffing your face into a pint of Chubby Hubby, your spouse is doing the same. Only probably not literally since guys don’t have that drown-your-feelings-in-sugar gene. But he’s mentally gorging his inner chick.

The researchers guess that women can better handle the relationship pits because they have strong relationships with friends and family. But guys don’t get all emotional with their pals, so if your relationship with them sours, so does their life. (Maybe that’s too dramatic, but I think it’s true.)

Anyhow, when life sucks, women call their girlfriends and vent for four hours straight. Guys grunt, tell their buddy chicks suck, then talk sports. So I can see why the whole relationship thing is so important for men. Even if they’d never, ever admit it. Ever.

Or, you know, guys are more sensitive than I give them credit for.

Does that surprise you? Could you ever in five gazillion years imagine that your husband or boyfriend would be feeling the hurt in your relationship more than you?

photo by melissa ann barrett

All right, guys. We’ve had some fun the past couple of days, but now it’s back to my serious posts. (Don’t laugh. I can be serious sometimes.)

If you’ve read my blog for any amount of time, you may have gathered that I’m a bit of a neat freak. The Man says I have a psychological disorder, but I’m not that OCD. So I like my closet color-coordinated and the labels on my spices all facing the same direction. I think it makes me organized, not psycho. I’ll let you judge silently from the other side of the Internet.

Anyhow, I’m also a big fan of cleaning in general. (That’s a bummer for The Man who has to do the heavy lifting, vacuuming, and other major cleaning since my knees hate me. I give him major props for that.) So I was interested to read about a study that found a connection between having a clean house and being fit. The findings, which researcher NiCole Keith presented at the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual meeting, could mean one of two things:

• Fit people clean a lot.
• Cleaning can make you fit.

The study didn’t determine a cause and effect. The researchers just compared the fitness level of nearly 1,000 African Americans with the state of their homes. The homes with spick and span interiors had residents who got more physical activity.

You could say that some of the participants were so well off that they hired housekeepers to keep their homes shining while they plugged away at the gym. But since the study subjects had similar backgrounds and came from two areas of the same city, I think that isn’t likely the real cause.

The study might not give a definite answer, but I have to say: Cleaning, it’s hard work. Sure, if you’re already fit you’ll have an easier time crouching, lifting, and otherwise detail cleaning your home. But if you’re out of shape—it’s a good way to get a total body workout.

Not counting those activities I can’t do because of my knees, washing the windows gives my arms, upper back, and shoulders a good workout.

What household chore do you count as exercise?

photo by stefanvds

There once was a study on food,
Whose findings quite changed my mood.
It said organics are nice,
But not worth the price,
Especially since research is skewed.

In case you’re confused, that’s a limerick about a new study. Wei-Wei got me rhyming yesterday and, well, I took I this far. Yes I did.

If you didn’t learn everything you ever wanted to know about the study (and more) from those five lines, then what kind of leprechaun are you? Seriously.

Here are more details: Researchers looked at studies on organic versus conventional foods and found out that there’s not much difference when it comes to health.

Before you get all crazy and start screaming “Pesticides!” from the rooftop—or out your window, or out your door—know that these studies were measuring whether the nutrients in organics are more powerful than those in conventionally grown foods. Some of the trials they looked at measured a organic versus non-organic food’s antioxidant activity. Another looked at the link between eczema and organic food consumption. Ya know, stuff like that.

The bottom line: If you’re buying organics to get more vitamins and nutrients, you’re wasting your money. (These researchers came to the same conclusion last year when they analyzed the research.) Fact is, there are too few well-done studies to prove organics are healthier than nonorganics.

Case closed.

Kidding.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t eat organic foods because they have more nutrients. I eat them because they’re pesticide free. Sure, you might not get more antioxidants by buying organics, but you can avoid feeling like you licked a crop duster.

And, folks, that’s where this analysis of 12 published studied stopped, mainly because there aren’t many long-term studies on organic foods and our health.

Think they’re outrageously priced? Me too. (The Man saw a .79 cent cucumber at the same Whole Foods that was selling a $2.50 organic cucumber. The world is mad, I’m telling you.) I try to buy organic as often as I can, but most of the time I stick to this list, which explains which foods you should definitely eat organic and which you can risk your life on. Or something like that.

Do you eat organic all the time? Bonus points for rhyming comments.

Edited to add: And check out that fantastic sonnet Wei-Wei left in the comments. My readers rock.

photo by stuartpilbrow

Honestly, I didn’t think Friday would ever come. Some time around Tuesday afternoon I started calling for it, and guess what? No answer. I feel like I’ve been waiting a month for Friday. Has it really only been four days?

Aside from conducting one interview, I have a strict goal for this weekend: Do nothing. No visiting with people. No work (other than said interview). No errands. No cleaning. OK, maybe a little cleaning. I can never help myself.

My goal is to read and enjoy the fact that the sun resurfaced. (Good thing, by Wednesday I was starting to wonder if it had imploded.) Oh, and maybe go see Robin Hood.

Those are my goals, folks. And speaking of goals, I read something interesting today. [Read more →]

photo by fotoosvanrobin

Well, I’m finally wrapping my head around having another injury. Sure, it’s not cartilage damage. But isn’t a paper cut either, folks. The bad news is that my foot hurts. The good news is I’m not even close to being depressed about this. The way I see it, the pain doesn’t touch what I go through with my knees. And I’ve only had foot pain for a couple of weeks. I guess I’ll start to get bummed when I go on a year. Or, oh, six. (Evil stare at knees.)

So I’m hopefully optimistic (I said that in a really chipper voice that sounds just like everyone else who uses that phrase) I’ll be able to overcome this injury with physical therapy. It seems from what you all said, I’m not likely to be in pain for years. From there, it will be all about prevention. Because if there’s anything I’ve learned from my knee pain, it’s that an injury never goes away. (No, it comes back with a wild vengeance and then taunts you for years and years and years.)

For the record, I’m the only non-athlete I know with this many sports injuries. I’m not sure how I get them all what with the lack of running, jumping, walking, and general fitness in my life.

If any of you real athletes would like to take ‘em off my hands, let me know. I hear runners are prone to Runner’s Knee (go figure) and I have two up for grabs. I’m also giving away the left and right foot, each with their own injury for added fun. All I ask in return is for your uninjured body parts. And a signature next to “No Returns.”

So, to be kind to all my non-injured readers (and to prove I’m not jealous of you at all) I’m going tell you about an article I read today. And, no, it doesn’t say people who are injured all the time live longer muwahahaha. Ahem.

The article reported on a study from University of Georgia researchers who found that eating ginger daily can reduce the muscle pain you feel after exercise. If you hate ginger, here’s the good new: The study was done with ginger supplements. I’m sure you can eat it, too, but it’s not a prerequisite to feeling like a million bucks the day after a workout.

I feel only so-so about ginger, but I do have a strangely intense desire to try ginger tea. I’d grate some ginger and boil it like tea leaves in water. Then I’d strain the ginger and add lemon and honey. Or maybe I’d leave the grated ginger in the cup so my abs don’t hurt from tonight’s crunches.

Are you a ginger fan? How do you like it? (Like most foods, I prefer this candied.)

photo by archaeology and anthropology

To: The Man

We’ve been through a lot together. Remember that time we fell in love with the girl at the restaurant? Remember your wedding day? Ah, good times.

But there were also some not-so-good times. Remember when I used to feel fluttery for no reason at all? That wasn’t so fun. It was weird and painful and freaky. Remember?

Things have been good since you started eating healthier. The fluttery feeling inside of me has stopped. (Thank goodness. I was getting motion sickness.) But just to make sure we keep on good terms, I thought I’d pass along a piece of news.

A new study, published in the journal Circulation, found that eating processed meats is associated with an upped risk of diabetes and heart disease. Eating just one serving of the meats per day was linked to a 42 percent increased risk for heart disease and a 19 percent greater risk for diabetes. (And heart disease leads to some bad things, like a heart attack, stroke, or cardiac arrest.)

When I heard this, I thought, “Well, duh.” But then I realized this might come as a shocker to you. So let me put this lightly. Those cheese dogs you love? You’re gonna have to deal without them. Same with bacon. And sausage. And cold cuts, like the balogna you like. (On a side note, I’m pretty shocked you still like that stuff after you and your wife watched it being made on the Food Network. It gave me palpitations.)

I don’t mean to ruin your lunch. But the fact is, I’m the one who’s going to suffer. Do it for me, buddy.

Here’s to many more good times.

Love,
Your Heart

Tracey here. Question for you: Do you eat processed meats? I gave ’em up when I realized the nitrates in them gave me wicked headaches. Bacon still is my weakness.