Useful Emotions

For whatever reason, I haven't really ever given consideration to the idea that emotions are useful -- that I would cultivate one particular emotion because it would assist me in completing a particular task.  Sure, I have seen the football player type guy yelling at himself to get himself pumped up for the game (and secretly thought he was stupid) but using emotions as tools??

Here is a study that talks about the usefulness of anger.  Interestingly enough, the study authors found that study participants liked music and activities that made them angry if they had to complete a task that was confrontational (in this case, a shoot em' up video game). 

On the flip side though, anger was not helpful when completing a task that was non-confrontational (a video game where the participant was a restaurant server trying to deal with her customers).

We have all heard the idea that anger is healthy and I believe that to be true but...it looks like perhaps we should give some consideration to how and when we are using that emotion -- perhaps it is the right tool for the job and perhaps not.

Dementia related to midlife stress?? Is there any hope for us?

Here's something that is not exciting -- a study published in Brain indicates a link between times of high-stress in mid-life and developing dementia later on.  Yikes!!  Who isn't stressed in mid-life?

According to this article:

"Stress was defined as a sense of irritation, tension, nervousness, anxiety, fear or sleeping problems lasting a month or more due to work, health, family or other problems"

The study authors say much more research is needed in this area before we jump to any conclusions.

The good news??

"Most of those who said that they were stressed did not develop dementia"  --So there isn't any reason to get stressed about your stress level. 

The take home? An over-abundance of  stress isn't healthy and there are a million ways to reduce your stress level.  Go for a walk, turn off the TV, don't watch the news, meditate, enjoy your friends when you're with them...and the list goes on. 

Don't change your stress coping behaviors because you are scared of increasing your risk of dementia -- change your stress coping behaviors because when you do, you will enjoy your life more!

Are more kids getting kidney stones?

If you have every seen anyone experiencing kidney stones (or experienced them yourself), you have some idea of just how painful they can be!  I didn't know kids could experience them -- let alone that the number of children dealing with kidney stones may be on the increase.

Why? 

Some professionals think it it likely due to the same diet and low-fluid concerns that put adults at risk.  Why is that?  Read on:

"...Obesity is a risk factor for kidney stones, and the rising rate of childhood obesity in the U.S. could be at work. Since 1980, the percentage of obese kids between ages 6 and 11 has nearly tripled to 19.6 percent in 2008 according to the Centers for Disease for Disease Control and Prevention.



Diet is another potential culprit, Routh noted. Low fluid intake, and high intakes of sodium as well as animal fat and proteins, can contribute to kidney stones, he explained.


Children who have a family history of kidney stones or have ever had stones in the past are at greater risk of developing them than other kids are. Routh suggested that parents of these children, in particular, try to make sure their kids stay well-hydrated, especially during summer months.


Hydration, he said, is the best way to prevent stone formation in children at elevated risk."

Click here to read the article in full.

Teen hearing loss increasing

Here's an interesting statement I hadn't ever considered:

"There is a difference between what we consider to be loud and what is physically intense and could be hazardous to the ear"

Seems pretty straight forward right?

According to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, teen hearing loss is up from 15% of teens having some degree of hearing loss in the early 1990's to nearly 20% by the mid 2000's.

As much as our teens are listening to their electronics via their rockin' Skull Candy  and as happy as I am not to be assaulted by that noise myself, perhaps they need a bit more guidance on the difference between what they consider loud and the noise level that actually creates hearing loss.  I bet there is a pretty big disconnect between the two!

Trying to decide on which diet to try next?

Okay -- if you originally started reading the Eating Coach blog, you will know I am an advocate of NOT DIETING to lose weight.  I will make the distinction here just to be clear -- I am not a fan of weight loss through cutting out things that you like to eat.  Honestly, if your strategy is to do without your favorites, how long are you going to last?  Forever?  I think not.

But -- if you are going to diet to lose weight as a means of addressing a particular health concern, this article provides some insight on whether to go low-fat or low-carb to achieve your goals.

The most important part:  pick areas of change you can live with.  Otherwise, you will put in all that hard work losing the weight only to gain it back when you go "off" your diet and return to your "normal" behaviors.

It's your whole diet pattern that matter -- not individual components

Ever consider just taking a pill instead of eating your veggies?  Same thing, right?  Sorry!  The answer is no it's not.  Scientist have looked at people with Metabolic Syndrome.  Those most successful at reversing their health issues are the ones that change their whole dietary pattern to include less high-fat, highly processed food and add in more whole grains, fruits and vegetables.  (in other words, REAL FOOD)

There's just no getting around it!  We need to eat things that grow in the ground and on trees if we want to achieve that next level of health.

Click here and here for more information.

Think Tai Chi is only for old people?

No way!  If you have ever taken a class, you might have notice how the movements highlight your lack of balance and coordination.  Think your coordinated?  Maybe, maybe not -- but you'll know for sure after your first session on Tai Chi.

Young and old alike can benefit from these ancient, smooth movements.  Alternative forms of movement are attracting the attention of the West's scientific community.  The newest study I have come across looks at whether Tai Chi is a better therapy for Fibromyagia sufferers than just stretching.  And the results of that study??

Survey says "Tai Chi wins out as a more effective pain management technique.  As an added bonus -- with less pain, people suffer from less depression.

Interested in trying Tai Chi?  Click here for classes at BHFC.