Most people I know admit that they do not get enough sleep and the health risks of lack of sleep are fairly well documented so I was intrigued by the BuzzFeed article about napping last week called, Everything you’ll ever need to know about napping.
I swiped part of the infographic from the article. Click on the image above to enlarge so you may more easily read the description of each nap type. Do you nap? If so which type of nap do you take most often?
Earlier this week The BostonInno blog had this interesting infographic in an article regarding the benefits of urban farming based on a recent report conducted by the Conservation Law Foundation (CFL). That report had his to say about urban agriculture in Boston.
Boston is ideally positioned to play a lead role in coordinating with the Massachusetts Food Policy Council, other New England states, and cities around the region to build a vision for a New England regional food system and make it happen. Boston is emerging as a national leader in urban agriculture innovation, and can be a voice for the benefits of urban agriculture and as one of the region’s largest consumers, help to build the market for regionally grown food.
Seems like an interesting conversation to have. Are you familiar with other urban agriculture projects here in the US or abroad? I love the idea of supporting locally grown fruit and vegetables.
The full article is here.
Last week Gallup released a study about obesity in the U.S. They also ranked each of the 50 states from least obese to most obese.
For the second year in a row Colorado had the lowest obesity rate. The study also examined levels of high blood pressure and diabetes, and found that, like last year, these lists look similar to the list of the most obese states, with both obesity and chronic disease clustered among Southern and Midwestern states.
Curious to see how your home state ranks? Here is the list of most and least obese states.
AIDSVu at Emory University has released an interactive map illustrating the prevalence of HIV in the U.S. The AIDSvu map shows the U.S. still has a significant problem with HIV and AIDS. If you visit their website you may analyze the data by race, age and gender. The deeper shades of red indicate more HIV cases.
~50% newly diagnosed AIDS cases in U.S. are in the South
Eight of the ten U.S. states with the highest rates of new HIV infection are located in the Southeast. High rates of poverty factor in as well, as does the region’s low ranking on many basic health measures.
AIDSVu has pulled together a quick video which reminds us that AIDS still ravages communities and education and prevention remain our most powerful tools to combat HIV and AIDS.
Are you struggling to get yourself to the gym and remain active? Last week a new study reported in The Daily News linked weight loss with an increase in testosterone and sex drive for middle-aged men.
The study found that men who incorporated two-and-a-half hours of exercise a week into their lives, as well as eating healthier food, saw dramatic results in the course of a year. There was a 15% increase in testosterone levels and a 46% decrease in instances of hypogonadism, a condition characterized by low testosterone levels that can be linked to low sex drive and erectile dysfunction, according to Mayo Clinic.
Recently I’ve seen several studies regarding potential health benefits of coffee; despite all the bad press that caffeine gets. Just last week I read about studies that claim coffee may lower the risk of heart failure.
Not one of these studies point out the reasons I like to drink coffee; first it definitely helps me wake up in the morning; second it suppresses my appetite in the afternoon; and lastly it keeps me warm when I’m cold which is nearly always.
Do you love coffee? Who cares what all those scientists are saying. What “benefits” do you derive from that delicious cup of java?
File this post under “Gross and Disgusting”. Wesley Warren Jr. suffers from a bizarre medical condition that has resulted in excessive watery fluid collecting around his testicles (Eeewww!!!)
Wesley denies he has turned down the chance to have surgery because he likes the notoriety. The surgery does carry significant risk that his penis and testicles could have to be completely removed if surgeons couldn’t stop the bleeding (again Eeewww!!!)
Whatever the real reason, I can’t help but feel badly for this man walking around with a 100lbs scrotum. Ick… Can’t stop reading? You can check out the full story on Huffington Post.
My co-worker’s father, an immigrant who came to the US and raised his children in Michigan, sent his daughter an email earlier this week. I’ve never met this man, but I wanted to share his email about the US Supreme Court’s pending decision on the constitutionality of the 2010 health care legislation, The Affordable Care Act.
“It is a deep and damaging flaw of our Constitution, I conclude, that a
Court of 9 aging mortals, never without medical care or the insurance to pay for it in their adult life, sits in closeted – secret for decades –
debate and discussion, on the effort of a duly elected Congress to assure
the health and economics of an entire nation. When that same small group is nakedly political, respect for law risks being undone for an entire generation in the population at large.”
Huffington Post had an interesting although not surprising article last week that points to a recent study which show an optimistic outlook may keep you healthy. Specifically, it says “positive psychological well-being, which includes things like happiness, life satisfaction and especially optimism may help protect against heart attacks, stroke and other cardiovascular problems“.
The study had a number of findings some of which I thought interesting. For example, people who are happier and more optimistic are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors like better eating habits, engaging in physical activity and getting a good night’s rest.
With so many things beyond our control when it comes to our health, I think its great to know that having an optimistic outlook may also be good medicine. Just to play it safe, in addition to asking everyone to try and remain more optimistic, I’d like to prescribe 2-3 minutes each day of a good belly laugh. I’ll do my best in future posts to help give your laugh lines a work out.
If air travel worked like healthcare
Of course health reform is unnecessary. We’ve got it all figured out in the United States. Let’s keep the system we have. You know how the saying goes, “you reap what you sow”.
NPR reported yesterday that a new study from the University of California San Diego has found people who eat chocolate several times a week are actually leaner than people who don’t. This may be the best news I’ve heard in a very long time. I love chocolate (esp dark chocolate with coffee), and I look for any excuse to consume it guilt free.
According to the article some specific polyphenols found in cocoa help inhibit an enzyme called pancreatic lipase that is responsible for digesting dietary fat. I’m not sure what any of that means but the message I’ve taken is that consuming chocolate (in moderation) should be enjoyed minus the pangs of guilt.
Do you love chocolate or are you simply intrigued? You can read or watch the full story on NPR here.
I’ve been working out with my trainer, Kris, for a few weeks and he suggested I record everything I consume so he could review my diet. I would like to think that I have a fairly healthy diet, but recording everything I ate and drank was eye opening. First, it confirmed that I eat a lot. Second, with the amount of coffee I drink you would think it is its own food group. Third, wine and martinis are my drinks of choice. However, it was not all bad news, it was satisfying to see I had a fair amount of protein (more than I would have anticipated).
My personal fitness goals really do not include a desire to lose weight as much as it is to tighten my stomach and build more strength in my chest, back, shoulders and arms. Who knows what is possible? I’m nearly 42 and do not intend on making significant dietary changes, but with Kris’ guidance and some modest retooling of my diet, I’d like to see what can happen over the next 8-10 weeks.
Are you currently working out or trying to get into a routine?
Hollywood actors from the 30s, 40s and 50s were so glamorous. Images of leading men and women from this era are almost always with a cigarette, and those movies in some ways contributed to the perception that smoking was glamorous or cool.
However, the days of when cigarettes were perceived glamorous or cool are a thing of the past. Many cities and states in the US have banned smoking, making it difficult (not to mention expensive), so I was surprised to read GLBT adults are twice as likely to smoke. The same study from Nicotine & Tobacco Research said GLBT adults are half as likely to have plans to quit smoking.
If you are a smoker won’t you consider quitting? If you know someone who is still smoking have you given thought to letting them know how you feel and your concern for their health? Let’s make smoking history.
With many people using the start of the new year as an excuse to return to the gym and focus on personal fitness and their health in general, getting space to stretch or snagging a treadmill to run off that excess weight may prove difficult. Additionally, sticking to those New Year’s resolutions can be tricky for many people.
The Huffington Post published a great article today entitled New Year’s Resolutions That Aren’t Losing Weight. Some of the suggestions (if followed) probably would result in losing weight and living a healthier 2012. Just pick 2-3 of the suggestions and see if you can make it part of your routine.
1 Prioritize Sleep – make it a point to get 7 – 9 hours each night
2 Improve Posture – this can help your joints and will ease muscle aches
3 Take Vacations – time away from work and having something to look forward to is key to your health
4 No Soda – everyone knows these are not good for you (even the no calorie diet sodas are bad for your health)
5 Breathe – take a few moments to take a few deep breathes; it’ll relax you
6 Stop Snacking – duh, this is just common sense
7 Wash Your Face – wash up before going to bed (esp. for those wearing make-up) your skin will thank you
8 Try Yoga – as few as 10 minutes a day will reduce stress and can help your posture (see #2 as to why this is a good thing)
9 Bike or Walk – make this a part of your routine each week
10 Sorry – only say it if you really mean it; words matter
You can read the full article from the Huffington Post, here.
Today is World AIDS Day. Acknowledged in nearly every nation, this day draws attention to the fact that AIDS is still very present. Now 30-years old, HIV / AIDS is no longer the death warrant it was when it first appeared and was referred to as a “Gay Cancer”.
The Boston Living Center will be hosting a World AIDS Day celebration, lighting the Prudential Tower red. Today’s ceremony will occur in the center of the mall near the customer service desk in the atrium and will run from 4:30 – 6:00pm. You can read more about the program on the event facebook page.
Contact your local AIDS Service Organization (ASO) to volunteer or make a donation. New England has several worthwhile ASOs but I prefer to donate to the AIDS Action Committee of MA.
Posted in AIDS Action Committee, Health
Tagged AIDS Action Committee, BosGuy, Boston Guy, World AIDS Day
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