Tag Archives: Good

Get This: Stress Can Be a GOOD Thing

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Check out the list of links that should be on your radar today:

Some stress may be beneficial for your brain, according to a new study. Another bonus: It can help you become better at public speaking. [Forbes]

Twitter Music launched today. [Newser]

Modern Family star Sofia Vergara is speaking up about her hypothyroid condition, a result of her battle with thyroid cancer. Learn how to detect (and prevent) the disease. [Huffington Post]

Want to file a complaint about a sketchy abortion provider? You’ll have to go through a lot of red tape first. [The Atlantic]

You probably only wear 20 percent of the clothes in your closet. What a waste! [The Cut]

Doctors order fewer tests when they know exactly how much you’ll have to pay for them. Because that’s definitely how it’s supposed to work. [NY Daily News]

Gwyneth Paltrow is the most hated celebrity? Sorry, Star, there’s no way. [Huffington Post]

Fast & Furious now has a clothing line with GUESS. Don’t everybody rush to buy it all at once. [Vulture]

When hospitals make surgical errors, you end up having to stay for longer—which results in more money for them, according to a new study. Well that’s messed up. [NY Times]

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Get This: Music is as Good as Sex

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Check out the list of links that should be on your radar today:

Good news if Bruno Mars is the only man in your life right now: Listening to a song you like activates the same reward center in your brain as having sex. [The Telegraph]

Using a smartphone app can help you drop more pounds than logging your meals in an online food diary. Check out the best apps for weight loss. [TIME]

All of that hype about how romcoms give you unrealistic expectations about love? Not true. In case you needed an excuse to watch Sleepless In Seattle… again… [Science Daily]

 

Portia de Rossi told Out magazine that she and partner Ellen Degeneres have no intention of adding kids to their family—seven months after Ellen said the same thing to Jay Leno. How many times must they repeat themselves? If you’re ambivalent about being a mom, here’s what you need to know. [USA Today]

A new study out of Clemson University confirms what college students have been trying to ignore for decades: The balls you use to play beer pong are completely disgusting—as in, covered in salmonella, listeria, e. Coli, and staph that can end up in your beer disgusting. [The Daily Meal]

Back away from the computer: Interacting with your guy on too many different social media platforms could put a damper on your relationship. [LiveScience]

First, Justin Bieber  said that he hopes Anne Frank would have been a belieber. Now, after the completely understandable backlash to that statement, the museum created in Frank’s honor is standing up for Bieber. Don’t encourage him… [Gothamist]

A new study commissioned by a flip flop company finds that wearing flip flops to work is associated with having lower/non-existant stress levels.  You don’t say! [GlobeNewswire]

In case you have an extra $ 40,000 laying around, a bar in Maine is adding a $ 40K drink made with a ruby to its menu. [Newser]

photo: Ron Chapple Studios/Thinkstock

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Good News: You Don’t Need to Find a Husband in College

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Within hours of when her letter to the editor went live on the website of The Daily Princetonian, Princeton University’s student newspaper, Susan A. Patton knew she had hit a nerve.

blockquote

“TKquote,” says Patton, who spoke with Women’s Health yesterday. Soon afterward, the site crashed altogether, presumably from the influx of traffic generated by Patton’s letter.

For what it’s worth, Patton stands by the message expressed in her letter—in spite of the intense public ire it’s received.

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5 Ways to Boost Good Cholesterol

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Bummer alert: Aortic aneurysms, a dangerous swelling of the aorta, affect 1 to 2 percent of women and kill around 13,000 Americans each year, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. They can only be repaired surgically and often go undiagnosed, but a new study shows hope for a treatment: The research, published in the journal Atherosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, indicates that higher levels of HDL, or “good” cholesterol, can help protect you from developing an aortic aneurysm.

Researchers from St. George’s University of London gave a peptide called Ang-II to mice to increase their blood pressure and try to induce an aneurysm. They then injected one group of mice with HDL and another with a placebo. Researchers discovered that they were unable to create new aneurysms in the mice that received the HDL injections, and these mice also showed a significant reduction in the size of their existing aneurysms. “It’s good news for mice, but we do need to translate this,” says lead study author Gillian Cockerill, PhD, group leader of the Vascular Biology Research Unit.

That said, existing research shows boosting your HDL is good for heart health and may help prevent coronary disease, says Maja Zaric, MD, interventional cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and a Women’s Health advisor. “HDL is a type of cholesterol that actually cleans the blood vessels, as opposed to the LDL cholesterol (aka, bad cholesterol), which clogs them,” she says.

Here, she shares a few strategies on how get more of the good stuff.

Work it out: Since regular exercise helps boost HDL production, Zaric recommends logging at least 30 minutes of any aerobic exercise three to four times a week.

Quit the cancer sticks: Whether you’re a regular smoker or a “just one puff” kind of girl, it’s time to ditch the bad habit. “Smoking even in small amounts can actually suppress the HDL release from the liver,” says Zaric.

Drop some pounds: If your BMI is higher than 25, losing weight isn’t just all-around good for you—it can also up your HDL levels. That said, people who are at a normal body weight shouldn’t try to drop pounds just to increase HDL production.

Fill up on good fats: Consumption of monounsaturated fats has been linked to higher HDL levels. Get your fill by incorporating more avocado, salmon, sardines, olive oil, and olives into your diet.

Consider a cholesterol booster: If you’re generally healthy but have a low HDL count and a family history of heart disease, you might want to ask your doctor about OTC cholesterol-boosting medications, says Zaric. One thing to keep in mind: They can have the side effect of facial flushing or redness, which might last anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More from WH:
18 Self-Checks Every Woman Should Do
What Your Blood Test Results Mean
Heart-Healthy Recipes
15 Min Belly, Butt & Thigh Workout
What’s the 15-Minute Fat Loss Secret? Find out here!

 

 

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The Good, the Bad, the B.S.

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Check out the list of links that should be on your radar today:

The Good

Smile! Optimists have healthier hearts.

So long, painful stomach biopsies: A new breath test detects stomach cancer with 90 percent accuracy.

Scientists have diagramed the human body Google Maps-style—and it’s awesome.

The Bad

Diabetes-related expenses are on the rise—and females with the disease spend more than men.

Just in case you needed more disturbing news to keep you up at night, insomnia may be linked to heart failure.

Runners, take note: Barefoot shoes can cause injuries, too.

The B.S.

This “mortality index” predicts if you’ll be alive in 2023. Or you could always just ask your Magic 8 Ball.

Researchers have decided that lots of new moms have OCD. Non-academics just call it “caring about your kid.”

A new study claims that women are just as bad at multi-tasking as men. No word if listening and breathing at the same time counts.

photo: Creatas/Thinkstock

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When the Silent Treatment Is a GOOD Thing

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The next time you have a run-in with a d-bag, don’t automatically go on the defensive. Sure, it’s crazy annoying–there you are, innocently going about your day, when some idiot makes a bonehead comment (“Put on a few pounds?”) or does something obnoxious (textaholic-ing during brunch). Your first impulse may be to react, or lash back. But as it turns out, surprising new research suggests the silent treatment could keep the jerks from ruining your day.

In a study of 120 college students, participants were put in a room with either a nice guy (relaxed, friendly, egalitarian) or a jerk (rude, impatient, bigoted). Half the students were instructed to engage in cordial conversation with him, while the other half were told to ignore him. Afterwards, participants completed a task requiring careful thought and attention. Turns out, the students who had a discussion with the d-bag scored significantly worse than those who froze him out. “Trying to politely engage with someone aversive makes people feel depleted, and as a result they won’t perform as well,” says study coauthor Kristin Sommer, Ph.D., associate professor at Baruch College. “If you force yourself to behave in a way that goes against your instincts—like being nice to a jerk—it takes a toll on your resources.”

Of course, you can’t always just ignore all the jerks in your life. So we ran a bunch of annoying situations by Rick Brinkman, Ph.D., speaker, coauthor of Dealing With People You Can’t Stand: How to Bring Out the Best in People at Their Worst, and founder of RickBrinkman.com, and asked him when to snub the snot, and when to suck it up and deal with them.

The situation: A woman cuts you in line at Starbucks
Ignore Her. Getting bent out of shape just so you can sip your latte a few minutes faster will probably only worsen your mood. Again, remind yourself that she might be legitimately running late or stressed out and not thinking straight. Still all steamed up? “Try to project how you’ll feel an hour from now,” Brinkman suggests. “Will you regret not standing up to her?” If so, go ahead and call her out on it.

The situation: Your boyfriend leaves his dirty clothes strewn over the floor for the hundredth time
Deal With Him. If it was a one-time infraction, overlooking his carelessness would be your best bet. But since it’s a regular issue, bring it up or it’ll only aggravate you further. “Approach him with a playful, teasing attitude,” Brinkman says. “That keeps him from getting defensive yet still sends a message.” When there’s the slightest improvement on his end, praise him to reinforce it. (It takes a few weeks to establish a new habit though, so be patient.)

The situation: Someone keeps texting in the middle of Side Effects
Deal With Her. Messing with your viewing pleasure of Channing Tatum’s eight-pack? Not cool. If the person is sitting right in front of you, Brinkman suggests quietly saying, “I know that text is important, but the light is distracting.” If they’re a few rows ahead of you, alert a theater employee.

The situation: While you’re walking down the street, a dude hollers, “Hey baby, lookin’ good!”
Ignore Him. Responding will likely egg him on, unfortunately. And while street heckling is annoying and sometimes even a little frightening, trying to figure out how to respond is a waste of your mental energy. Instead, keep your chin up and keep on walking. And, if you can, try to see the bright side of his oafish behavior: Apparently, you’re rocking it today!

The situation: Your slacker coworker asks you to help him finish his quarterly report
Deal With Him. Since you see him almost every day, freezing him out will make things awkward, which sucks for both of you. So how to handle the situation without getting screwed? First, giving him the benefit of the doubt can diminish your annoyance, according to Brinkman. It’s possible he’s not a lazy bastard but is actually overwhelmed by something else (a health problem, a breakup), or is trying his best, and just isn’t as efficient as you. Next, establish a boundary in a polite way. Tell him, “I’d love to help you,” pause for a moment to let that sink in, and continue, “But I also have a huge project due.” Then give him some guidance, like pointing out that if he can’t complete the full report today, he should turn in a bulleted list of highlights so your boss won’t freak. “This approach empowers him and makes you feel good about yourself—your body releases endorphins when you help someone,” Brinkman says.

The situation: A close friend shows up an hour late to your birthday dinner
Deal With Her. Assuming she has a lame excuse (it’s not like her cat died or something), address the issue to prevent resentment from building up. “Decide that you’ll discuss it with her in the next few days,” Brinkman says. “Having that settled in your mind will help you let go in the moment so you can enjoy the party.” When you do talk to her, start by telling her that you care about your friendship and don’t want anything to come between you. Framing the discussion in a positive way will leave a better taste in your mouth and hers.

The situation: During holiday dinner, Uncle Marvin says, “You look really tired.”
Depends. If it’s possible to tune him out and head to the buffet, do so. But if you’re in a situation that requires a reply, Brinkman recommends a brief, sarcastic retort. Try, “Thank you for caring about my health and well-being,” or in a kidding tone, “I sure look better than you!” It lets him know he was out of line without being confrontational or engaging in further conversation. Whatever you do, don’t affirm his comment by saying, “Yeah, I guess I need more sleep.” “Agreeing with the criticism will make you feel worse,” Brinkman maintains.

photo: Khakimullin Aleksandr/Shutterstock

 
More from WH:
How to Deal with Jerky Coworkers
Sidestep Silly Arguments With Your Guy
The Benefits of Stress

To find out how to suppress your hunger hormone, buy The Belly Fat Fix now!

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How to Kick Your Fast-Food Habit—For Good

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Don’t be surprised if your local burger joint is looking a little less crowded these days: Americans are consuming fewer of their total daily calories from fast food, according to new research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

From 2007 to 2010, researchers from the CDC conducted the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. As part of it, participants were asked to list everything they had eaten over a 24-hour period. When analyzing the results, researchers labeled something as “fast food” if the person reported buying it from a recognized fast-food chain or pizza place. The calories from those items were then calculated as a portion of the participants’ total daily calorie intake. The results: In 2010, Americans got 11 percent of their calories from fast food, down from 13 percent in 2006.

The reason for the drop is unclear: People may be showing restraint due to tight budgets or better awareness of nutrition, but more research is needed to pin down the exact cause. “We can only hope it will continue,” says Cheryl D. Fryar, M.S.P.H., a health statistician at the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics and the lead author of the survey.

In the meantime, it can’t hurt to jump on the bandwagon. Joy Bauer, MS, RD, CDN, gives tips on how to slash your fast-food intake, whether you view it as a daily habit or an occasional splurge.

Gradually cut back
If you’re currently a fast-food junkie, going cold-turkey is only going to make your cravings for burgers and fries more intense. “Give yourself an allotment for each week,” Bauer says. That may mean hitting the drive-thru on just Monday and Friday and splurging on your favorites while you’re there. Or it may mean allowing yourself more visits, but restricting yourself to the healthier menu options. Click to learn How to Make Fast Food Healthy. Either way works as long as you’re moving in a healthier direction.

Let your wallet motivate you
Take a look at how much money you spent on fast food in the past month, and imagine what you could have bought instead if you’d stayed in. To see exactly how much you’ve spent on fast food, sign up for a Mint.com account, which tracks your spending by category automatically. “If you are strategic and you make your meals at home fresh, you will save so much money,” Bauer says. Normally buy meals off the dollar menu? Think about the potential health savings down the road. Fast food is linked to an increased risk of weight gain, heart disease, and diabetes. So in the long run, you’ll save yourself tons of cash in medications and doctors’ visits—even if you’re paying more for fresh produce now.

Treat yourself to lower-cal versions of your favorite dishes
These days, more chains are making an effort to cook up healthier versions of their standard menu offerings. For instance, a pizza chain may have a thin-crust version of your favorite pie. Visit the restaurant’s website and look at the nutrition facts. Chances are there’s a lower-cal version to choose from, Bauer says. If KFC is your drug of choice, for example, she recommends the Kentucky Grilled Chicken Breast (220 calories) over the Original Recipe Chicken Breast (360 calories).

Order the smallest sizes on the menu
Resist the urge to super-size. “Smaller is always going to be better,” Bauer says. If going too small won’t satisfy you, then order a large size of a healthy main dish (like a salad) and a small size of the fattening order (like French fries).

Skip the soda
By avoiding a sugary drink, you’ll have more wiggle room to enjoy your food. “Do not waste your calories on soda,” Bauer says. She recommends drinking water instead of opting for chemical-laden diet soda. “Do one clean thing when you’re there,” she says.

Plan ahead
The amazing thing about fast food is that it’s just that—fast. Chances are, you’re most tempted to indulge when you’re either a) really hungry or b) in a rush. Making meals at home ahead of time will ensure you’re not tempted to hit McDonald’s or Wendy’s. Just double or triple a recipe you’re making over the weekend, then freeze the food in single-serve containers. That way, when that must-eat-now feeling hits, you can just pop the food in the microwave and avoid a calorie crisis. Get amazing recipe inspiration by checking out our food blog, The Dish.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More from Women’s Health:
Eating Out While Dieting
7 Fast-Food Meals Under 350 Calories
6 Freaky Fast Food Creations

Want a flatter belly, thinner thighs, and toned arms? To transform your body, buy The Spartacus Workout 2-DVD program now!

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6 Ways to Have Good Gym Hygiene

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If you don’t already wipe down gym equipment before you use it, you might want to start. Turns out, gym rats can have some pretty repulsive habits, according to a survey conducted by Nuffield Health, a health firm in the UK.

To get the dirt on what goes on at health clubs, the firm surveyed 2,000 people. The gym sins they discovered: 74 percent of people polled said they had noticed that their fellow gym-goers committed a gym faux pas, like failing to wipe down sweaty equipment; 49 percent admitted to having used water bottles, towels, and toiletries that weren’t actually theirs; 18 percent had gone to the gym despite being sick and coughing and sneezing; and 16 percent said they didn’t wash their gym clothes between workouts.

Gross, sure, but not necessarily a health risk. There’s no concrete, scientific evidence that finds that gyms will make you sick, according to Elaine Larson, PhD, director at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Antimicrobial Resistance at Columbia University.

That said, having good gym hygiene can somewhat limit your exposure to germs that cause cold, flu, norovirus, athlete’s foot, and staph infection—not to mention make you a better neighbor to your fellow fitness junkies.

The key to a cleaner workout session? Simply be attentive, says Donna Duberg, assistant professor of Clinical Laboratory Science at Saint Louis University. “The real trick is you have to keep your hands and your face protected,” she says. Here, her tips on how to avoid grimy gym germs.

Buy a better bottle
“Plastic water bottles tend to hold bacteria,” Duberg says. “The only ones you can be sure of are metal.” To clean it properly, just wash it in hot, soapy water. Also, keep an eye on your bottle to make sure someone (like nearly half of the people in the survey!) doesn’t sneak a sip while you aren’t paying attention.

Wipe, wash, repeat
Whether you decide to constantly wipe down the equipment, or cleanse your own hands, or a combination of the two, keeping your hands clean can help make sure gym germs don’t do any damage. “Keep your own little area organized and hygienic, and you’re going to be protected,” says Duberg. After using each machine or set of weights, use the hand sanitizer and wipes that should be provided by your gym to keep germs at bay.

Clean your gear
“Dirty, dark, moist gym bags are great for fungi—they’ll grow just fine in the interior,” says Duberg. There are several ways to avoid contaminating your gym bag: “Put your dirt clothes in a plastic bag, take them out, and empty the plastic bag right into the washer,” she says. And don’t forget about your sneakers. Like your dirty clothes, slip them into a plastic bag before throwing them into your gym bag. Then, once you get home, wipe them off with a disinfecting wipe (including the bottoms), let them air dry, and toss them back in the next day, she suggests.

Shower smarter
Although they’re not completely foolproof, flip-flops will “provide a barrier between you and the floors and you and the shower room,” says Duberg. But take note: Once they get wet in the shower, fungal spores can still get on your feet. To minimize the risk, soak your sandals in a 10% bleach solution once in a while, she says. That’ll help keep them—and your feet—as clean and fungus-free as possible.

Take a rest day
“Don’t go to the gym if you have a really bad cold and you’re sneezing and your nose is running,” she says. Also, if you have an open wound, you might want to stay away from the gym that day to avoid infection, or infecting anything you might touch while you’re working out.

Hold off on the hot tubs
If you have an open wound, skin, or other infections, absolutely do not use Jacuzzis or common pools, warns Duberg. If you do, you’ll not only transmit bacteria, but you’ll be more susceptible to bacteria that are already lurking in the water.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More from WH:
The Step-by-Step Guide to Hand Washing
Is Restaurant Silverware Making You Sick?
How to Germ-Proof Your Office
Look Better Naked: Buy the book to learn how to look (and feel!) your very best.

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How to Find a Good Therapist

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Two-thirds of depression sufferers don’t experience significant relief from antidepressant medication. Fortunately, new research findings might help improve their treatment. A large scale trial in the UK found that the combination of antidepressants combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is far more effective at conquering depression than pills alone.

Researchers prescribed 469 patients with treatment-resistant depression to one of two regimens: Antidepressants alone, or a combination of antidepressants and CBT. Of the pills-only group, 22 percent reported reduction in symptoms after six months. In contrast, 46 percent of patients treated with the combination of medication and therapy reported a reduction in symptoms. Not only that, but the beneficial effect was maintained over twelve months.

For people who turn their noses up at the idea of therapy, CBT is nothing like the tired cliché of spending a lifetime on the couch, untangling your dreams or exploring your childhood. “CBT is a short-term, goal-directed treatment focused on the here and now,” explains Dorothea Lack, Ph.D., a member of the American Psychological Association and a psychologist in private practice in San Francisco. “The therapist works with the patient to restructure negative thought patterns and acquire better coping skills.” Patients take an active role in their treatment, and therapists generally assign homework (which could be anything from journaling to scheduling a positive activity into the week) with the expectation it will be discussed during the next session. “The idea is that sessions build upon themselves to help the patient develop the tools she needs to manage on her own,” explains Lacks. “But the specific sessions will vary based on the individual.”

The get the most out of CBT, it’s essential to find a therapist you feel you click with. Here’s how to get started.

Get a referral
If you’re on antidepressants, ask your prescribing doctor for a CBT-trained therapist he or she recommends. “An advantage of working with a therapist who’s already worked with your doctor is that it may be easier for them to collaborate—with your permission—on future treatment plans,” explains Lack. In other words, if your therapist and your MD often work with each other, it may be easier for your MD to get a bigger picture insight into how your medication is working than if she’s never spoken with your therapist. But if her own referral network isn’t ideal, it’s no big deal—you can always connect them later. Other places to find a therapist include online—therapists.psychologytoday.com has an extensive directory that’s searchable by location, insurance, and treatment modality, meaning you can specifically look up CBT therapists in your area. Another option is to ask your insurance provider for local practitioners.

Arrange an interview
Just because you received a referral doesn’t mean you’re locked in to that particular provider. “In the first session, you should feel comfortable asking just as many questions as the potential therapist,” says Lack. Schedule a quick phone call or a brief office visit where you ask about their training (effective therapists have a range of degrees but all should be licensed by the state), their therapeutic approach, and whether they’ve often dealt with your own particular issue. “Therapists aren’t psychics,” reminds Lack. “It’s essential for you to explain your own goals and expectations so you can get a sense of whether or not you and she are on the same page.” Other stuff to bring up in the initial meeting: What she expects from her patients (such as homework assignments, journaling, or committing to agreed-upon goals each week), how she handles between-appointment communication like phone calls or e-mails, and any need-to-know billing info. Getting the policy stuff out of the way early ensures that it won’t interrupt your treatment once it officially gets started.

Check in with yourself
“You should leave the first encounter genuinely feeling like you trust and respect the therapist,” says Lack. Not only that, but it’s key to pay extra attention to minor annoyances. Since you’re going to be visiting her more often than you would, say, your dentist, an out-of-the-way office or a less than ideal time slot could compromise your commitment to treatment.

 

photo: George Doyle/Stockbyte/Thinkstock

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Feeling Blue? Eat More of THIS
All-Natural Depression Fixes

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Find easy ways to look and feel good fast in Dr. Oz’s book You Being Beautiful

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