TIP FOR ADULT ACNE

 If you are bothered by adult acne, a Taiwanese study may have the answer to your problem. The study suggests dabbing blemishes with a drop of clove oil. They suggest the oils eugenol tamps down the inflammation and speeds healing.

ARE YOU PRONE TO MOTION SICKNESS?

Approximately half of us are prone to some motion sickness when traveling. A study in the Annals of Medicine and Surgery found that bringing along a vial of rose essential oil and inhaling its aroma as soon as symptoms start can quickly soothe a queasy stomach. They credit the aromatic compounds geraniol and citronellol which calm the nausea center of the brain.

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MORE ON BRAIN ANTIAGING

Yesterday I talked about the brain and how puzzles of various types can slow down the aging of the brain. There are a few more suggestions I want you to be aware of.  Below are a few more suggestions I have found.

• Peace and Quiet - Harvard scientists found that people in their 50s who meditated for 40 minutes daily had the same amount of gray matter in one part of the prefrontal cortex as did those in their 20s. This even though the cortex shrinks with age. They said that meditation curbs production of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone that can shrink brain tissue.
• Games - I consider games to be about the same as puzzles. Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, say playing games with others can make several parts of the brain bigger while improving thinking skills and memory. Even a game of solitaire pumps up parts of your brain power by protecting brain structures and functions vulnerable to decline.
• Want a snack? Try nachos. According to Japanese scientists say the beans and avocados in nachos contain minerals that can slash memory problems by 80% when eaten regularly. They are said to help the nerves in the brain signal properly so they can communicate clearly with each other.
• Sniff Rosemary. I have an earlier post on this blog about rosemary being helpful to the brain and here it is again. Give your brain an immediate boost with a sniff of this herb. British scientists found that the aroma can enhance prospective memory, which involves remembering time-sensitive tasks ie taking medication, by 75%.

BRAIN AGING

It doesn't come as a surprise that our brains age just like the rest of the body. Scientists say around 40% of us will have some form of memory loss after age 65. There are some things we can do to give us the brain of someone 15 years younger, according to the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.  On a personal note, several years ago when my mother suffered a stroke, my family heard about this. At the hospital after the testing on her brain, the doctors said they couldn't believe her age because her brain looked like the brain of a much younger person. They ask if she worked puzzles. The answer was, yes. She had worked puzzles all her life. Jigsaw puzzles, word find puzzles, crossword puzzles, etc. Puzzles were her favorite pastime. I spent time working puzzles with her throughout my life and puzzles continue to be a favorite activity for me. Do you have some type of brain activity you do on a regular basis? If not, consider puzzles.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT FRUITS AND VEGGIES FOR HYDRATION?

As I posted a tomato salad recipe on my diabetic blog this morning, I thought about how helpful tomatoes can be to helping one stay hydrated, especially in the heat of summer. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that two extra servings of fresh produce daily cuts the risk of dehydration. If you have trouble staying hydrated but you don't like or get tired of water, grab a fruit or veggie that has a high-water volume. Fruit and veggies contain gel water, a form of fluid that releases water into the body slowly and steadily to hydrate cells more efficiently than does plain water.

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WANT TO BOOST YOUR LONGEVITY?

If your answer is yes to the title question, and you normally have a glass of orange juice with your breakfast, try switching to pomegranate juice. This switch can slow, maybe even reverse, the aging of your brain, heart, muscles, and bones. Italian scientists say the phytonutrients in pomegranate juice energize anti-aging genes in every cell of the body.

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IS STRESS EATING A PROBLEM FOR YOU?

I think almost all of us have dealt with stress eating from time to time. But for some, stress eating is a big problem that can lead to being overweight and to poor health. If you fall into the latter category, don't blame yourself or let others tell you, "You just need more self-control". That statement to you will probably just increase your stress. Psychologist Laurel Mellin, Ph.D. says there is a physical reason for stress eating. This is her statement, "There are eight brain chemicals that get activated when we're stressed, and they drive us to eat."

Dr. Mellin suggest retraining your brain. She advises that when you stress eat, your emotional brain is in control--it's very difficult to deny that need, so don't try. Instead, she advises doing an "emotional debriefing" the next day. "Take a moment to vent or complain that you overate." She goes on to explain this opens up the neural pathway to what causes you to stress eat. "Then try to express four key emotions: anger, sadness, fear and guilt," she says. the mini catharsis can gradually rewire your brain so you're less likely to turn to food in moments of emotional stress.

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ENJOY SOME SUNSHINE

 Did you realize that people who spend their days in a sunny environment are more likely to live longer than those who spend their days in a dimly lit environment? Reasearch has shown that getting plenty of sun enhances circadian rhythms, which play a role in sleep, blood pressure, etc. It is suggested one should aim for 30 minutes a day.

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LILACS TO LESSEN ACHES AND PAINS

When Spring weather, especially those rainy days, cause you to have those aggravating aches and pains, try putting a lovely lilac bouquet in one of the rooms you are in most often. A Brazilian study found that switching from a rose bouquet to a lilac one, could cut achiness by 73%.  They say the aromatic compounds in lilacs can calm overactive pain nerves and even curb production of ache-causing inflammation, if you inhale them often. I say, lilacs over pain-pills any day.

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MAGNESIUM FOR FIBROMYALGIA PAIN

If you are one of the unlucky ones who suffer from fibromyalgia pan, try taking a magnesium supplement. Dr. Amy Myers, an MD, has stated, "Magnesium is one of the most common deficiencies I see in those with fibromyalgia." She goes on to say, "But I've had several patients completely reverse their symptoms just by taking magnesium" Her advice is to take in a total of 320mg of magnesium a day through diet and/or supplements. Magnesium is found in bananas, beans, nuts, seeds, and leafy greens.

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