Olive Oil: Many Health Benefits

Earache relief
Warm olive oil can soothe your child’s (or your) achy ear, according to pediatrician at Columbia University Medical Center. (Note: Only for kids 2 and up.) Just place 2 to 4 drops of warm oil in each ear. Follow up with doctor.

Stainless steel polish
Stainless steel appliances are magnets for fingerprint smudges. Make those marks vanish by applying a very light layer of olive oil with a soft cloth in a circular motion, according to the Specialty Steel Association.

Dry-hair conditioner
Revive damaged hair : Saturate hair with extra-virgin olive oil, then wrap with a warm towel for 20 minutes. Shampoo, rinse, and condition if needed.


Skin soother
Olive oil’s essential fatty acids are a natural treatment for rough elbows, hands, and cuticles, according to the Yale University School of Medicine. Nightly, rub a small amount of the extra-virgin variety into parched skin.

NO MORE JET-LAG

Traveling to exotic places is great--except when you first get there and collapse from exhaustion and jet lag. But you may be able to beat jet lag; you just have to skip eating before you leave home.
A new Harvard University study suggests that fasting may fight drowsiness.
Our bodies have two internal "clocks"--a body clock, which is sensitive to daylight, and a "feeding clock," which keeps track of meal times.
Using mice, researchers altered a gene called BMAL1 that regulates the body clock. In one part of the experiment, they made the mice sleep, even through hunger--meaning unless woken, the mice could have starved to death.
More importantly, they discovered that the feeding clock could overpower the circadian clock, keeping mice up until they found something to nibble on.
Researchers say you can shift your body clock by changing your eating schedule. In particular, they say fasting can help with jet lag.
Simply avoiding any food on the plane, and then eating as soon as you land, should help you to adjust and avoid some of the uncomfortable feelings of jet lag.

Air pollution can make you go bald

British researchers found that men living in polluted areas are more likely to go bald than those breathing clean air. A new study shows the toxins and carcinogens in things like cigarette smoke and pollution can damage hair growth by blocking the mechanism that produce the protein from which hair is made.

The team noted disruption in the process of hair growth, caused by oxidative stress, which destroys cells and is made worse by the effects of smoking and air pollution. Research shows you can reduce the effects of pollutants by eating antioxidant-rich foods, although the effects of antioxidants on hair growth have not yet been tested.

This study raises the hope that scientists may be able to develop treatments for balding men, with topical creams that are able to combat the effects of pollution on hair follicles. Until then, check out the Men's Health Grooming Awards to help you protect your assets.

BEWARE: Salads are not always HEALTHY!

You think you are being good because you are choosing a salad for lunch?

Unfortunately, that’s not always true. A seemingly healthy salad can have as much fat and calories as a McDonald's burger (with cheese)!

Tips to keep in mind when making/choosing a salad:

• Fill your plate with colorful vegetables
• Let the base of your salad be GREEN (Vegetables) and not Pasta or any other starchy ingredients
• Careful with the cheese. Choose white cheese whenever you can and try to skip the parmesan
• Dressings can be very harmful. Just 2 tablespoons of full-fat creamy dressing is about 150 calories. Use oil, mustard, lemon and vinegar based dressings
• Fat isn't bad. Some fats help to absorb the fat-soluble nutrients in vegetables and fill you up faster. Add good fats like avocado, nuts or olive oil, but in moderation
• Protein: Never choose heavy-mayonnaise salads like tuna, chicken and egg. Instead, go for chopped grilled chicken, chopped egg or plain tuna. Replace coleslaw with some crunchy red cabbage