The Word That Can Save Your Life

Posted on February 12, 2013 by admin

You know that heart disease is deadly, but are you sure you know the warning signs of a heart attack? Turns out women don’t always experience the same heart attack symptoms that men do. And that’s a big deal, considering that heart disease is the leading cause of death among women, and more women than men die from it each year, according to recent statistics from the American Heart Association.

So what signs should you be looking out for? More than just chest pain, says Tracey Stevens, M.D., spokesperson for the American Heart Association and cardiologist with Saint Luke’s Cardiovascular Consultants. “Anything from the waist up can possibly be a symptom,” says Stevens. That includes shortness of breath, indigestion, pain between the shoulder blades or jaw, dizziness, and nausea—just to name a few.

So it’s crucial to identify the signs and symptoms when you see them. Use this simple pneumonic—PULSE—as your cheat sheet:

Persistent chest pain
Upset stomach, nausea, vomiting
Lightheadedness, dizziness
Shortness of breath
Excessive sweating

If you have these symptoms, don’t ignore them—get to an ER, STAT. And in the meantime, check out more ways to protect your ticker, here.

Via Fox News

photo: iStockPhoto/Thinkstock

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How Your Diet Affects Your Sleep

Posted on February 12, 2013 by admin

The food you eat has an impact on more than just your digestive system–turns out, it can also mess with your shuteye. The variety of food you eat may play a key role in determining your sleep cycle, according to a new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Researchers looked at data from the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They grouped survey subjects according to how much time they spent sleeping on average each night—very short (less than 5 hours), short (5 – 6 hours), standard (7 – 8 hours), and long (9-plus hours). They then analyzed the diets of each sleeping group. They found that the people who slept an average 7-8 hours a night ate the greatest variety of food and nutrients, and shortest sleepers consumed the lowest variety of food and nutrients.

Or, to put it simply: Eat more (types of food), sleep more.

“In general, a healthy diet likely promotes good sleep,” says researcher Michael A. Grandner, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and member of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology at the University of Pennsylvania. “Also, poor sleep can lead to unhealthy changes in your diet by affecting the hormones that control hunger and appetite, as well as your ability to make healthy choices.”

Grandner says that no individual nutrients seem to drive sleep patterns, but researchers may find specific links in the future, and that calorie intake wasn’t a major factor across groups. It’s “more about the quality of what you are eating, not so much how much you are eating.,” he says. So eat a varied diet — which includes a healthy mix of carbs, protein, vitamins and minerals — to get the best rest. Start by adding these 14 superfoods to your grocery cart this week.

photo: Shutterstock

More from Women’s Health:
9 Ways to Get Better Sleep
8 New Superfoods
9 Superfood Combos

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Are You Expecting V-Day Sex?

Posted on February 12, 2013 by admin

Here’s something you probably won’t see on a candy heart: 85 percent of people think it’s important to have sex on Valentine’s Day, according to a new survey by GoodInBed.com. Call it a cliché, but the pressure is on to bring it in the bedroom this year. Here’s how to make the most of the holiday—whether you’re coupled up or not.

Rise to the Occasion
Those 85 percent of people aren’t wrong—V-Day sex can be great for your bond. “If you’re in a relationship and you’ve been in a little bit of a sex rut, I think a healthy sense of pressure is a good motivation,” says Ian Kerner, Ph.D., Founder of Good In Bed and author of She Comes First. “Don’t just avoid that challenge and expectation completely.” Instead, let yourself get excited about the chance to get intimate with your guy. Even if you’ve never been a fan of scheduled sex, let him know that it is definitely on the agenda for the night by sending him a sexy text early in the day.
RELATED: 14 Sexy Tricks to Boost Your Libido

Get a Little Kinky
This holiday may seem sweet on paper, but most couples are actually hoping to get a little scandalous. 55 percent of survey respondents said they would be willing to try something new sexually to celebrate (wouldn’t St. Valentine be proud?). “Just like Halloween is an excuse to get into a sexy costume, this is an opportunity to be sexier in your relationship and try something adventurous,” says Kerner. His suggestions: Pick up a new sex toy, act out your fantasies, or experiment by watching porn together.
RELATED: The Best Sex Toys For Couples

Ditch Unrealistic Expectations
Unless you’re a contestant on The Bachelor, your date probably won’t involve a candlelit dinner at dusk followed by a romantic night in a luxurious hotel suite. And that’s perfectly fine. “Think about sex and intimacy as the centerpiece of Valentine’s Day, not the big expensive meal,” says Kerner. Plus, there’s nothing sexy about a crowded bistro on one of the busiest nights of the year. Instead, focus your efforts on making little romantic tweaks that will make your night way better. “Turn the bedroom into a love nest, get fresh cut flowers, clear out the digital devices and bring in the erotica,” says Kerner.
RELATED: 5 Valentine’s Day Dates Your Guy Will Love

Don’t Cave Under the Pressure
Whether you’re in a not-so-great relationship, tempted to call an ex, or diving into your online dating archives, remember that this is just one day, says Kerner. According to his survey, almost 50 percent of respondents said they felt pressure to have V-Day sex, and 40 percent of singles said they would consider having a hookup just because it’s Valentine’s Day. That might be a great short-term plan, but you risk waking up with one hell of an emotional hangover. Just don’t do anything you wouldn’t normally do on the other 364 days of the year. “Go out with your friends and check out Valentine’s Day events at bookstores and galleries,” says Kerner. “There’s usually free champagne to be had!”
RELATED: Why Isn’t Random Hooking Up Scary Anymore?

photo: Hemera/Thinkstock

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The Best Time-Saving Workout

Posted on February 11, 2013 by admin

Finding the time to work out is sometimes harder than actually working out. Well, this might be the timesaving—and even more slimming—solution to logging hours upon hours at the gym. According to a new study published in The Journal of Physiology, three sessions of sprint interval training are as effective as five sessions of longer endurance exercise.

Researchers separated participants—all young men, for the record—into two groups: the endurance training (ET) group and the sprint interval training (SIT) group. The ET group exercised for a longer period of time (40-60 minutes of cycling, 5 times a week), while the SIT group performed fewer, more intense workouts (four to six 30-second sprints with 4.5 minutes of low intensity cycling in between, 3 times a week). Though both exercise methods were beneficial, SIT, in just 90 minutes per week, “improved exercise capacity, insulin sensitivity, vascular health, and fat metabolism within the muscle,” according to Sam Shepherd, PhD, one of the study authors and lecturer in sport & exercise nutrition at Liverpool John Moores University.

But consider this before you hit the gym: SIT is an “extreme” form of high intensity interval training (HIIT), according to Shepherd. That’s why this intense kind of workout might be geared toward people who are already healthy and fit. The good news: “You can use less extreme forms of high intensity interval training, but the benefits should hopefully remain,” he says.

Great news, considering you can tailor HIIT to your fitness level—and reap some pretty awesome healthy-body benefits. The main thing you need to know about interval workouts: the work-to-rest ratio that works for you, according to Rachel Buschert Vaziralli, Schwinn Master Trainer, and New York City-based group fitness instructor and trainer.

“A beginner might need to do 1:3 ratios (ex. push for 30 seconds and then recover for 90), an intermediate exerciser might do 1:2 (ex. push for 30 seconds and then recover for 60), and a highly trained exerciser might be able to handle 1:1 (30 on 30 off) or even 2:1 (30 on 15 off),” she says. “It’s very individual, but the key is to push to a level of high exertion and feel like you need the recovery times.” The bottom line: The “sprint” or “push” portions should be tough, but not to the point where you can’t complete the workout or recover properly before going onto the next push.

With that in mind, try this beginner cycling interval plan created by Buschert Vaziralli.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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The Best Spinning Workout
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Do Someone a Favor—You’ll Live Longer

Posted on February 11, 2013 by admin

Stressed? You could relax with a bath, massage, or yoga session. Better yet: run a bath for your roommate, give your guy a massage, or drop a friend off at her yoga class. People who help others are less likely to die after stressful events, according to a study recently published in American Journal of Public Health.

Research has shown that serious stressors–like losing a job or a loved one–can worsen your health and shorten your life. But among the 846 adults in this study, those who did good deeds for others were less likely to die in the five years that followed a major blow. On the other hand, people who didn’t do much for others weren’t as lucky: every stressful event they experienced led to 30 percent greater risk of death.

It’s not just karma at work here. When you focus your attention on someone else’s wellbeing, it actually reduces your stress–and the harmful effects on your health, says lead study author Michael Poulin, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at the University at Buffalo.

The best part: you don’t need to save the world, spend a ton, or go too far out of your way to reap the benefits. Just do something that’s local (read: convenient), enjoyable, and complimentary to your skill set, says Bill Coplin, Ph.D., author of How You Can Help: An Easy Guide to Doing Good Deeds in Your Everyday Life and director of the public affairs program at Syracuse University. Begin with these five ways to do unto others as you’d want done unto you:

Be the designated driver
Get behind the wheel on girls’ night out, and you’ll save everyone cash on cab fares. Even better: you’ll save yourself from high-calorie cocktails and the hangover sure to follow.

Pack a coworker’s lunch
Love to cook? Double your most delicious dinner recipe, and bring the leftovers to share with an officemate to give her a break from her own brown bag or typical takeout.

Split supersized groceries
At value stores like Costco or BJs, you get a lot more for your money–and a lot more in general. Instead of overstuffing your pantry, offer to split your bill and bounty with a neighbor. Chances are, her kids will eat the two extra pounds of grapes that you typically let ferment in your fridge.

Turn your hobbies into help
Want to practice your amateur photography skills, or use your social media prowess for greater good? Create a profile at Catchafire.org, a site that links professionals to nonprofit organizations that need a hand with anything from designing a new logo to bookkeeping, or planning an event.

Bring your pet to see some grandparents
After a trip to the vet or groomer, swing by the nearest nursing home and take Sparky for a stroll. Your pup will make every animal-lover’s day–and relish the extra attention.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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The Healthy Food That Might Be Making You Sick

Posted on February 8, 2013 by admin

An apple a day will keep the doctor away…but only if you clean it first. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 percent of all food-borne illnesses are caused by contaminated vegetables–that’s 2.2 million out of 9.6 million reported cases. And produce foods–which include vegetables, fruits, and nuts–sicken 4.4 million people a year.

“We eat vegetables raw, so if harmful bacteria is present, there’s no intervention consumers have to ensure they’re safe,” says Michael Doyle, Ph.D., director at the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia.

Scary stuff, right? What’s worse is that there’s no way to be 100 percent sure that your food, especially produce, is totally safe to eat, Doyle says. Your best bet is to take the precautions to lower the number of harmful microbes that could be present. Here are 5 tips to keep your healthy foods safe.

Check for blemishes
Fruits and vegetables with bruises, cuts, and nicks have a greater risk of being contaminated with a food-borne illness, Doyle says. Make sure you inspect every surface of whatever item of produce you intend to buy beforehand so that you don’t contaminate other foods in your shopping cart.

Wash before you eat
It’s tempting to sneak a few grapes between shopping aisles, but hold off until you’re home. Doyle says most of the harmful bacteria are located on the outer skins of produce. For fruits like bananas and oranges, peeling the outer layers will leave you with safe food on the inside–just make sure your hands are clean. For other foods, a minute of thorough rinsing will reduce potentially dangerous bacteria.

Cook at a high temperature
You may prefer your veggies raw, but washing them is only half the battle. Doyle recommends cooking vegetables at 160 degrees Fahrenheit to kill most of the harmful microbes. Boiling and steaming will get the job done, but if you’re grilling, heat the outer surfaces well.

Practice safe storage
Don’t let your food sit in your fridge uncovered. Place them in closed plastic containers or Saran wrap and cool them in a temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Doyle says the life expectancy of vegetables ranges from three to four days, so be sure to eat them in that time frame. Keep these closed foods away from raw meat on a separate shelf or compartment so that juices won’t drip on them.

Use your best judgment
When you eat out, you have less control over how your food is picked, cooked, and stored. You don’t see what happens behind closed doors, so unless the menu tells you how your food is prepared, assume the food is handled properly. If you’re at a buffet-style joint, you’re the food inspector. Sometimes food is left out for hours, so avoid things that look brown or wilted.

photo: Baloncici/Shutterstock

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Don’t Mix THIS with Alcohol

Posted on February 8, 2013 by admin

Before you hit the town this weekend, consider this: The mixer you choose can actually make you more drunk. Turns out, drinking diet soda with alcohol actually boosts your buzz, according to a new study that will be published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

Researchers served participants one of three drinks: a diet soda and alcohol combination, a regular soda and alcohol combination, and a regular soda with a vodka scent. They then measured their breath alcohol concentration (BrAC). What they discovered: People who drank the diet soda and alcohol mixture had 18% higher BrACs than those who drank the regular soda and alcohol combo.

“When you consume alcohol with a diet drink, there’s nothing to digest in the stomach since there are no calories and no sugar, so the alcohol passes through the stomach and gets into the small intestine faster, and then into the bloodstream faster,” says Cecile Marczinski, PhD, study author and assistant professor at Northern Kentucky University. See, the sugar in a regular soda makes your stomach treat the drink like food—it digests it and delays it from entering into your bloodstream as quickly, she explains.

Your best bet? Choose a mixer that has calories. “There are concerns about limiting calorie consumption, which is reasonable, but I think it’s more harmful for your body, your brain, and your liver to have a higher blood alcohol concentration than just a couple of extra calories,” says Marczinski. Other ways to keep your blood alcohol concentration in check: Consume alcohol with food, and always alternate drinking alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic beverages.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Drinking and Exercise: How Alcohol Affects Your Body
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Fast! All it takes is 60 seconds a day to balance your body’s
chemistry and turn on your fat-burning furnace! Buy 60 Seconds to Slim today!

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Do You Type More Than You Talk?

Posted on February 8, 2013 by admin

If you interact with your inbox as often as you socialize with real people, join the crowd. Most people communicate via social networks or email about as often as they speak face-to-face, according to a study conducted by the University of Michigan.

In a survey of 3,000 Generation X-ers involved in the Longitudinal Study of American Youth, the average person reported about 75 face-to-face conversations a month, compared to 74 electronic interactions on Facebook, Twitter, email, and Skype.

When you grow up with technology, using it feels natural, says study author Jon Miller, Ph.D., a researcher at the Institute for Social Research for Political Studies. “Busy people do what works, whether it’s keeping in touch with your cell phone, texting, tweeting, or emailing,” he says.

The thing is, you’re more likely to be misunderstood and perceived as unsociable–even ill tempered–when you rely on electronic communication, says communication specialist Miti Ampoma, author of The Innovative Communicator. (Just think about that coworker who returns your call with an email, or straight-out rejects your meeting requests.) Worse yet: if you let Facebook replace face time, your confidence suffers when you actually interact in the flesh, says Ampoma.

Want to keep your social skills up to snuff? Schedule regular face time. When you communicate offline you can see and read a person’s face, interpret their expressions, and better understand their moods and behaviors. “As long as personal communication remains, electronic communication is OK,” says Miller, “but the quality of your relationship can deteriorate if you rely solely on electronic communication—especially in serious relationships.” Allocate a total of two or more hours a week for human face time, and spend it with your friends, family, or partner. And put down your cell phone or iPad while you’re at it.

For more strategies on how to keep tech from ruling your personal life, follow these 7 tips for how to log more face time.

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10 New Surprising Facts About Love and Sex

Posted on February 7, 2013 by admin

Whether you’re single, dating, or hitched, it’s normal to be curious about everyone else’s love lives. Are you having enough sex? Is your communication off? Are you being too picky? Luckily, Match.com released the latest findings from the third annual Singles In America study, and the results are fascinating! They surveyed over 5,000 singles and 1,000 married people on everything from orgasms to dating deal breakers. Check it out to see how your love life stacks up:

Women Snoop…A Lot
If you already know your date’s education and work history before you get to the restaurant, you’re not alone. 48% of single women look someone up on Facebook before a first date. Hey, you have to make sure you’re not getting Catfish-ed, right?
RELATED: Manage Your Online Reputation

Sex Doesn’t End After Marriage
Worried about your sex life plummeting after you tie the knot? Don’t worry, 41% of married couples had sex at least once a week last year. And better yet: Married women think about sex even more often than single women.
RELATED: Boring Sex, Begone!

Money Troubles Ruin Your Mojo
A bad credit score can screw up more than just your financial future—it can mess with your love life. 65% of singles wouldn’t date someone who was over $ 5,000 in debt. Hopefully, that’s not something you’d reveal on a first date, anyway.
RELATED: How to Avoid Credit Card Debt

Singles Are Better Communicators
Communication is clutch for good sex, but singles may have the upper hand on this one. Married men and women are less likely to bring up intimacy concerns than their single counterparts.
RELATED: Navigating Orgasm Obstacles

Most People Want to Get Married
Even though singlehood seems to be getting longer and longer, most people still believe in getting hitched someday. In fact, 9 out of 10 singles are optimistic about marriage. Consider the myth of bitter singles officially debunked!
RELATED: Make Your Marriage Stick

Hookups Are Hot Right Now
Having a no-strings-attached hookup isn’t so scandalous anymore: 47% of singles have been involved in a friends-with-benefits relationship. And only 37% of single women wait until they’re in an exclusive relationship before sleeping with a new partner.
RELATED: Why Isn’t Random Hooking Up Scary Anymore?

Your FWB May be BF Material
Just because casual sex is on the rise, that doesn’t mean serious bonds are going extinct. 44% of singles have had a friends-with-benefits fling turn into a long-term relationship. When he fits the bill and you have great chemistry, go for it.
RELATED: Couples vs. Friends with Benefits: Who Has More Sex?

Orgasms Aren’t Everything
Even though single women climax less often than single men, they may be enjoying it more. 49% of single women say they’re satisfied with their sex lives, compared to just 44% of single men.
RELATED: Have Better Orgasms

He Actually Wants to Meet the Parents
Taking a new guy to meet your mom and dad isn’t necessarily a deal breaker. 48% of men want to meet a woman’s parents before they become exclusive. He might just want to make sure you don’t have a shotgun wielding, overprotective dad, but it still sounds sweet.
RELATED: How to Survive Your In-Laws

Your Sexts Are Never Really Safe
Think you can send off a risqué photo to your guy that’s for his eyes only? Unfortunately, 23% of singles who received a sext have shared it with others. So maybe rethink that naughty photo shoot until you’re totally exclusive.
RELATED: Talk Nerdy To Me: Tech for Hotter Sex

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February 7: The Day When New Years Resolutions Die

Posted on February 7, 2013 by admin

Don’t freak out, but today is officially the workout apocalypse. By studying check-in patterns of more than 80 gym locations over three years, researchers associated with Gold’s Gym discovered that the biggest drop-off in gym participation regularly occurs 38 days after January 1—that would be today, February 7. “This is the most important fitness day of the year,” says David Reiseman, vice president of communications for Gold’s Gym. “This day could make the difference between someone meeting their goals or not.”

Don’t fall off the Fitness Cliff! Check out these articles to keep your workout motivation on track.

8 Ways to Stick to your Workout

Your Fittest Year Starts Here

Healthy Snacks for Dieters

Best Workout For your Body Type

Print It: Not-So-Guilty Recipes

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Burn Fat Fast! All it takes is 60 seconds a day to balance your body’s chemistry and turn on your fat-burning furnace! Buy 60 Seconds to Slim today!

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Athens Java Hut

Serving Jittery Joe's Coffee, Cecilia Villaveces, Cakes and Italian Gelato

Author Archives: admin

The Word That Can Save Your Life

How Your Diet Affects Your Sleep

Are You Expecting V-Day Sex?

The Best Time-Saving Workout

Do Someone a Favor—You’ll Live Longer

The Healthy Food That Might Be Making You Sick

Don’t Mix THIS with Alcohol

Do You Type More Than You Talk?

10 New Surprising Facts About Love and Sex

February 7: The Day When New Years Resolutions Die