health

Yoga and Meditation can change your genes, study shows

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Yoga and meditation may do more than just help you feel relaxed in the moment. A new scientific review suggests that these and other mindfulness exercises can actually reverse stress-related changes in genes linked to poor health and depression.

In the new paper, published in Frontiers in Immunology, British researchers analyzed the findings from 18 previously published studies—involving a total of 846 people—on the biological effects of meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, Qi gong and Tai Chi. Together, the authors say, the studies show that these mind-body exercises appear to suppress the expression of genes and genetic pathways that promote inflammation.

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The Importance of Silence

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In 2011, the Finish Tourist Board ran a campaign that used silence as a marketing ‘product’. They sort to entice people to visit Finland and experience the beauty of this silent land. They released a series of photographs of single figures in the nature and used the slogan “Silence, Please”. A tag line was added … Read more

Drinking 7 glasses of water can cut 200 calories off daily intake

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A US study has found that drinking just 1% more water can reduce total daily calorie consumption, in particular the intake of sugar, sodium and cholesterol. In fact, drinking seven glasses of water per day could cut total daily intakes by up to 200 calories.

Current guidelines recommend drinking 1 to 1.5 litres of water per day. There’s nothing new or revolutionary about that advice, especially for dieters or detoxers looking to flush out the body’s toxins.

However, new research, published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, has found that a few extra glasses of water can increase the feeling of “fullness” and reduce daily calorie consumption.

The researchers studied the dietary habits of more than 18,300 people between 2005 and 2012.

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Interrupted sleep worse than not getting enough sleep

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Being interrupted during sleep is likely to affect your mood more than not getting enough sleep, a study suggests. Researchers at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, USA studied 62 men and women and split them into three experimental conditions. One group were subject to “forced awakenings” during sleep, others went … Read more

Processed meat links to early death

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Sausages, ham, bacon and other processed meats appear to increase the risk of dying young, a study of half a million people across Europe suggests. It concluded diets high in processed meats were linked to cardiovascular disease, cancer and early deaths. The researchers, writing in the journal BMC Medicine, said salt and chemicals used to preserve … Read more

Volunteering good for the heart

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OTTAWA, Feb 27 – Volunteer work has long been touted as good for the soul, but the practice is also good for your heart, according to a study out Monday in the journal JAMA Pediatrics. Researchers at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver wanted to find out how volunteering might impact one’s physical condition, … Read more