Everyone Washes Their Hands After Visiting the Restroom… Or Do They?
Regular hand washing is the single most important thing we can do to avoid spreading germs. Seems obvious, right? Our hands come into contact with the world around us more often than any other part of our bodies, and it is just good common sense to wash up after handling something that may be not-so-clean. However, despite the logic, a...
Foods That Make Your Acne Worse
The majority of the population suffers from acne at some point in their lives, some worse than others. Although it’s often associated with the teenage years, acne doesn’t play favorites. It can hit children as young as ten and adults well into their later years. While many doctors will still say that this skin condition is not related to...
Do You Know How to Sleep Really Well?
While the answer to this question may seem obvious, many of us have certain habits that may be unwittingly affecting the quality of our sleep. It is well-researched that a good night's sleep is one of the most important components of a healthy life. An eight-hour snooze session can do wonders for your body and mind. A 2013 study found that...
Beating Rheumatoid Arthritis With Exercise
Exercise is one of the best prescriptions for good health, even for those with rheumatoid arthritis. While you may not feel like moving, in the long run it can help relieve a great deal of your pain. Some of the benefits of being active for an RA sufferer include improved flexibility, less joint stiffness, stronger muscles (which can help to...
Could Bike Commuting Make You Happy?
A recent research project completed by a student at Portland State University (PSU) in Portland, Oregon has named biking as the most satisfying form of commuting to work. Oliver Smith, a PhD candidate at PSU's Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning, surveyed 828 Portland residents as to what transportation method they used to get to work—biking,...
Dow Chemical Seeks Approval for GM “Agent Orange” Soybeans and Corn
In a proposed “solution” to the herbicide-resistant weeds that have sprung up largely thanks to Monsanto's “RoundUp Ready” crops, Dow Chemical, the infamous bioengineer of Napalm and Agent Orange, is trying to get a new GMO approved by the USDA—composed of half of the ingredients of Agent Orange itself. The proposed new GM variety of corn and soybeans is...
Study: Body Size Influences Exercise Attitudes
A new study conducted by psychologists at Southwest University in Chongqing, China discovered that the brains of overweight individuals have a very different response to images of physical activity than the brains of average weight individuals. Researchers surveyed 13 healthy women of an average weight, as well as 13 women who were considered overweight or obese. At the beginning of...
American Grasslands Disappearing – Why it Matters
In a recent editorial, Dan Charles of National Public Radio (NPR) brought to light the dramatic reduction in US grasslands over the past decade. The reason for the decimation? High grain prices have farmers buying up—and mowing down—the prairies, which are essential to the health of our environment. Charles reports that in 2013 alone, 1.6 million acres of grassland was...
Study: Cruciferous Vegetables May Protect Against Lethal Radiation
The ongoing—and worsening—news about the Fukushima nuclear disaster has many people worried about radiation. In a piece of encouraging news, however, a new study has found that a compound found in cruciferous veggies protected rats against lethal radiation doses. It has been long known that cruciferous vegetables, which include cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, cauliflower and broccoli, have many...
The Powerful Nutritional Punch of Pistachios
It should come as no surprise that nuts are a healthy addition to a balanced diet. Copious amounts of research involving major cohort studies over the years have linked nut consumption with a decreased risk of heart disease. Researchers recently found a connection between avid nut-eaters and reduced instances of pancreatic cancer, the fourth most common cause of cancer-related...
