Magnesium: Might Save Your Life

If you smoke you may want to pay special attention to your diet. Yes, of course - we all know there are certain things in life that go perfectly with a cigarette. A hot cup of coffee is the perfect match. Or a cold beer on a summer's day. But...
Researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden say there are actually other foods that smokers should pay attention to. Foods rich in magnesium. Foods such as whole grains, vegetables, black beans, broccoli, peanuts, and spinach. These foods, their study shows, reduce the risk of stroke for smokers.

The group followed over 26,000 males smokers for a little over 13 years. Those who consumed the highest levels of magnesium, an average of 589 milligrams each day, had a 15% lower risk of cerebral infarction. This is the type of stroke that occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is blocked. Though the study looked only at men, women are also seriously impacted by stroke. In 2004, women accounted for over 60% of deaths due to stroke.
The researchers say magnesium helps lower blood pressure, and may also help reduce cholesterol. They also come down, once again, on the side of real food. The study participants derived their magnesium from whole foods, and the scientists are unsure whether supplements hold the same benefit.

The best step to take is to quit smoking. But, if that's simply beyond your grasp at this moment, then take the next best steps. Take a walk, get some fresh air, and be sure to stop by the market while you're out. Carry home a couple bags of magnesium rich foods. The exercise will do you good, and the magnesium just may save your life..

A lollipop that fights cavities

For the first time ever, sweets that could be beneficial for your teeth. UCLA scientists have developed a lollipop that helps fight cavities.

The developers of the lollipop studied more than 2,000 different herbs in an attempt to find a combination that would naturally fight the bacteria that leads to cavities. The surprising winner was licorice. When prepared a certain way -- soaked and then turned into a powder by evaporating all the liquid -- licorice root offers protection against cavities.

The lollipop's creators claim that if you suck on one of these herbal lollipops twice a day (e.g. one in the morning and another in the evening) for 10 days, your teeth will be protected from cavities for 3-6 months. Then you can start the lollipop-process all over again.

Using the lollipops doesn't replace brushing/flossing your teeth or visiting the dentist, of course. It's just touted as extra protection against cavities.

How can food help?

Food choices play an important role in the strength of your smile at any age, and can affect the amount of time you spend at the dentist.

Calcium: A prime ingredient for building strong teeth, especially for growing children. Dairy is a great source, with choices such as milk, yogurt, and cheese. And calcium isn't hiding in the fat, so skim milk and low-fat yogurt are just as good. Other options are leafy greens such as broccoli and bok choy, canned fish with bones, almonds and Brazil nuts, and dried beans.

Fiber: Eating high-fiber foods keeps saliva flowing, which helps create mineral defenses against tooth decay. Good sources are dried fruits such as dates, raisins, and figs. Other options are fruits such as bananas, apples, and oranges; veggies such as baked beans, Brussels sprouts, and peas; peanuts, almonds, and bran.

MAGIC MUSHROOMS

When people talk about healthy foods, there are several specific kinds that seem to always be mentioned like: Pomegranates, blueberries, broccoli, almonds, olive oil, etc...

However, one amazing superfood that is often forgotten and overlooked from this healthy food list is the magical mushroom.

A handful of mushrooms contain only 20 calories and unlike other snacks with such a low caloric content (such as rice cakes), mushrooms offer huge health benefits -- including, but not limited to, improved heart health and immune-boosting properties. With a very high amount of vitamin D, as well as antioxidant capacity that is equal to the amount provided by many other vegetables.

Mushrooms make a great healthy snack or topping.

MAGIC PILL CAN SHRINK YOUR BELLY

Scientists in London are putting a new spin on weight loss by developing drugs that keep the belly from bulging when you eat. The researchers' strategy is to slow down the stomach from ballooning to make room for food.

To do that, the scientists have made two experimental drugs that target protein receptors called P2Y1 and P2Y11, which are found in the stomach wall and other parts of the digestive tract, including the colon. The drugs block those receptors, slowing stomach expansion. The net result is less room in the stomach for food, which could mean eating less.

So far, the scientists have only tested their experimental drugs on colon cells -- not stomach cells -- from guinea pigs. The drugs haven't been tested for weight loss or safety in animals or people yet.But the researchers argue that the stomach-expanding protein receptors are found in people, too.

SODA: CAN HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT

A study undertaken at the University of Ulster has shown that drinking fizzy drinks before lunch helps you to eat less. 30 normal weight men and women were asked to drink 2 types of fizzy drinks before lunch. The drinks were either slightly fizzy or very fizzy. Volunteers were then allowed to eat as much food as they wished at lunchtime and for the rest of the day.

The results?

The ones having the very fizzy drinks ate a small amount; which can only mean that these drinks help you to feel full in the short term. Tonic water is one of the fizziest carbonated waters on the market. Try having a big glass of your favorite carbonated beverage before your meals to help curb your appetite - just make your drink doesn't contain any sugar!

RELAX AND TAKE IT EASY

It is known that anger expression can be associated with increases in cortisol secretion and lowered immune function of the sort seen with other kinds of stress.

Researchers from Ohio State University have examined the effect of anger on wound healing by following close to 100 community volunteers who agreed to receive a standardized blister wound on their non-dominant forearm.

They found that wounds of those who expressed little anger or displayed anger in a controlled fashion healed more rapidly than the hotheads. The hotheads exhibited higher cortisol reactivity during the blistering procedure. This enhanced cortisol secretion was in turn related to longer time to heal.

The data says it all; wound healing is faster for subjects with high anger control. So the next time you get a wound, remember this study and RELAX.

Is HER memory stronger than HIS?

Women may have the upper hand when it comes to memory, but there is a weak link in their memory chain.

Swedish psychology experts report that women tend to have sharper memories than men when it comes to memories based on words or faces.

But men's memories are better for spatial information, such as recalling a route or how odd-shaped objects look from various angles.The researchers came to those conclusions after reviewing studies on gender and memory dating from 1974 to 2007. Those studies ranged from Europe to the U.S., Australia, and Bangladesh.

But the findings don't mean that women have perfect memory, or that men don't remember well.

Because researchers claim that the sex differences are statistically rather small.

TRY UMAME

No, it’s not the latest dance craze (thank God the Macarena has passed us by) and it’s not a new Karaoke-type song.
Umame is the fifth taste sensation, and until recently nobody even knew it existed.
But never fear: TOP chefs are frantically competing in order to create the ultimate “umame dish” . Usuaaly an umame dish contains rare truffles, pancetta, blue cheese, bacon, garlic and seafood.

We all grew up with the four basic tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salty. But there is a fifth taste, umame, that translates as “savory” or “flavorful”. It’s that rich, deeply satisfying, sensual taste. Think gravy, steak, brie cheese, truffles, parmesan – that’s umame.

Humans instinctively seek it out, which is why we tend to crave chocolate cake instead of an apple.
Japanese researchers identified umame a century ago, and thank goodness they’re finally sharing it with the world.

CATS CAN PREVENT HEART ATTACKS

FROM WEBMD:

A new study shows that cat owners are less likely to die of a heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases than people who have never had a pet cat.

The findings emerged from an analysis of data on nearly 4,500 men and women, ages 30 to 75, who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study. All were free of cardiovascular disease when they entered the study in the 1970s.

Over half, 55%, reported having a pet cat at some point in their lives.

Compared with cat owners, people who never had a pet cat were 40% more likely to die of a heart attack over the 20-year study period. They were also 30% more likely to die of any cardiovascular disease, including stroke, heart failure, and chronic heart disease.

The results held true even after the researchers took into account other risk factors for heart disease and stroke, including age, gender, race, blood pressure, and smoking.

The researchers found no such link for people who had a pet dog.

The findings were presented here at the American Stroke Association's (ASA) International Stroke Conference.

Cat Lovers Have Less Stress
Researcher Farhan Siddiq, MD, director of the Minnesota Stroke Institute at the University of Minnesota, says he thinks that pet lovers share personality characteristics such as low stress and anxiety levels that protect them against heart disease and stroke.

"Dog owners probably have the same characteristics, even though the data don't support it," he adds.

ASA spokesman Daniel Lackland, MD, a stroke expert at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, agrees that both cats and dogs "are good, they make you feel better. And studies have shown that a general feeling of well-being is linked to better overall health."

But, Lackland stresses, the findings should not detract from the critical value of controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes.

So should you go out and buy a cat in hopes of cutting your risk of dying of a heart attack? "For other medical interventions, we would need more evidence. But this has minimal risk -- unless you're allergic," Siddiq tells WebMD.