HEALTH

Housework Keeps Brain Young, Research Suggests

May 16, 2019 by Good Living Guide. This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

Who would think that doing housework is a way to keep our brains young? Now every time you tackle vacuuming, mopping the floors, changing the beds, and doing laundry, think of them as exercises that are good for your brain! All those chores that we think of as being dull, boring, tiring, and far from pleasant can be included in light activity that reduces brain aging.

What does Physical Activity do?

New research by the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) indicates that even light activity creates larger brain volume and therefore healthy brain aging. Active individuals who engage in regular physical activity have lower vascular and metabolic risk factors.

Guidelines

The 2018 Physical Activity-Guidelines for Americans recommends that greater than 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous (MV) physical activity (PA) each week has substantial health benefits. Even modest levels of physical activity strongly improve one’s health. There is quite a difference between a person being sedentary and being modestly active.

Impact of the Activity

This Framingham Heart Study had 2,354 participants, 1,276 of which were women, had a mean age of 53 years, and 1,099 met the PA guidelines. It found that each added hour of light-intensity activity was equal to approximately 1.1 years less brain aging. That is an achievable level of volume and intensity according to Nicole Spartano, PhD, research assistant professor of medicine at BUSM.

In individuals that do not meet the PA guidelines, every hour of light-intensity PA and doing at least 7,500 steps each day also meant higher total brain volume, which equals 1.4 to 2.2 years less aging of the brain. Active people also have lower odds for health problems that include diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.

Additional Exploration

Spartano emphasized that there is a need to explore what impact physical inactivity has on brain aging in different ethnic, race, and socio-economic groups, and she is leading an investigative team. She is grateful to acknowledge the important funding for this research from the American Heart Association, the National Institute on Aging, and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Smelling Rosemary Improves Memory

Scientists Develop Arthritis Vaccine That Blocks Pain

Do You Suffer From Chronic Dehydration?

Scientists Develop Arthritis Vaccine That Blocks Pain

March 28, 2019 by Good Living Guide. This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

Arthritis causes severe joint pain, and this pain is often managed with prescription medications. While painkillers may be effective in the short-term, their long-term use can be detrimental to your health. Luckily, scientists have discovered a new arthritis vaccine that could potentially eliminate the need for pain medications and dependence on them for arthritis patients.

Arthritis is one of the most common joint disorders, and it becomes increasingly common with age. This condition can be a result of chronic wear and tear, autoimmune inflammatory diseases, or infection. There are two main types of arthritis: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It occurs when the cartilage on the ends of the long bones wears down. This cartilage degeneration leads to joint stiffness, pain with movement, and bone deformities. It is most common in the knees, hips, hands, back, and neck.

Pain medications are often prescribed to control this pain, but long-term use can lead to increased sensitivity to pain, addiction, higher risk of depression, and more. In addition, painkillers can decrease immune function and increase the risk of infection and developing other diseases.

The main cause of osteoarthritic pain has been found to be nerve growth factor (NGF), which is produced by the immune system. Scientists have discovered an arthritis vaccine that can cause the body to produce antibodies against this growth factor, causing NGF to become neutralized and eliminating pain entirely.

There is still more research that needs to be done to prove the effectiveness of this vaccine in humans before it is widely released and available to the public. However, it shows a lot of potential for alleviating the pain associated with arthritis. Along with preventing pain, this vaccine can also eliminate pain medication dependence and serve as a much more cost-effective solution for this problem.

The Very Best Mosquito Repellent Plants

The Very Best Mosquito Repellent Plants

March 23, 2019 by Good Living Guide. This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

When Spring arrives so do those pesky mosquitoes. Instead of using harsh chemicals on the annoying blood-suckers, consider a more natural approach using these fragrant mosquito repellent plants.

MARIGOLDS (Tagetes sp.)

Marigold plants provide showy garden colors. They contain a compound called pyrethrin that is very effective in keeping mosquitoes away. In fact, this substance works so well that it is used in many natural insecticides. In addition to mosquitoes, marigolds are also useful in repelling other insects such as aphids, tomato worms and squash bugs.

ROSEMARY (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Not only will Rosemary make your food taste delicious and your garden look amazing, but its woody aroma is wonderful at keeping small mosquito infestations away. The live plant, cuttings from the plant and its essential oil are all effective at repelling mosquitoes. It thrives in containers but can also be pruned into many shapes and sizes to make creative borders and decorations in a garden bed. In addition to Rosemary’s ability to get rid of the skeeters, a unique lesser-known trait of this medicinal herb is its ability to help improve memory.

LEMONGRASS (Cymbopogon citrates)

Lemongrass contains citronella, which has long been used in natural insect repellents. Since it makes a good container plant, it is often planted in pots around porches or near home entrances to keep mosquitoes away. In addition to pest control, Lemongrass has a myriad of useful benefits that include calming nerves, promoting restful sleep, and maintaining digestive health.

CATNIP (Nepeta cataria)

A research group from Iowa State University studied the essential oil in catnip, which is called nepetalactone. They found it to be ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET. Catnip plants can grow very tall, so be sure to plant them in an area where it won’t block any desired views.

LEMON THYME (Thymus vulgaris)

This hardy herb repels mosquitoes when its essential oil is released by crushing or bruising its fragrant foliage. The oil must then be rubbed onto exposed areas of bare skin to be effective. Lemon thyme is an excellent plant with a pleasant lemony fragrance and a creeping habit that make it perfect for hanging baskets. It can also be planted along a path or patio to form a ground cover.

BASIL (Ocimum americanum)

Basil’s strong fragrance makes it one of the most effective mosquito repellent plants. Mosquitoes detest all basil varieties. However, lemon basil, Peruvian basil and cinnamon basil seem to work best because they have the strongest aromas. A 2009 study concluded that an essential oil from basil is toxic to mosquito larvae. Therefore, it may be a good idea to plant it near water sources to control the amount of eggs being laid.

LAVENDER (Lavandula angustifolia)

Not only are the purple flowers beautiful to look at, but the smell is known to repel mosquitoes and other pests. The lavender plant’s strong aroma comes from the essential oil in its leaves. Experts speculate that the potent scent masks the mosquito’s sense of smell, preventing it from detecting the carbon dioxide that humans emit.

Another benefit of growing this wonderful plant is being able to make Lavender Lemonade. It’s delicious, refreshing AND good for you!

LEMON BALM (Melissa officinalis)

Lemon balm contains high levels of a compound called citronellal. This compound has similar properties to citronella, including the ability to repel mosquitoes. It has a lemony scent and flavor that are undesirable to mosquitoes and other pests. It it best grown in containers since it can be a very invasive plant.

GARLIC (Allium sativum)

Garlic has more uses than scaring off vampires and adding flavor to Italian dishes. It can also keep mosquitoes from hanging around your house. Just add some garlic to your flower bed or vegetable garden to increase the likelihood that they’ll find a home elsewhere and leave yours alone.

We wish you much success in using these mosquito repellent plants for a fun-filled and bite-free summer!

50+ Amazing Outdoor Living Ideas

Do You Suffer from Chronic Dehydration?

January 27, 2019 by Good Living Guide. This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

Dehydration occurs when your body loses so much fluid it cannot function normally. Common in older adults and children, it usually results from excessive sweating, diarrhea or vomiting. Resting and drinking water resolve the problem in most cases. Chronic dehydration, however, is a long-term condition.

Ongoing dehydration affects your ability to think, feel and perform physical and cognitive tasks. A 2012 study done by the University of Connecticut’s Human Performance Laboratory found that even mild dehydration affected participants’ energy level, mood and thought process. Results were the same if the person sat for 40 minutes or walked on a treadmill for the same length of time.

What is chronic dehydration?

It is a condition that forces your body to function without enough water on an ongoing basis. Often seen in older adults because they have a lower water volume in their bodies, it can also result from chronic illnesses and medications. If not managed, it can lead to issues like coronary problems and kidney stones.

It is even possible to have extended dehydration on days when you take in adequate fluid. Unlike typical dehydration, drinking more water won’t necessarily solve the problem. You may also need to restore the electrolytes your body has lost to recover.

What causes it?

Simple dehydration occurs when you lose too much water or don’t drink enough. However, other issues may contribute to the problem. Medical News Today published an article in 2017 that listed the following causes:

• The most common cause of dehydration is diarrhea. To function properly, your intestines must absorb fluid from the foods you eat. Diarrhea keeps this from taking place and causes you to lose too much water.

• Vomiting causes the loss of fluid and makes it hard to replace.

• Sweating from strenuous exercise, hot weather or fever reduces fluid levels.

• Stress lowers your body’s ability to replenish itself.

• The high blood sugar levels in diabetes lead to an increase in urination and fluid loss.

• Alcohol and medications, such as antihistamines, diuretics, high blood pressure medications and antipsychotics, cause frequent urination, resulting in loss of fluid.

• Burns that damage blood vessels cause fluid to leak into the adjacent tissues.

What are the symptoms?

With typical dehydration, you may have symptoms of intense thirst, dizziness, dark urine, and tired muscles. However, ongoing dehydration may affect you differently. According to Healthline.com, you may or may not experience the symptoms listed above because your body gets less sensitive as it tried to adapt to a chronic lack of water. You may, however, experience these ongoing signs: dry skin, weak muscles, fatigue, constipation and headaches.

Medical signs used to detect dehydration include abnormal electrolyte levels, concentrated blood volume, and a gradual decline in kidney function. You can find more information in this video by an emergency room physician.

What is the treatment for chronic dehydration?

Usually, the first step to restoring your body’s fluid balance is drinking water or beverages with electrolytes. You can also eat foods like cucumbers, watermelon, and salty broths or soup, but avoid drinks like coffee, soda, tea and alcohol. They remove water from your body.

If you are severely dehydrated, you may need to see a doctor or go to a hospital for an IV to restore the mineral salts in your body. WebMD recommends seeing a doctor if you haven’t urinated in eight hours or can’t keep fluids down because you are vomiting. Other signs that call for medical attention are a rapid or weak pulse, dizziness, confusion and seizures.

If you think you are chronically dehydrated because of your age, health, medications or lifestyle, talk your doctor about ways to change your daily routine to make dehydration less likely.

Smelling Rosemary Improves Memory

Birth Month Flowers and their Meanings

Smelling Rosemary Improves Memory

July 26, 2017 by Good Living Guide. This post may contain affiliate links. 1 Comment

A team of researchers at Northumbria University found that smelling rosemary improves memory after conducting a study on a group of healthy people aged 65 and older. The participants were split into separate rooms: one of them scented with rosemary and the other with no scent at all. Those in the rosemary room showed substantially enhanced prospective memory, with test scores that were 15% higher than those who were in the room with no scent.

Prospective memory can be thought of as “remembering to remember”. Unlike restrospective memory, which is about remembering past occurrences, prospective memory is about future memory. Some examples of prospective memory would include daily tasks such as remembering to return a phone call, remembering doctor’s appointments or taking medication.

Dr Mark Moss, Head of the Department of Psychology at Northumbria University, said:

“Rosemary meanwhile has a reputation about being associated with memory – even Shakespeare said ‘rosemary is for remembrance’ – and it’s also associated with being invigorating. We have found that people are more alert after being in a room that has rosemary aroma in it. We tested prospective memory – our ability to remember to remember to do something – on people over 65 years of age, to see if we could improve their ability and we found that rosemary could do that. This is potentially very important because prospective memory, for example, enables you to remember to take your medication at certain times of the day.

“It is interesting to see the contrasting effects that different herbs can have on both mood and memory, and our research suggests that that they could have beneficial effects, particularly in older age groups. If you were otherwise healthy then this research suggests that there is an opportunity to have an improved memory.”

Now that you have an understanding of how smelling rosemary improves memory, we strongly encourage you to explore all of the many other benefits that rosemary has to offer!

You may also enjoy the following recipe for Lavender Lemonade, which includes references on how the scent of lavender has been shown to reduce anxiety:

Lavender Lemonade Recipe

July 19, 2017 by Good Living Guide. This post may contain affiliate links. 8 Comments

Nothing beats the summer heat like a tall glass of ice cold Lavender Lemonade! Not only will you love the refreshingly delicious taste it has to offer, but you may find yourself more relaxed since the mere scent of lavender has been shown to reduce anxiety.¹ In addition, the odor from essential oils that are released from lavender blossoms may provide migraine and insomnia relief.²

5 from 4 votes

Lavender Lemonade

Ingredients

1/4 cup Dried Lavender Flowers
2 cups Filtered Water
1 cup Honey
1 tray Ice Cubes
1 cup Lemon Juice
5+ cups Filtered Water

Instructions

Put the dried lavender flowers into a bowl and pour 2 cups of boiling water over it.
Add the honey and then allow it to steep for about 15-20 minutes.
Strain out the lavender flowers.
Add ice cubes to a 2-quart pitcher.
Pour the honey and lavender mixture into the pitcher.
Add the lemon juice and top it off with cold filtered water.
Stir and enjoy!

You just can’t beat the combination of fresh, juicy lemons, sweet honey and fragrant lavender. It is my go-to beverage when I need to unwind after a hard, stressful day! We hope you think so too. So give this easy recipe a try and then kick back, relax and enjoy the wonderful days of summer while sipping on a glass of refreshing Lavender Lemonade!

We strongly encourage you to research all of the wonderful health benefits³ that are associated with the use of lavender.