Are Saunas Good for Your Brain? By Dr. Mercola In the U.S., many Americans use a sauna only occasionally, perhaps while at the gym or on vacation — if at all. In Finland, in contrast, 99 percent of Finns take at least one sauna a week,1 and some far more often than that. Known as a "poor man's pharmacy," Finns value saunas for stress relief, above all else, but the simple act of sitting quietly in a heated room, with or without steam (or as it's known in Finland, löyly), offers proven health benefits that virtually everyone can enjoy, including a boost to brain health. Not surprisingly, much of the research on saunas' health benefits comes from Finland, a country with about 5.5 million people and 3.3 million saunas (they're as common as television sets).2 There, saunas are commonly found in private homes, offices and even factories, and regular use is an integral part of Finnish life.
According to the Harvard Health Blog:3 Sauna Use May Lower Your Risk of Dementia How Sauna Use May Boost Brain Function.
Dental Care. Surprising Health Benefits of Extreme Hot and Cold Temperatures. By Dr. Mercola When it comes to improving your health, some of the simplest strategies can have a tremendous impact. For example, did you know that exposure to extreme temperatures can serve as a catalyst to improve your health? In a previous interview, biological scientist Rhonda Patrick, Ph.D. discussed the importance of mitochondrial function — a topic she expands on in this interview. As it turns out, exposure to extreme temperatures, be it hot or cold, actually improves mitochondrial function. Mitochondria are the energy generators in your cells. When your mitochondria are not working properly, your body's ability to generate energy is impaired. Exposure to extreme hot and cold temperaturesExerciseIntermittent fasting or time-restricted feedingCertain supplements, such as resveratrol All of these strategies stimulate the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1 alpha), which is the primary driver for mitochondrial biogenesis.
Benefits of Heat Stress.
Finger Length Predicts Health and Behavior. Increased verbal aggression Fq < 1 The shorter your index finger, the sharper your tongue: In both men and women, a lower Fq can predict more verbal sparring. Improved athletic ability Fq < 1 A greater surge of prenatal testosterone can be an indicator of high levels of achievement in sports, as well as a mental toughness in athletics. In one study, college varsity athletes (male and female) were found to have shorter index fingers than other students.
Improved sense of direction Fq < 1 In women, a more masculine digit ratio tends to predict a better sense of direction, backing up past research that found men tend to have better spatial cognition than women. More physical aggression Fq < 1 Men with shorter index fingers are more likely to pick fights. More risk taking Fq < 1 Men who experience a higher surge of prenatal testosterone, and thus have longer ring fingers, tend to be risk takers. Healthier knees Fq > 1 Increased risk of oral cancer* Fq > 1 Lower prostate cancer risk Fq > 1.
Cancer. Allergies. Vaccinations. Lyme Disease. Dementia and Alzheimer's. The Hidden Hazards Of Microwave Cooking. By now, you probably know that what you eat has a profound impact on your health. The mantra, "You are what you eat" is really true. But you need to consider not only WHAT you buy, but how you cook it. Eating most of your food raw is ideal. But most of us are not going to be able to accomplish a completely raw diet, and we'll end up cooking some percentage of our food.
Smart food preparation starts with high quality foods and food preparation and that means saying sayonara to your microwave oven. Need to sterilize a dishcloth? Why the no nukes policy? Sad State of Our Soils Over the past century, the quality of fresh food has declined due to soil depletion, unsustainable farming practices, overproduction of crops, and the use of pesticides and herbicides. Not surprisingly, a calorie today will provide you less nutrition than a calorie from 100, or even 50 years ago. So now, more than ever, you must be careful to maximize the "bang for your buck" when it comes to the foods you eat.
Detox. Your Guide To A Healthy, Happy Tummy. Once you've polished off a meal, you probably don't give it much thought. But when you push away from the table, your gut's work is only beginning—it will take between nine hours and a day or two for the food you just ate to be fully digested. During that time, your stomach and small intestine break your food down into molecules that the small intestine's thin lining can absorb, allowing essential nutrients-the energy stream that fuels every cell in your body—to enter your bloodstream. The lower part of your small intestine then wrings out the water remaining in your meal and ushers it into your colon, which funnels it into your bloodstream to help keep you hydrated. As straightforward as this process sounds, the seemingly simple chore of digestion depends on a finely orchestrated series of muscular contractions, chemical secretions, and electrical signals all along the 30-foot-long gastrointestinal tract.
But there's also plenty you can do to keep this operation running smoothly. 1. 2. How to Treat the Cold or Flu Naturally. 10 Reasons Why We Need at Least 8 Hugs a Day. Hugging therapy is definitely a powerful way of healing. Research shows that hugging (and also laughter) is extremely effective at healing sickness, disease, loneliness, depression, anxiety and stress. Research shows a proper deep hug, where the hearts are pressing together, can benefit you in these ways: 1. The nurturing touch of a hug builds trust and a sense of safety. This helps with open and honest communication. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. There is a saying by Virginia Satir, a respected family therapist, “We need four hugs a day for survival. As a loving father, I get plenty of hugs from my little princess and her Mamma. The Island Where People Forget to Die. Andrea Frazzetta/LUZphoto for The New York Times Stamatis Moraitis tending his vineyard and olive grove on Ikaria.
More Photos » Andrea Frazzetta/LUZphoto for The New York Times Residents of the island Ikaria in Greece live profoundly long and healthful lives. More Photos » One day in 1976, Moraitis felt short of breath. Moraitis considered staying in America and seeking aggressive cancer treatment at a local hospital. In the ensuing months, something strange happened. Six months came and went. I met Moraitis on Ikaria this past July during one of my visits to explore the extraordinary longevity of the island’s residents. Are Expired Drugs Still Safe to Use?
Top 10 Food Additives to Avoid. December 17, 2010 | 96,221 views Share Some food additives are worse than others. Food Matters suggests these as the top ones to avoid: Artificial SweetenersAspartame, also known as Nutrasweet and Equal, is believed to be carcinogenic and accounts for more reports of adverse reactions than all other foods and food additives combined. The artificial sweetener Acesulfame-K has been linked to kidney tumors.