Get Sensational Skin

1. Suck it up

If your skin can't hold on to the products you put on it, you're just wasting money. "Lock in the benefits of a product's active ingredients by following up with a moisturizer," says Ranella Hirsch, M.D., president of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery. Look for a lotion containing hyaluronic acid or glycerin; they keep skin supple.

2. Vote red

A recent British study found that subjects who ate five tablespoons of tomato paste every day suffered milder sunburns than those who didn't. Researchers think lycopene, a powerful natural antioxidant found in tomatoes, provides the sun-shielding bene­fits. (Tip: Cook your romas--your body will absorb the nutrients more easily.) It's no excuse to drop the SPF, but at least you have a good reason to go to your favorite Italian joint.

3. Take a chill pill

Not that you need more to worry about, but it really is true that stress can mess with your com­plexion. Researchers at England's University of Manchester proved it using what many of us find the most brutal stress test: public speaking. They took pre- and post-presentation snips of skin from the butt cheeks of participants and then compared the cellular activity. The tense skin showed a 16.4 percent decrease in immune-system-regulating cells. Another study reported that stress caused acne to worsen. True, you can't protect your skin from every PowerPoint panic. But if you're under a lot of pressure, baby your skin.

4. Forget fries

A group of researchers recently put 23 people with acne on a high-protein, low-glycemic diet for 12 weeks -- and guess what? Their skin got much better. Testers had 21.9 percent fewer blemishes, versus 13.8 percent fewer for a control group that followed a high-carb diet. (Bonus: All the low-carb subjects lost weight!) While the researchers can't say whether it was the weight loss or the dietary changes that helped, it appears that nutrition plays a role in your skin's behavior. So pile on more lean protein and cut back on high-glycemic foods (like starchy fries and sugary candy).

5. Get all in a lather

Anytime you sweat, your body produces more sebum (an oily pore-clogging secretion), says dermatologist Audrey Kunin, M.D., founder of dermadoctor.com. So if you're tempted to skip the shower after a lunchtime workout (and we're not judging here), don't! Since bacteria love to feast on sweat and oil, you're setting yourself up for breakouts. After any sweat-inducing activity, rinse off under cool water with a shower wash containing oil-clearing glycolic or salicylic acid.

6. Don't wash money down the drain

"There's no need to buy an expensive cleanser loaded with fancy ingredients," says photobiologist Daniel B. Yarosh, Ph.D., author of The New Science of Perfect Skin. "They're on your skin for less than a minute, so they don't have time to really do anything." Adding injury to insult: Some pricey ingredients can actually cause irritation (that would be you, peppermint and eucalyptus).

7. Cover your mouth

We're talking about a lip balm with UV protection, not ruby red lipstick. Your lips (along with your eye area and upper chest) have some of the thinnest skin on your body, so they need extra shielding. A survey by a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery found that only 47 percent of respondents used lip protection containing UV blockers. That's bad news, because "when skin cancer originates from the lips, it's especially aggressive and has a higher risk of spreading," says Erin Welch, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

8. Try some crunches

You could fill an entire Whole Foods produce aisle with the reams of research showing that fruits and vegetables protect and restore the skin. So down a rainbow's worth every day, and seek out edibles packed with vitamins A and C (both are antioxidants). Particularly good: leafy greens, cantaloupe, citrus fruits (especially oranges), blueberries, strawberries, and bell peppers.

9. Use an anti-ager -- now!

Don't wait for the first crow's feet to appear before you reach for that little tube. "Even women in their twenties should be using a topical retinoid -- unless they're pregnant or nursing," says Francesca Fusco, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Here's why: Retinoids, which contain vitamin A, are one of the most potent agents for preventing and reversing sun damage and signs of aging. And, says Hirsch, "they're the ultimate multi­tasker. They speed skin renewal by shedding dull, pore-clogging cells and increase collagen production to prevent wrinkles." Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC, such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treatment.

10. Got milk? Get soy

If you battle breakouts, milk could be adding to your troubles. Three large studies have found that the more white stuff teens drink, the worse their acne gets. Researchers say hormones that occur naturally in cow juice may be to blame, and they believe women in their twenties and thirties could also be susceptible. "If you're a big milk drinker and zits are a problem, you may benefit from cutting back," says Clement Adebamowo, M.D., an oncologist and lead researcher on these studies. "Drink milk substitutes like soy instead," he says.

11. Fight the fuzz

Painless hair removal sounds about as legit as those Nigerian e-mail scams. But this is one investment you won't regret: Studies have shown that Eflornithine HCl, a prescription cream sold under the name Vaniqa, reduced hair on the chin and upper lip for nearly 60 percent of women tested. And in two separate studies, using the cream with laser hair removal was more effective than either treatment alone.

12. Swallow some sun protection

A study from the Queensland (Australia) Institute of Medical Research found that people who regularly took some OTC pain relievers, including aspirin, have a lower risk of developing squamous-cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer. While the evidence doesn't justify popping pills just to protect your skin, it's one more reason to treat your aches and pains rather than power through them.

13. Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the U.S. with rosacea -- the condition whose symptoms can be triggered by alcohol, spicy food, exercise, and sun exposure -- their reddened skin can feel like a scarlet letter. Researchers have found that when rosacea sufferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care brush, their skin calms down. The theory is that the gentle exfoliation allows skin treatments to be absorbed more effectively to put out facial fires.

14. Go au naturel

There are more skin-care products claiming to be "natural" or "organic" than there are reality-TV stars. If environmental and purity standards are important to you, consider buying products made in Europe. Companies overseas making eco claims trace ingredients back to their sources to verify their natural origins. A few of the brands that do: Lavera (lavera.com), Weleda (usa.weleda.com), and Dr. Hauschka Skincare (drhauschka.com). And while you're at it: On products from the U.S., look for the National Products Association's new Natural Seal; it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly natural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information, visit naturalproductsassoc.org/certifiednatural).

15. Don't feel the burn

Investing in special creams for each body part seems to make as much sense as Scarlett Johansson's singing career. Do you really need a separate eye cream? Actually, yes. "The skin around your eyes is delicate and needs to be treated gently," Fusco says. Eye creams contain lower levels of potentially irritating ingredients, such as retinol, AHAs, and glycolic acid, than products designed for the face.

16. Double your cover

"To get a decent amount of UV protection on your face, you'd need to coat your skin with at least a tablespoonful of sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 30," says Sandra Marchese Johnson, M.D., a dermatologist in Fort Smith, Arkansas. But who wants to layer on that much lotion? An easy solution: Apply a coat, then follow with a foundation infused with sunscreen or a mineral powder containing titanium or zinc oxide, natural barriers to UV rays.

17. Shine up those shins

Smooth legs are sexy--and good for your health. "Cuts, scratches, and scrapes below the knee take a long time to heal and can be prone to infection, since they're an easy entry point for germs," says Doris Day, M.D., clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the New York University Medical Center. Prevent the little cracks that allow bacteria to enter your skin by smoothing on a moisturizing cream every night; to prevent nicks, use a razor with built-in moisture strips; and don't shave your legs for two or three days before a pedicure (salon whirlpool footbaths can be a breeding ground for bacteria).

18. Don't complicate things

The average adult uses at least seven skin-care products a day -- cleansers, moisturizers, exfoliators, and serums included. That's a lot of stuff! To prevent ingredient overload and reduce irritation, Zoe Diana Draelos, M.D., editor-in-chief of the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, advises limiting your skin-care routine to only those items that contain no more than 10 ingredients apiece. According to Draelos, the fewer ingredients there are in a product, the less likely it is to cause a problem. "And always wait at least five minutes between each application" Fusco says. "Otherwise, you'll dilute the effects of the previous one." Spread out your morning skin-care routine so your serum has time to sink in before the last hour of the "Today Show."

19. Be a soap star

When you sleep, lotions, hair gels, and oils sweat off of your body and onto your linens. Kenneth Beer, M.D., clinical instructor in dermatology at the University of Miami, advises washing your sheets weekly. At the very least, put on a fresh pillowcase to keep the gunk (and the bacteria that eat the gunk) from clogging your pores.

20. If you fake it, don't bake it

How's this for unfunny irony: For the first eight hours or so after you apply self-tanner, your skin is especially susceptible to free-radical damage from sunlight, ac­cording to a 2007 German study. Forty minutes after researchers treated skin samples with the bronzing ingredient in self-tanners, dihydroxyacetone (DHA), elevated levels of free radicals (180 percent more than untreated skin!) formed during sun exposure. Another self-tanner ingredient, erythulose, produced a similar response. Researchers suspect that when the bronzer interacts with the skin, a chemical forms that generates free radicals when exposed to UV light. The safe way to get a faux glow: Avoid excessive sun exposure for at least 12 hours after applying a self-tanner.

21. Know your numbers

You might think slathering on a high SPF number is the most important factor for sun protection, but you'd be wrong. An SPF of 15 blocks 94 percent of burning UVB rays; jump to SPF 30 and you'll get 98 percent coverage. Going to 50 adds just 1 percent more coverage. (Can you say "diminishing returns"?) A smarter choice: A broad-spectrum sunscreen with zinc oxide and stabilizing ingredients that prevent UV blockers from breaking down in sunlight. Look for Helioplex, found in Neutrogena Age Shield Sunblock SPF 45, or mexoryl, an active ingredient in L'Oreal Paris Revitalift UV Daily Moisturizing Cream.

22. Rise, but don't shine

Sleep on this: While you're logging quality snooze time, havoc may be breaking out on your face. Hormonal surges during sleep cause your sebaceous glands to pump oil -- and about 14 hours later, you end up shinier than the Harry Winston showroom. Those cursed with oily skin and breakouts can fight acne and grease slicks before they strike with an overnight treatment.

23. Steer clear of stinky butts

If you're reading a magazine with the word health in the title, you probably don't have a pack of Camels crammed into your purse. But just in case, here's new info about how hard smoking can be on your looks: A 2007 study found that smoking ages the skin on your body that the sun doesn't even see. Researchers found that smokers had more pronounced wrinkles than non-puffers on areas of the body usually untouched by UV rays, like the inner arms. "It seems that smoking accelerates the aging process," says Yolanda Rosi Helfrich, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Michigan and lead researcher on the study.

24. Go ahead -- get some Godiva

Studies show that nibbling on a few pieces of the dark stuff (milk chocolate has too much fat and sugar) will arm your skin with additional flavonols, protective nutrients that researchers believe absorb UV light and increase blood flow to the skin, improving its appearance. In one German study, women had flavonoid­enriched cocoa every day for 12 weeks, and afterward their skin was softer, less irritated, and up to 25 percent less sensitive to sun damage when exposed to ultraviolet light. Sweet!

25. Don't strip for just anyone

We're not knocking your trusted doc, but dermatologists really are the best at knowing which growths are worrisome and which are harmless. A survey in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that derms had significantly higher accuracy in identifying abnormal skin growths than primary care physicians. In fact, more than 90 percent of dermatologic surgeons have seen one or more patients in the past year with a skin cancer that had been overlooked or misdiagnosed by a non-dermatologist. Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is the third most common cancer in women ages 20 to 39, so book your skin screening now.


Source: AOL Health 

Unexpectedly Smelly?

Has a friend or significant other gently hinted that your breath is, um, pungent? (Many halitosis sufferers can't tell.) Brushing and flossing more diligently may do the trick, but a few more minutes at the sink won't always help, say experts. Below are eight causes of bad breath that may surprise you.

Medications
Saliva rinses away bacteria that foul the breath, and many drugs, among them antidepressants, diuretics, and even aspirin, can dry the mouth.

Diet
Foods high in protein or dairy products generate large amounts of amino acids, which are fodder for bacteria. A diet low in carbs burns stored fat, creating toxic-smelling ketones. And last year, researchers linked bad breath with obesity, although the basis is unclear.

Skipping breakfast
Besides the well-established advantages to body and mind of having a good breakfast, it helps quell morning breath by stimulating saliva production and scrubbing bacteria from the tongue. (But lay off the sardine-onion sandwich.)

Alcohol
Heavy alcohol consumption also can dry out the mouth.

Bacteria
The stink-creating kind mostly hang out on the tongue, happily churning out gases as they munch on food particles and substances broken down from saliva. They multiply at night when the salivary glands slow down (hence morning breath). Some people harbor more species of malodorous bacteria than others do, which may be why certain individuals are especially halitosis-prone. This month, a study in the "Journal of Medical Microbiology" suggests that H. pylori, the same bug that is often responsible for stomach ulcers, can cause bad breath and gum disease if it finds a home in the mouth.

Mouth breathing
Any condition that dries the tissues of the mouth, preventing saliva from washing away bacteria, encourages bad breath. Candidates include sleep apnea, snoring and asthma.

Ongoing illnesses
A potent breath can signal particular diseases. Kidney failure produces a fishy smell and uncontrolled diabetes generates fruity fumes, for instance.

Respiratory tract infections
Tooth and gum infections are recognized sources of bad breath. But so are bronchitis, sinusitis and even a cold. RTIs break down tissue, starting a flow of cells and mucus that feed bacteria that create foul odors.

Provided by U.S. News & World Report




Source: AOL Health

How To Fix Your Broken Brain

Boost Your Brain Power
Most of us have experienced conditions such as depression, anxiety, memory problems and trouble focusing or just plain brain fog. We think these problems are all in our heads. However, in his pioneering new book, "The UltraMind Solution," Mark Hyman, M.D., explains how the real causes of these problems are in your body, not your head. By simply addressing the underlying causes of mood, memory and behavior problems you can boost your brain power and have a calm, confident, focused and happy mind.

Stop the Brain Damage
The three-pound organ in your head is very sensitive. So if you want to feel happy, alert and focused, start being sensitive to its needs. Ditch the high fructose corn syrup and sugars, transfats, processed and packaged foods (which contain up to 3,500 food additives and chemicals). Choose organic foods and grass-fed animal products to avoid hormones, antibiotics and the gallon of neurotoxic pesticides each of us consume every year. Filter your water. Wear a helmet when doing sports that put your head at risk. Stop or reduce brain-damaging medications (acid blockers, statins and acetaminophen).

Optimize the Seven Keys to an UltraMind
If you fix your body you will fix your brain, automatically. The seven basic systems of the body must be optimized for your body (and brain) to function properly. Here's all you need to do: optimize nutrition; cool off inflammation; balance your hormones; fix your digestion; enhance detoxification; boost your energy metabolism; calm your mind. And optimizing the seven keys to an UltraMind is simple. Follow this roadmap that automatically balances the seven keys: eat right for your brain; tune up your brain chemistry with supplements; sleep, rest and exercise for your brain; live clean and green.

Step 1: Eating Right for Your Brain
To boost your brain power, you need the right nutrition. Eat real, whole, organic, ideally local food. Become a fat head (60 percent of your brain is made up of omega 3 fats) by eating sardines, wild salmon, herring, omega 3 eggs, flax seeds and walnuts. Eat protein for brain power every morning and with every meal. Include foods such as eggs, nut butters, protein shakes, beans, nuts and seeds and lean animal protein. Eat brain food, otherwise known as the right carbs: whole fresh vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains. And eat colorful fruits and vegetables with phytonutrients -- hidden brain protectors with healing anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and detoxifying compounds.

Step 2: Tune Up Your Brain Chemistry with Supplements
We need nutritional supplements because we don't hunt for or gather wild foods anymore, and we live in a toxic world under a lot of stress. Our depleted diets cause 92 percent of us to be deficient in the minimum amount of nutrients needed for optimal brain function. Vitamins and minerals run the chemical reactions in your body and brain that make happy-mood chemicals, cool inflammation, help you detoxify, make energy and more. So take a daily multivitamin, omega 3 fats (1,000 mg of fish oil), vitamin D3 (2,000 IU), calcium (600 mg), magnesium (400 mg) and the special brain-boosting B vitamins folic acid, B6 and B12. And take probiotics to keep your gut healthy -- a happy gut is a happy brain.

Step 3: Get a Good Night's Sleep
Sleep is one of those things we take for granted -- until we can't. If you are having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or getting enough sleep, try to change your relationship to sleep. Think of it as a sacred, precious, healing part of your day and prepare for it carefully. Avoid substances that interfere with sleep, like caffeine, cold medications, alcohol and sugar. Get back in rhythm by going to bed before 11 p.m. and sleeping eight hours. And create a peaceful, sleepy environment, clear your mind, write down all your worries and tasks before bed and relax by taking a hot bath.

Step 4: Find Your Pause Button: Relax
Finding our pause button is something we never learn. Healing, repair, renewal and regeneration all occur in a state of relaxation. So how do we find the pause button and activate the parasympathetic nervous system, otherwise known as the "relaxation response"? Try my two favorite ways: First, take five breaths into your belly to the count of five, then breathe out for five. Do this five times daily. Or second, take a bath -- draw a hot bath, add two cups of Epsom salts, one cup of baking soda, 10 drops of lavender oil -- and one stressed human. Soak for 20 minutes just before bed.

Step 5: Exercise
While most of us accept the benefits of exercise on our bodies, perhaps its most powerful effect is on our brains. It helps rewire our circuits and improve learning, memory, concentration, and focus. And it is the best antidepressant and anti-anxiety therapy available. So all I ask you to commit to is this: Walk vigorously for 30 minutes every day. That is the only exercise you need to do for an UltraMind.

Step 6: Live Clean and Green
Our brains are exquisitely sensitive to environmental toxins and stresses. There is an intimate connection between the sustainability of our own health and the health of the planet. Small everyday choices lead to big changes over time for our communities, our planet and ourselves. Living clean and green involves four steps:

1. Drink clean water (use a reverse-osmosis filter).
2. Limit your exposure to chemicals and metals by eating organic and using green household products.
3. Keep your body fluids moving by drinking plenty of clean water, eating fiber to move your bowels daily and sweating to get rid of toxins through the skin.
4. Reduce your exposure to electro-pollution or electromagnetic radiation.

Make the Changes Permanent
To keep these changes permanent, you'll want to continue eating fresh, whole, real foods, and avoid processed foods, high-fructose corn syrup, transfats and other toxins. You should also keep tuning up your brain chemistry with supplements, and make a habit out of getting good sleep, finding the pause button daily, moving your body, and living clean and green.

The UltraMind Solution
Once you have followed The UltraMind Solution for six weeks, you'll likely find the results include a happier mood, better memory and less brain fog, as well as renewed energy, weight loss, improved health, clearer skin, improved sleep and more.

Based on "The Ultramind Solution" by Mark Hyman, M.D.




Source: AOL Health

World's Happiest Countries 2009

A British researcher merged dozens of statistical metrics to rank nations on the elusive notion of contentment

Feeling blue? Perhaps you live in the wrong country. A recent study from Britain's University of Leicester examined a range of statistical data to devise a ranking of the world's happiest nations. Heading up the list: Denmark, which rose to the top thanks to its wealth, natural beauty, small size, quality education, and good health care. At the bottom were Zimbabwe and Burundi. But there were a few surprises along the way, too. Asian countries scored worse than researcher Adrian White expected. Capitalism — sometimes criticized for its heartlessness — was far from a source of discontent, though the top-scoring capitalist countries also tended to have strong social services. And the U.S. ranked only 23rd, due to nagging poverty and spotty health care. Read on to learn about the world's 12 happiest countries — by the numbers, at least.

No. 1: Denmark

Population: 5.5 million

Life Expectancy: 77.8 years

GDP Per Capita: $34,600

With a high standard of living, negligible poverty, and a broad range of public and social services, it's easy to see why Denmark tops the happiness map. There's a high level of education; public schools are top-quality and private ones are affordable. The low population gives the nation a strong sense of identity. And Denmark's physical beauty forms a great backdrop to daily life. The weather is a bit tough, though.

No. 2: Switzerland

Population: 7.5 million

Life Expectancy: 80.5 years

GDP Per Capita: $32,300

Smack in the middle of Europe and surrounded by picture-postcard scenery, Switzerland ranks second among the world's happiest countries. It has a low crime rate, good infrastructure, and a wealth of outdoor activities, from skiing in the Alps to boating on Lake Geneva. Home to the International Red Cross, the World Health Organization, and parts of the U.N., it's not surprising that the Swiss devote a large portion of private and public money to health care — spending an average of $3,445 per person. It's pretty peaceful, too: years of political neutrality have sheltered the Swiss from the conflicts of their neighbors.

No. 3: Austria

Population: 8.2 million

Life Expectancy: 79 years

GDP Per Capita: $32,700

Another Alpine hotbed of happiness, Austria also boasts beautiful scenery and a surprisingly rich cultural scene. Like many of the world's happiest countries, it boasts a strong health-care system, as evidenced by the long average life expectancy of its citizens. Strict environmental regulations are starting to pay dividends, says Oskar Hinteregger, of the Austrian National Tourist Office. He credits the country's happy mood to its relaxed atmosphere, efficient public transport system, and general cleanliness. Austria does have some poverty, though: nearly 6%.

No. 4: Iceland

Population: 300,000

Life Expectancy: 80 years

GDP Per Capita: $35,600

There's more to Iceland than hot springs and Björk. The tiny country's extensive welfare system plays a big part in its citizens' happiness. The Icelandic government offers a broad range of services, such as generous housing subsidies, and with very little poverty, wealth is evenly distributed among Icelandic society. Literacy is high and unemployment, at 2.1%, is low.

No. 5: Bahamas

Population: 303,800

Life Expectancy: 65.6 years

GDP Per Capita: $20,200

Bahamanians know how to enjoy life. “Maybe it's our 'Bahama Mamas,' our sweet sea breeze, our conch salad, and fun loving people,” suggests Kendenique Campbell-Moss, a senior executive at the Bahamas Tourism Ministry. Although the poverty rate, at 9.3%, is relatively high, the beautiful weather and laid-back lifestyle keep Bahamas' citizens smiling. Campbell-Moss also reckons the fusion of African and European cultures, strong family values, and Christianity contribute to the happy vibe in the Caribbean country.

No. 6: Finland

Population: 5.2 million

Life Expectancy: 78.5 years

GDP Per Capita: $30,900

It's dark and cold in the winter and has some of the highest taxes in Europe. But that doesn't get in the way of Finns' overall happiness. High quality medical care — at little to no cost — contributes to the country's high average life expectancy. The country's free educational system is one of the best, resulting in a 100% literacy rate. Poverty is rare; so too, is extreme wealth. “Our beloved government makes sure that taxes are high enough to prevent easy ways to riches,” says Jaakko Lehtonen, director-general of the Finnish Tourism Board. “Finns think a good salary is two cents higher than your neighbor's; it's enough to make you feel wealthy and subsequently, happy,” he says.

No. 7: Sweden

Population: 9 million

Life Expectancy: 80.50 years

GDP Per Capita: $29,800

Taxes are high and the winter is trying. But social equality, one of the best welfare systems in Europe, and a great work/life balance keep Swedes smiling. Parents get extensive maternity and paternity leave, and child care is heavily subsidized and available to all. Sweden also has unusually transparent government and a strong emphasis on ensuring the freedom and equality of its people. “Ordinary citizens in Sweden have the right to see the prime minister's official mail, and they often exercise that right,” notes Susanna Wallgren, of the Swedish Tourism Board.

No. 8: Bhutan

Population: 2.3 million

Life Expectancy: 55 years

GDP Per Capita: $1,400

Here's a surprise: The small Asian nation of Bhutan ranks eighth in the world, despite relatively low life expectancy, a literacy rate of just 47%, and a very low GDP per capita. Why? Researchers credit an unusually strong sense of national identity. Plus, the country has beautiful scenery and a largely unspoiled culture, thanks to strict governmental limits on tourism, development, and immigration. Pretty counterintuitive, but Bhutan seems to have found a recipe for happiness.

No. 9: Brunei

Population: 380,000

Life Expectancy: 75

GDP Per Capita: $23,600

It helps to have oil. Wealthy and politically stable, Brunei's government plays a major role in its citizens' happiness. The same family has ruled the Southeast Asian nation for more than six centuries, providing free medical services and education. Even university-level education is paid for by the government, which also subsidizes rice and housing. That ensures virtually nonexistent poverty.

No. 10: Canada

Population: 33 million

Life Expectancy: 80 years

GDP Per Capita: $34,000

Canada may sometimes feel overshadowed by its giant neighbor to the south, but a strong sense of national identity and abundant natural beauty help make the sprawling and sparsely populated country one of the world's happiest. Canada also punches above its weight economically, with a huge $1.1 trillion GDP and per-capita that ranks among the world's highest. It also has strong health care and a low crime rate.

No. 11: Ireland

Population: 4 million

Life Expectancy: 77.7 years

GDP Per Capita: $41,000

Once so poor that its citizens fled by the millions, the Celtic Tiger has enjoyed unprecedented economic growth over the past dozen years. Credit membership in the European Union and a can-do attitude has raised standards of living and even lured former immigrants back home. The excellent education system, open economy, and relaxed pace of life all contribute to the overall happiness of the Irish.

No. 12: Luxembourg

Population: 474,500

Life Expectancy: 79 years

GDP Per Capita: $55,600

Luxembourg's position proves that sometimes money can buy happiness. It has the highest GDP per capita in the world. And with great access to education, 100% of the population is literate. The people of Luxembourg should find comfort in their surroundings, too. Mercer Resource Human Consulting ranked the city-state as the safest in the world in 2005.


Source: BusinessWeek

Surprising Memory Snatchers

Feeling Forgetful?
As early as your 20s two changes in your body can affect your memory: You begin losing brain cells and you're also producing less chemical fuel to power the brain cells that remain, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. The more you age, the more impact these changes have on your memory. While short-term (things like the name of a person you just met) and remote memories aren't usually affected by aging, recent memory -- what you did last night or what you ate for breakfast this morning -- can take a hit. Discover below the sneaky memory-stealing culprits that may be regular players in your daily routine.

Salty and Fatty Foods
You always knew a fatty and salty diet was bad for your heart, waist and more -- now research from the June 2008 issue of the "Journal of Alzheimer's Disease" reveals that it's probably bad for your brain, too. Over an eight-week period researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina fed a high-cholesterol diet to one group of middle-aged rats and high-saturated-fat diet to another. While weight gain and food intake were similar among both groups, the saturated-fat fed rats made more memory errors in a maze test, but researchers concluded that both diets can "profoundly impair memory."

Your Cell Phone
A Swedish study of memory recall in rats found that radiation from cell phones affected the rodents' brain power. Researchers at the Division of Neurosurgery, Lund University in Sweden found that rats that were exposed to mobile phone radiation for two hours a week for more than a year had poorer results on a memory test than those that had no contact with mobile phone radiation. In earlier findings from the researchers, microwave radiation from cell phones affected the brain's ability to protect against nerve cell damage. The lead researcher Henrietta Nittby has a cell phone but uses hands-free equipment to avoid holding her phone up to her ear, according to ScienceDaily.com.

Your Diet
A new study from Tufts University's psychology department pitted the memory recall of low-calorie dieters against low-carb dieters, with some mixed results. Initial testing revealed that going completely carb-free may lead to lower performances on memory-based tasks. Memory improved after participants reintroduced carbohydrates -- though still sticking to a low-carb diet. Where low-carb dieters have the upper-hand is in reporting less confusion and a greater attention span compared with their low-cal dieter counterparts.

Being Underweight
Obesity, associated with a slew of health problems including heart disease and diabetes, may not lead to memory problems in old age, according to a 2007 study published in "Neurology." Over the course of the six-year study, tests were administered to a group of about 4,000 people over age 65, of whom nearly 25 percent were obese. As time passed, neither obese nor overweight participants exhibited significant changes in memory or cognitive function. In fact, underweight participants demonstrated more brain drain over time -- which the authors note is consistent with previous findings that weight loss or low (Body Mass Index) BMI in old age may be a precursor of cognitive decline or Alzheimer's disease.

Taking Too Much Medicine
You may want to rethink just how easily you pop that pill. For one, there's a slew of medicines known to cause confusion or decreased alertness, including steroids, heart medicines and antihistamines. Overuse of medicines may be the single biggest memory snatcher or cause of confusion in older adults, according to Jan Nissl, RN. This may be because how your body uses medicine changes as you age and because taking multiple drugs can enhance these effects.

Poor Sleep
People with sleep apnea -- a sleep condition where sufferers stop breathing temporarily many times throughout the night -- score worse than others on memory and cognitive tests, according to Harvard Health Publications. Using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine -- a sleep-and-breathing aide -- helps improve scores on memory tests if sleep is improved. This is corroborated by a 2008 study that found that people with sleep apnea show tissue loss in brain regions that help store memory. Other studies have linked sleep deprivation to short-term memory loss and poor sleep to trouble remembering.

Menopause
Women often experience memory lapses and difficulty concentrating leading up to and during menopause. Estrogen therapy has been shown to help, but the Women's Health Initiative found that this seemed to increase the risk of dementia and cognitive problems, according to Harvard Health Publications. A recent study from the University of Illinois at Chicago found that the verbal memory problems women experience in midlife may go hand in hand with hot flashes. Other memory troubles -- shorter attention spans, working memory and visual memory -- were not associated with hot flashes, but poor sleep, often a product of nighttime hot flashes, did impact these areas of memory.

Certain Surgeries
Weight loss surgeries, such as gastric bypass, can lead to a vitamin deficiency, which if left untreated, can cause memory loss and confusion, according to a 2007 study published in "Neurology." Deafness, vomiting and seizures were also reported symptoms. Another kind of bypass surgery, of the coronary artery variety, can also lead to confusion, fuzzy thinking, trouble concentrating, difficulty remembering and solving problems, according to Harvard Health Publications.

Experimenting With Drugs (Just One Time)
While you may know that alcohol and drug use can lead to impaired judgment, coordination and memory, some scientists assert that trying ecstasy just once could damage your memory. Researchers from the University of Hertfordshire's School of Psychology have found that compared with non-users those who've tried ecstasy show significantly impaired memory and that the amount of ecstasy consumed is largely irrelevant, according to reporting from ScienceDaily.com.


Source: AOL Health

Surprising Heart Disease Facts

If you have this on your ear...
A transverse crease -- one that goes horizontally across your ear -- may indicate heart disease, says Dr. Snyderman. "About eight years ago, there was a study of 108 people that found that individuals with a crease in at least one earlobe were more likely to die than people with out ear creases." This indented mark gives a clue about your body's levels of elastin -- a protein that affects blood vessel functioning. If you don't have enough elastin, it could be a sign of heart disease.

Baldness is a risk factor
Men who are balding at the front of the head and the crown should get their hearts evaluated, says Dr. Snyderman. "It has to do with vascular supply to the hair follicles -- everything in your body needs a blood vessel. The earlier the baldness and the more bald the baldness, the higher the risk of heart disease." Compared with men who are not bald, the risk of heart disease increases by 9 percent if the balding is at the front of a man's head, by 23 percent if it is at the crown and by 36 percent if he is completely bald on the top of his head, according to a Harvard Health study cited by Dr. Snyderman.

Snoring can indicate heart disease
"If you snore and you have sleep apnea -- when you stop breathing at night for 10 seconds or longer -- the risk of heart disease is real," says Dr. Snyderman. "We brush off snoring as no big deal, but your heart and your lungs have to work that much longer just to circulate your blood, and this takes a toll. This affects men and women equally."

How erectile dysfunction relates to heart disease
"If a man comes to the doctor's office complaining that he can't get an erection, he really has to get his heart evaluated," says Dr. Snyderman. If you're having a hard time getting blood to the penis to achieve an orgasm, "you have to wonder if the vascular supply coming out of the heart or to the heart isn't good." Men who have erectile dysfunction are 80 percent more likely to develop heart disease than men who do not, and young men in their 40s who have erectile dysfunction are twice as likely to get heart disease, according to a Mayo Clinic study cited by Dr. Snyderman.

Risky combinations
Having multiple risk factors can up your odds for heart disease astronomically. The combination of high blood pressure and baldness ups a man's risk by 79 percent, whereas having high cholesterol and male-patterned baldness increases his risk by 178 percent, according to a Harvard Health study cited by Dr. Snyderman.

Jaw pain may signal a heart attack
You know the basic heart attack symptoms: pain shooting down your left arm, or a large pain under the breast bone, which Dr. Snyderman says patients describe as "having an elephant sitting on your chest." But one unusual sore spot related to heart attacks is often a complaint among women -- pain in the jaw, when heart attack pain radiates up to the jaws and teeth.

Men and women feel heart attack pain differently
"Women more than men have this intuitive sense that something is not quite right," says Dr. Snyderman. "Usually for men, the way they discover heart attack risk is when they feel, 'Oh, my God, something is happening.'"

Heart disease kills this gender more...
Men. "Estrogen probably protects women a little bit, until later in life when estrogen levels drop," says Dr. Snyderman. "But women also access the healthcare system more than men. Men go to the pediatrician and stay in the healthcare system till they're 18, then they disappear. Unfortunately, with heart disease being the number-one killer, it's often heart disease that brings men to the doctor's office."

Men's risky behavior ups their risk
Men are greater risk-takers than women -- and this could have an impact on whether they are affected by heart disease, says Dr. Snyderman. "The typical overworked guy is a smoker, who works and is under stress. On top of that, he has a bad diet and never exercises. These become cumulative factors. Obviously genetics play a role, too."

Sleep matters
"We are a sleep-deprived nation," says Snyderman. "When you cut back on shuteye, your immune system really takes a hit. Stress and lack of sleep are really compound factors that can increase heart-disease risk."


Source: AOL Health

Sleep Well, Sleep Better

Rest Easy
You're plagued by sleeping problems. Whether it's one night or every night, you've had to turn to prescription medications to get a wink of sleep. Unfortunately, the morning after always finds you cranky, irritable and dreading the thought of having to go to bed again. Rather than live with your sleeping woes, try these non-prescription remedies from Ralph Downey, III, Ph.D., D.A.B.S.M., F.A.A.S.M., chief of sleep medicine at Loma Linda University Medical Center and Children's Hospital in Loma Linda, California.

Establish a soothing pre-bed ritual
Take a bath, read a book or do gentle yoga. Just avoid the TV and computer, which can stimulate you and keep you up. Putting a psychological buffer between you and the day's events can help you slide into slumber. Plus, by doing this ritual every night, you're priming your body for sleep, Downey says.

Adjust the thermostat
Sound sleep is nearly impossible if your room is too hot or too cold. The ideal temperature for optimal sleep is between 68 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Yet because everybody has individual preferences, you may have to play with this, especially if you're sharing that room with someone.

Follow the 20-20 rule
If you stay in bed when you can't sleep, you're doing more harm than good. "You'll develop an association with the bedroom as being a place where you can't sleep, and so when you try to sleep, you won't be able to," Downey says. Instead, if you can't fall asleep within 20 minutes of going to bed, get up, go to a dimly lit room and chill for 20 minutes. During that time, do nothing that will stimulate your brain so no surfing the Internet or reading a horror novel. Also, avoid falling asleep in that room. After 20 minutes, return to your bed. If you still can't sleep, repeat the above steps until your body succumbs.

Take an afternoon snooze
"A nap can reduce the stress of not having slept and help you feel less anxious about going to sleep that night," Downey says, suggesting that you nap during that post-lunch dip when your body naturally slows, thanks to circadian rhythms. Just don't nap longer than 20 minutes or you'll disrupt your sleep later.

Go cold turkey on caffeine
These may be harsh words to swallow, but because caffeine has been linked to adverse sleep effects, it's got to go. If you can't live without it, at least quit consuming caffeine (which includes chocolate, by the way) by 2 p.m., Downey says.

Keep a set sleep schedule
No doubt you've heard this, but it's worth repeating that you should always wake up and go to bed at the same time every day, even on weekends. "Consistency helps synchronize our sleep-wake cycle," Downey says.

Exercise -- but don't do it right before bed
Although regular exercise can help you sleep better, avoid vigorous workouts three hours before bed or else you may be too revved up to sleep.

If all else fails, restrict sleep by about an hour a night
This may sound crazy -- after all, you're trying to sleep more, not less -- but it's an effective strategy that does pay off, as long as you work at it, Downey says. Trying to fall asleep may create stress, and because the stress response alerts the brain to stay awake, sleep is less likely to occur. If this stress response continues nightly for a week or two, many people begin associating going to sleep in the bedroom with stress. Yet by restricting your sleep, you're actually promoting sleep because you're only in bed for sleep and not for prolonged periods when the stress response kicks in. "As you spend less time asleep, your drive to sleep increases so in sleep restriction therapy, we cut sleep time in bed so that the drive for sleep becomes stronger and you're more likely to sleep when you go to bed," Downey says. In other words, when sacrificing quantity you make up for it in quality of sleep. Once you start sleeping over 90 percent of the night, which could take weeks for some people, gradually add the hour back in 15-minute increments.


Source: AOL Health

Lifetime Health Risks

What Are The Odds?
Most people know that no matter how unsettling flying in an airplane can be, there is a greater risk of dying in a car accident than in a plane crash. But what are the odds of catching a fatal case of influenza or of a baby being born with extra fingers or toes? The answers may surprise you.

Influenza
The flu might seem like merely an annoyance, easily cured by a week of bed rest, but the virus often isn't so innocuous. Historically, killer influenza pandemics have overtaken the nation and world. The 1918 outbreak had a death toll 10 times higher than World War I. Today, barring an epidemic, influenza can still prove deadly for the very old and the very young. In fact, your lifetime risk of dying from influenza is one in 63, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Albinism
Albinism, a genetic mutation in which the skin, eyes and hair lack the melanin that normally provides pigmentation, has proven to be a dangerous trait in the African nation of Tanzania in recent years due to a popular belief that blood and body parts from albino people will bring prosperity and luck, according to the BBC. Among East Africans, rates of albinism are as high as one in 1,000, according to a survey conducted by the World Health Organization. In the United States, about one in 17,000 have the mutation, according to the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation.

MRSA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, known as MRSA, can cause life-threatening infections. Once considered a health risk only in hospitals or nursing homes, the bacteria have more recently been contracted in common settings like the gym. The lifetime risk of dying of a MRSA infection in 2007 was one in 197, according to the CDC. Staph skin infections begin as small red bumps that turn into painful sores; the bacteria also can invade the body, passing into the bones, bloodstream and lungs.

Polydactyly
Polydactyly, or being born with extra digits, is more common than you might think, especially among African-Americans. Approximately one in 100 African-American babies are born with one or more extra fingers or toes, while one in 1,000 Caucasians has the condition, according to doctors from the University of Washington Medical Center's Clinical Genetics Center and Harrison Regional Medical Center. Sometimes polydactyly can occur with other birth defects, but often the baby is otherwise perfectly healthy and normal.

Anophthalmia
The odds of a baby being born with only one eye or with one or both eyes abnormally small are about one per 10,000 births, according to the International Children's Anophthalmia and Microphthalmia Network. These conditions are called anophthalmia and microphthalmia, respectively. There is no treatment that can restore vision to the affected eye, but most children can be fitted with an artificial eye to make the face appear more normal.

Breast and skin cancer
There's no doubt that breast cancer can be devastating, but how does a woman's risk of breast cancer compare to the risk of of non-melanoma skin cancer, the most common type of cancer? Although risk varies based on factors like gender, skin color and sun exposure, the odds of a woman developing breast cancer by age 25 are one in 20,000; by age 85 that risk rises to one in eight, according to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. But it's estimated that up to one-half of people in the U.S. who live to be 65 years or older will develop non-melanoma skin cancer at least once, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Heart disease and stroke
The lifetime risk of dying of heart disease -- one in five -- dwarfs the previously mentioned statistics. So does the risk of passing away from a stroke: one in 24, according to the CDC. The main risk factors for these conditions? They are, among others, smoking, being overweight and having high blood pressure and high cholesterol. So while there is plenty of danger outside your control, perhaps the best bet for a long life just might be the old standbys: eating healthfully, exercising and managing stress.

Marfan syndrome
Today's experts suspect that former President Abraham Lincoln may have had Marfan syndrome, a disorder of the body's connective tissue. Approximately one in 5,000 people in the U.S. are born with this hereditary syndrome, according to the National Marfan Foundation. Often characterized by a very tall, thin build -- like Lincoln's -- and extremely flexible joints, Marfan usually affects many of the body's systems, such as the heart, lungs and nervous system. Dangerous effects include weakened heart valves, collapsed lungs and fluid retention around the brain and spinal cord.

HIV from a blood transfusion

Receiving a blood transfusion may be safer than ever, thanks to federal guidelines about who can donate and procedures to screen for blood-borne diseases. In fact, the risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, from a blood transfusion, has dropped to between one in 1.4 million and one in 1.8 million. In 1995, that figure was between one in 450,000 and one in 660,000, according to the University of California-San Francisco.


Source: AOL Health

Four Little Behaviors That Make You Less Pretty

1. Tugging at your strapless dress or top.

This isn't just an issue with everyday dresses and tube tops. You've probably all seen a bride buy a strapless gown with a four-digit price tag, pay yet more to have it custom fitted, and drop yet more on fancy undergarments--only to yank the top up all night long. Either go for something that better supports your body, or make a conscious decision not to compulsively tug--it's distracting and makes you come off much less chic.

2. Snapping your gum.
This is my hugest pet peeve--audible saliva snaps/slurps of any kind make any person way less attractive, in my book. But I know it's an unconscious habit that's hard to break (my best friend is a gum snapper). If you don't, though, you'll find yourself doing it at a really inopportune time, like during an important work meeting, or when walking down the aisle at your own wedding (as with my best friend).

3. Calling yourself fat.
Constantly talking about your saddlebags, your fat ass or your latest diet makes you less attractive. I know this, yet I sometimes get in phases where I talk lots of smack about my body to my friends. Then I feel bad; my body is strong and healthy and I should talk about it with love, not hate. Showing how ugly you think your various parts are will never accomplish anything other than making other people question those parts' attractiveness.

4. Constantly looking in the mirror.
I know one girl who seizes every opportunity to gaze in a reflective surface and reapply makeup, adjust her hair, examine her pores...who knows what else. She's beautiful, but she'd honestly seem much more so if she didn't make it so obvious how obsessed she is with her physical appearance. I guess it's just insecurity?


Source: Glamour

Healthy Social Climbing

Studies show that a little social climbing can prevent a host of stress-related diseases.

Picture a ladder with 10 rungs, each representing a higher level of social prestige than the one just below it. At the top of the ladder are the leaders in your community--the good neighbors, parent coaches, Girl Scout leaders, and church elders. At the bottom are the residents who you feel have little status. Now, ask yourself which rung you occupy. You see yourself near the top? Congratulations! The reward for your high self-regard is the promise of a long and healthful life.

You've probably heard that people with big bank accounts and prestigious jobs tend to live longer than those below them on the economic totem pole. Well, similar Rockefeller-like health benefits are also available to the rest of us if we simply do things that enhance our status in our own minds--regardless of our net worth.

"People who perceive themselves as high on the social ladder--regardless of their actual educational degree or size of their paycheck--are less likely to suffer from a range of health problems, including depression, insomnia, and certain risk factors for heart disease," says Nancy Adler, PhD, director of the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Socioeconomic Status and Health. Researchers believe these people feel more in control of their lives and are better able to cope with stress--and that keeps them healthier.

That's great news, because although you can't exactly ask your boss for a raise on the grounds that it will help you avoid heart disease, you can do some simple things--donate regularly to good causes, be a good role model for your kids--to enhance your sense of self-worth. Make these efforts and you'll find they add up to a lot more than money in the bank.

Holding You Back: "My colleagues are doing better than I am"
Move Up A Rung: Put stock in your reputation

When you chose your rung on that imaginary ladder, the first thing you did was compare yourself with others. "It's not unusual for us to look around and see how we stack up in a variety of realms--socially, financially, physically, morally," says Joan Ostrove, PhD, an associate professor of psychology at Macalester College. But the individuals you compare yourself with, and what factors you allow into the equation, affect your self-image.

Consider your feelings about your salary. "Part of your satisfaction with your income is based on the reputation you have among people in your field," says Ed Diener, PhD, a psychologist who studies subjective wellbeing at the University of Illinois. That means you should measure yourself not just by your paycheck but also by your experience and reliability, which make you the go-to person to head up big projects.

Comparing yourself to someone who makes more money can actually boost your self-image--and your productivity--say researchers at Stanford University. The key: placing more emphasis on the ways you're alike than on the ways she outshines you. "If you see that both you and your boss are outgoing and open-minded, for instance, you may feel a sense of kinship, even though there's an income disparity," says Camille Johnson, PhD, lead author of the study and now an assistant professor of management and organizations at San Jose State University.

Holding You Back: "I should be a better person"
Move Up A Rung: Be more generous with others

Our self-image often reflects deeply held principles and standards--and whether we feel we are upholding them. If you're meeting your own ethical goals--you do regular volunteer work, give to worthy causes, and are a responsible parent and thoughtful neighbor--you will likely place yourself high on the community ladder.

In other words, becoming a legend in your own mind may be as simple as offering to help out at the library or heading up a youth outreach group at church. The payoff is substantial: People over age 55 who volunteer for two or more organizations have half the chance of dying in the next 5 years as those who volunteer with just one group, and are 63% less likely to die in that time than nonvolunteers, according to the Buck Center for Research in Aging in Novato, CA.

"Volunteering has as strong an effect on mortality as exercising four times a week," says Stephen Post, PhD, a professor of bioethics at Case Western Reserve University's School of Medicine and coauthor of Why Good Things Happen to Good People. "Helping and giving to others increases your self-esteem and gives you a sense of dignity and purpose that enhances your sense of your own status--and, thus, your well-being."


Holding You Back: "I'm too stressed to change my life"
Move Up A Rung: Seize what control you can

People who stand lower on the social ladder tend to be under greater stress, researchers have learned. In one study of premenopausal women, Adler found that those who ranked themselves lowest had the highest output of cortisol, a harmful stress hormone, during a 3-day lab experiment in which participants did mental math and other anxiety-provoking activities.

"The women who thought highly of themselves were able to get used to the stress. They released a lot of cortisol the first day, but their levels decreased over the next 2 days," she says. "That didn't happen with the women who said they had low status. They pumped out cortisol throughout the entire experiment."

The bottom line: Minimize stress to improve your health--and your status. Here are three ways to get started:

Keep a good news diary

"Every day, write down five positive things that have happened," suggests Carol Ryff, PhD, director of the Institute on Aging at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "In order to perceive your life as good, you need to focus on the gratifying things in it."

Stay connected with friends

"You're more likely to feel stressed and have higher cortisol levels if you lack social support," says Robert Sapolsky, PhD, a professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University and author of Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers.

Laugh loud and often

"Laughter prompts the body to secrete natural mood-boosting chemicals and decreases levels of cortisol," says Post. "Keep a drawer full of your favorite comics and cartoons and look at them when you're feeling stressed."


Source: AOL Health

Love the Skin You're In

When it comes to skin care advice, there is often a "one-size-fits-all" approach. Well, no more. Whether you live in a hot climate or cold, or if you have maturing skin or tattooed, we'll give you the best advice to protect your outermost layer.

Winter Skin Worries
Not only does cold air contain minimal moisture, which can cause drier skin and increased itchiness in normal skin types, it has a greater impact on aging skin, and people with health concerns like psoriasis and eczema, by exacerbating the symptoms.

Dry, Itchy Skin
To prevent dry, itchy skin, avoid taking lengthy or overly hot showers or baths. Try using a less abrasive soap, such as a non-soap cleanser, suggests the AAD, and apply moisturizers with lipids right after bathing. If your dry, scaly skin is a chronic occurrence, you may have eczema or atopic dermatis -- find out more about this skin condition's symptoms.

Stressed? Your Skin Needs TLC Too
When you worry, your body's stress hormone, cortisol, rises, which in turn can cause oily skin and acne outbreaks, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Other nasty byproducts of stress can include an increased risk of skin cancer and slower healing wounds.

Pregnant Precautions
Of course you're curious about stretch marks. According to the AAD, odds are stacked against you -- about 90 percent of women get them -- typically during the sixth and seventh months of pregnancy. The good news? Moisturizer can improve the appearance of stretch marks and reduce itchiness. Sunless tanning products can hide them altogether, says the AAD. Prescription treatment creams or laser therapy are other options. Pregnant women may also have issues with itchy palms and soles. The AAD recommends switching to a fragrance-free non-soap cleanser or try using a chilled over-the-counter mentholated or oatmeal-based moisturizer to soothe the itch.

What Are Those Dark Patches?
Melasma, or hyperpigmentation, is the name you're looking for to describe those darker patches of skin on your face. They're typically found on the forehead, cheeks and above the upper lip and occur in women more often than in men, according to Harvard Health Publications. These marks are usually associated with hormonal changes, which is why pregnant women or women taking hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives may develop them. The AAD recommends wearing SPF 15 or higher to prevent the patches from growing darker. The spots can be concealed with makeup or treated with prescriptions.

Beat Breakouts
Adults with acne: the news is grim. According to the AAD, you can keep producing pimples into your 50s. Three factors contribute to adult outbreaks -- overproduction of oil, blockage of the hair follicles that release the oil, and bacteria growth, says the AAD. To prevent scars: do not pop or squeeze your zits. Wash with mild soap and warm water, but avoid vigorous scrubbing -- this can worsen the acne -- and alcohol-based astringents which strip your skin of natural moistures, says the AAD. Look for oil-free cosmetics and sunscreens. Medications are available too.

Fragrance Foul Ups
About two percent of Americans are allergic to fragrance, a component of most beauty products out there -- if you notice a skin reaction, try a hypoallergenic or fragrance-free version of the product.

Mature Skin: What to Watch for
As you age, time takes a toll on both the outer layer (epidermis) and inner layers of skin, meaning your skin is less able to retain moisture and protect against bruising, scarring, dryness and the sun's damaging ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, according to the AAD. You also lose collagen and tissues that keep the skin firm and protect against injury.

Cosmetic Complications
Immediately after getting a tattoo there are several complications you could have, including a skin infection, staph infection, or soft tissue infection. For the first 24 hours after the procedure, your tattoo may be swollen or ooze blood or clear, yellow fluid. However, if the fluid changes to creamy yellow, brown, red, or becomes pus-like, it may be the sign of infection. For piercings, a common problem is an itchy, red skin reaction -- or hypersensitivity to the nickel found in some jewelry. If this occurs, try wearing stainless steel, platinum, or gold jewelry. Hypersensitivity to tattoo pigments also may develop, but this occurrence is rare.

Caution: Hot Temperatures!
Hot and humid temperatures can really give your sweat glands a workout -- which can be a problem. As you age, your sweat glands take longer to produce sweat, meaning it takes you longer to cool off on a hot day. Seniors should pay particular attention to heat advisories. Muggy weather also affects the skin of infants and adults alike in the form of heat rash -- a red or pink rash that develops when sweat ducts are blocked or swollen.

Skin Cancer Prevention
To defend against skin cancer, wear sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15. The AAD recommends adults do annual or semi-annual full body skin exams, either through self-examination or with a dermatologist -- checking for any new or unusual moles, marks, bumps or other changes. A recent study published in the May 2008 issue of the 'Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology' found that couples who perform skin self-examinations for each other increase their chances of finding a new melanoma earlier.

Not out of the Clear
"Anyone, regardless of skin color or ethnicity, can develop skin cancer, so it is important to practice sun safety," says the AAD. The difficulty is in diagnosing it, because the typical signs can be found between the toes or on the scalp. Melanoma is often left undiagnosed in people of darker skin tones until after the cancer has already spread. The AAD recommends that people with skin of color practice regular skin self-examinations and learn how to identify unusual moles or other signs of skin cancer.

Toxic Tanning
Yes, if you didn't know already, indoor tanning exposes your skin to what the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has declared a known carcinogen (cancer-causing substance). A majority of tanning-booth patrons are young women -- which may further their skin cancer risk. According to the AAD, a Swedish study presents strong evidence that indoor tanning, especially at a young age, increases the risk of melanoma. Other complications include skin aging, weakened immunity, and eye damage, including cataracts and ocular melanoma.

No Need to Get Red in the Face
Rosacea, a skin condition characterized by facial redness, affects nearly 14 million Americans and is often confused with adult acne because it affects people between the ages of 30 and 60 and its symptoms can include acne flare ups. Rosacea grows worse over time and is generally cyclic, peaking for weeks to months and then clearing up. Current treatments are often not effective at curing or reversing any skin damage, but medications can help control symptoms and prevent worsening.

Best Care for Psoriasis
People with psoriasis have skin cells whose rapid growth results in thick, white, silvery, or red patches of skin. Typical skin cells are shed every four weeks, while people with psoriasis produce new skin cells in a matter of days, giving that rash appearance. There is no cure for this skin condition, but medical treatment and medicines are available.



Source: AOL Health

Boost Your Mental EQ

Get your mind going with some cerebral quick starters

"Use it or lose it" certainly applies to your mind. If you challenge yourself by doing crossword puzzles, memorizing poems, or learning a new language for that trip abroad, you're more likely to feel--and stay--mentally sharp. Take a look at the following four tips that can also keep your mental motor revved.

Go for Green Tea. It's a much better pick-me-up than your typical Starbucks latte. The reason? Although it does have some energizing caffeine, it also contains theanine, a compound that has a stress-reducing effect on your brain. "It calms you while giving you mental clarity," says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, author of From Fatigued to Fantastic.

Have Bran for Breakfast. Eating a morning meal rich in fiber may make you more alert during the day. A recent study done at Cardiff University in Wales found that subjects who ate a high-fiber cereal in the morning showed a 10 percent reduction in fatigue, lower incidence of depression, and better cognitive skills. One theory: Fiber helps slow down the absorption of food in the stomach, so you have more energy for a longer period of time.

Pop a Peppermint. Oils in the peppermint plant increase alertness by stimulating your trigeminal nerve, "which is the same nerve that's activated when you revive someone with smelling salts," says Alan Hirsch, MD, director of the Smell and Taste Treatment Foundation in Chicago. Mints also contain menthol, which makes you feel cooler and more awake.

Rearrange Your Office Furniture. Think about it: Suddenly you can't just reach for the wastebasket unconsciously; you have to stop and flex your mental muscles to find where it is. You can also try taking a different route to work. These non-routine actions activate seldom-used nerve connections in your brain, to help strengthen and improve memory and make you less likely to succumb to fatigue.


Source: AOL Health

20 Superfoods For Weight Loss

Eat More, Lose Weight
It's time for a new slim-down mantra: Eat more to weigh less. No joke! The right foods help you drop pounds by revving up your calorie burn and curbing cravings. We consulted top experts for the best picks and asked leading chefs for easy, tasty ways to prepare them. Add these eats to your plate today, and you'll be slimmer and healthier in no time!

Eggs
Dig into eggs, yolks and all: They won't harm your heart, but they can help you trim inches. Women on a low-calorie diet who ate an egg with toast and jelly each morning lost twice as many pounds as those who had a bagel breakfast with the same number of calories but no eggs, a study from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge reports. "Egg protein is filling, so you eat less later in the day," says David Grotto, R.D., author of 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life (Bantam).

Eat more: Omelettes and scrambles are obvious choices, but if you can't cook before work, bake a frittata on Sunday; chill it and nuke slices for up to a week.

Chiles
One reason to spice up your meals: You'll crank up your metabolism. "A compound in chiles called capsaicin has a thermogenic effect, meaning it causes the body to burn extra calories for 20 minutes after you eat the chiles," Zuckerbrot explains. Plus, "you can't gulp down spicy food," she adds. "Eating slowly gives your brain time to register that your stomach is full, so you won't overeat."

Eat more: Stuff chiles with cooked quinoa and marinara sauce, then roast them. To mellow a chile's heat, grill it until it's almost black, peel off charred skin and puree the flesh, Krieger says. Add the puree to pasta sauces for a one-alarm kick. Or stir red pepper flakes into any dish you enjoy.

Steak
Beef has a rep as a diet buster, but eating it may help you peel off pounds. In a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, women on a diet that included red meat lost more weight than those eating equal calories but little beef. "The protein in steak helps you retain muscle mass during weight loss," says study author Manny Noakes, Ph.D. Try to consume local organic beef; it's healthier for you and the environment.

Eat more: Grill or broil a 4-ounce serving of top round or sirloin; slice thinly to top a salad, or mix with veggies for fajitas.

Kale
Long sidelined as a lowly garnish, this green belongs center stage on your plate. One raw, chopped cup contains 34 calories and about 1.3 grams of fiber, as well as a hearty helping of iron and calcium. But kale's earthy flavor might take some getting used to. Spinach, another nutrient powerhouse, is a milder-tasting option.

Eat more: Mix chopped, raw kale into cooked black beans, says Jennifer Iserloh, founder of Skinny Chef Culinary Ventures in New York City. Or slice kale into thin strips, sauté it with vegetable broth and top with orange slices. Make it a meal by tossing the mix with quinoa.

Oats
"Oatmeal has the highest satiety ranking of any food," Grotto says. "Unlike many other carbohydrates, oats -- even the instant kind -- digest slowly, so they have little impact on your blood sugar." All oats are healthful, but the steel-cut and rolled varieties (which are minimally processed) have up to 5 grams of fiber per serving, making them the most filling choice. Instant oats contain 3 to 4 grams per serving.

Eat more: "Instead of using breadcrumbs, add oats to meat loaf -- about 1 cup for a recipe that serves eight," Iserloh recommends. Or try her recipe for turkey and oatmeal meatballs.

Lentils
Lentils are a bona fide belly flattener. "They're high in protein and soluble fiber, two nutrients that stabilize blood sugar levels," says Tanya Zuckerbrot, R.D., author of The F-Factor Diet (Putnam Adult). "Eating them helps prevent insulin spikes that cause your body to create excess fat, especially in the abdominal area."

Eat more: There are many varieties of lentils, but red and yellow cook fastest (in about 15 to 20 minutes). Add cooked lentils to pasta sauce for a heartier dish, Zuckerbrot suggests. "Their mild flavor blends right in, and because they're high in protein, you can skip meat altogether."

Goji berries
These chewy, tart berries have a hunger-curbing edge over other fruit: 18 amino acids, which make them a surprising source of protein, says chef Sarah Krieger, R.D., spokeswoman in St. Petersburg, Florida, for the American Dietetic Association. (They also have more beta carotene than carrots.) Snack on them mid-afternoon to stay satisfied until dinner. The calorie cost? Only 35 per tablespoon.

Eat more: Mix 1/4 cup of the dried berries (from health food stores) with 1/4 cup raisins and 1/4 cup walnuts for a nourishing trail mix. Or for dessert, pour 1/4 cup boiling water into a bowl with 2 tbsp. dried berries; let sit 10 minutes. Drain, then spoon over 1/2 cup low-fat vanilla frozen yogurt.

Wild salmon
Not only do fish fats keep your heart healthy, they shrink your waist, too. "Omega-3 fatty acids improve insulin sensitivity -- which helps build muscle and decrease belly fat," Grotto explains. And the more muscle you have, the more calories your body burns. Opt for wild salmon; it may contain fewer pollutants.

Eat more: You don't need to do much to enhance salmon's taste, says Sidra Forman, a chef and writer in Washington, D.C. "Simple is best. Season a fillet with salt and pepper, then cook it in a hot pan with 2 tsp, oil for one to three minutes on each side."

Apples
An apple a day can keep weight gain at bay, finds a study from Penn State University at University Park. People who chomped an apple before a pasta meal ate fewer calories overall than those who had a different snack. "Apples are high in fiber -- 4 to 5 grams each --which makes them filling," says Susan Kraus, R.D., a clinical dietitian at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. Plus, the antioxidants in apples may help prevent metabolic syndrome, a condition marked by excess belly fat or an "apple shape."

Eat more: Apples are the ideal on-the-go low-calorie snack. For a pie-like treat, chop up a medium apple and sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. allspice and ½. tsp cinnamon. Pop in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes.

Buckwheat pasta
Swap plain noodles for this hearty variety; you'll slip into your skinny jeans in no time. "Buckwheat is high in fiber and, unlike most carbs, contains protein," Zuckerbrot says. "Those two nutrients make it very satiating, so it's harder to overeat buckwheat pasta than the regular stuff."

Eat more: Cook this pasta as you do rice: Simmer it, covered, over low heat. For a light meal, toss cooked buckwheat pasta with broccoli, carrots, mushrooms and onions. Or make buckwheat crepes using our tasty recipe.

Blueberries
All berries are good for you, but those with a blue hue are among the best of the bunch. They have the highest antioxidant level of all commonly consumed fruit, according to research from the USDA Agriculture Research Service in Little Rock, Arkansas. They also deliver 3.6 grams of fiber per cup. "Fiber may actually prevent some of the fat you eat from being absorbed because fiber pulls fat through the digestive tract," Zuckerbrot says.

Eat more: Instead of topping your cereal with fruit, fill your bowl with blueberries, then sprinkle cereal on top and add milk or yogurt, Iserloh recommends.

Almond butter
Adding this spread may lower bread's glycemic index (a measure of a food's effect on blood sugar). A study from the University of Toronto found that people who ate almonds with white bread didn't experience the same blood sugar surges as those who ate only the slice. "The higher blood sugar levels rise, the lower they fall; that dip leads to hunger, causing people to overeat," says study author Cyril Kendall, Ph.D. "Furthermore, blood sugar changes cause the body to make insulin, which can increase abdominal fat."

Eat more: Try it for a change from peanut butter in sandwiches, or make a veggie dip: Mix 1 tbsp. almond butter with 2 tbsp. fat-free plain yogurt, Iserloh suggests. Or add a dollop to oatmeal for flavor and protein.

Pomegranates
The juice gets all the hype for being healthy, but pomegranate seeds deserve their own spotlight. In addition to being loaded with folate and disease-fighting antioxidants, they're low in calories and high in fiber, so they satisfy your sweet tooth without blowing your diet, Krieger says.

Eat more: Pop the raw seeds on their own (many grocery stores sell them pre-shucked) as a snack at your desk. "Use them in salads instead of nuts," Iserloh says. "They're especially delicious on raw baby spinach with lemon-poppy seed dressing."

Yogurt
Dietitians often refer to plain yogurt as the perfect food, and for good reason: With its trifecta of carbs, protein and fat, it can stave off hunger by keeping blood sugar levels steady. In a study from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, people on a low-calorie diet that included yogurt lost 61 percent more fat overall and 81 percent more belly fat than those on a similar plan without yogurt.

Eat more: "Use low-fat plain yogurt instead of mayonnaise in chicken or potato salad, or top a baked potato with a bit of yogurt and a squeeze of lemon juice," Krieger says. You'll save 4.7 grams of fat per tablespoon. Look for Greek yogurt, which has more protein than other versions.

Quinoa
Curbing hunger is as easy as piling your plate with this whole grain. It packs both fiber (2.6 grams per 1/2 cup) and protein, a stellar nutrient combo that can keep you satisfied for hours, Krieger says.

Eat more: Serve quinoa instead of rice with stir-fries, or try Krieger's take on a scrumptious hot breakfast: Cook 1/2 cup quinoa in 2/3 cup water and 1/3 cup orange juice for 15 minutes. Top with 1 tbsp. each of raisins and chopped walnuts.

Sardines
These tiny fish are the unsung stars of the sea. They are high in protein and loaded with omega-3s, which also help the body maintain muscle. And they're low in mercury and high in calcium, making them a smart fish pick for pregnant women. If the flavor doesn't appeal to you, "Soak them in milk for an hour; it will remove any trace of fishiness," Iserloh says.

Eat more: "Use sardines in recipes you like that call for anchovies, including Caesar salad and stuffing," Iserloh says. Or make a sardine melt: Toss whole sardines with chopped onions, fresh herbs and diced bell peppers. Put the mixture on top of a slice of pumpernickel or rye bread, cover with a slice of cheddar and broil.

Tarragon
You can use this herb, a staple in French cooking, in place of salt in marinades and salad dressings. Excess sodium causes your body to retain water, so using less salt can keep bloating at bay. Plus, tarragon lends a sweet, licorice-like flavor to bland foods. (Use the French version of the herb when possible; it's sweeter than other varieties.)

Eat more: Rub 2 tbsp. dried tarragon on chicken before baking or grilling. Or make a tasty dip by mixing 1 tsp. chopped fresh tarragon into 4 ounces low-fat plain yogurt and 1 tsp. Dijon mustard, recommends Jacquelyn Buchanan, director of culinary development at Laura Chenel's Chèvre, a fromagerie in Sonoma, California.

Parmesan
Drop that rubbery low-fat cheese and pick up the real stuff. Women who had one serving of whole milk or cheese daily were less likely to gain weight over time, a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds. Low-fat dairy fans didn't experience the same benefit. Whole dairy may have more conjugated linoleic acid, which might help your body burn fat. "Parmesan is so flavorful, it's easy to stick to one serving," Buchanan says.

Eat more: "Grate Parmesan over roasted vegetables," Buchanan offers. Or snack on a 1-ounce portion with an apple or a pear.

Avocado
Don't let the fat content of an avocado (29 grams) scare you -- that's what makes it a top weight-loss food, Kraus says. "The heart-healthy monounsaturated fat it contains increases satiety," she says. And it's a terrific summer party food.

Eat more: Add avocado to your sandwich instead of mayo for a creamy texture and a shot of flavor. Avocados do contain a lot of calories, so it's best to watch your portions. One easy way to do it: Try Wholly Guacamole's 100-calorie fresh guacamole packs. They're easy to pack in your lunch and pair with chopped vegetables.

Olive oil
Like avocados, olive oil has healthy fat that increases satiety, taming your appetite. But that's hardly its only slimming feature. "Research shows it has anti-inflammatory properties," Kraus says. Chronic inflammation in the body is linked to metabolic syndrome.

Eat more: Drizzle your salad with olive oil, and you'll increase the antioxidant power of your veggies, a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition notes. Or toss pasta with a few teaspoons of olive oil, fresh basil and sautéed garlic, Kraus suggests. Add this oil to your summer menus for a flatter tummy by fall.


Source: AOL Health