Think Fit, Not Fat

A recent study found that women with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9 considered overweight by the National Institutes of Health had a 23 percent lower risk of dying from any cause within 12 years than women who had "normal" BMIs. Why? "Combined with regular exercise and eating right, being a little overweight may help protect the body as we age," says study coauthor Mark Kaplan, Dr.P.H. Women who don't sweat their curves may remain worry-free, and "lower stress levels and a healthy lifestyle can add up to longer life," he says. Want to dance at your 100th birthday party? Focus less on getting slim and more on being strong.

Rudeness Causes Stress and Anxiety

We usually response bad when something happened that we don't like. Though bad manners are a fact of life, responding in kind only perpetuates the cycle. P.M Forni the author of The Civility Solution says"Rudeness causes stress and anxiety". "We're social creatures, so the quality of our lives depends on the quality of our relationships and interactions." Luckily, you can diffuse a sticky situation without getting walked all over.

* Don't Take It Personally "If someone lashes out at you, you're probably just in the wrong place at the wrong time," says Forni. Respond calmly and if it helps, think of rude comment as a package you can return unopened.

* Watch Your Vibe "People often match the behaviors of others" says Forni. So if you listen, have empathy, and smile, they're more likely to act the same way toward you.

* Be Friendly "It's harder to be aggressive with an acquaintance than it is with a stranger," says Forni. If you move into a new home, introduce yourself to your neighbors on the first day. A simple wave and hello will do wonders.

More Dairy, Less Fat

According to the journal Nutrition & Metabolism reports, having dairy may let you scarf more calories without packing on pounds. People who'd recently lost weight followed a maintenance diet that included either one daily or the recommended three. Those who downed the full quota consumed 13 percent more calories a day on average but maintained their weight as well as those who ate less. Credit the combo of calcium and leucine, an amino acid that promotes fat burning, says study author Michael B. Zemel, Ph.D., of the University of Tennessee.

More Reasons to Take a Nap

As a parent we all tell our kids to take a nap everyday but for us to take a nap is sometimes impossible to do. Not because we don't want to but because our schedule get busier and busier as we grow old. We should at least try yo take a nap if we can or if we manage to do it for several reasons. A nap of 20-90 minutes before 4 p.m. can increase our mental performance, reduce our chances of gaining weight and enhance our libido. Science has proven that naps sharpen our thinking, increase our productivity, increase sex drive, regenerate skin cells for younger looking skin, help in weight loss, lower our risk of cardiovascular problems, help fight stress and reduce or eliminate altogether the need for caffeine, alcohol or other drugs to manipulate our mood and energy level. All in all naps are good for us, so try to grab one when you can.

Prevent Acid Reflux

Have you experienced heartburn? Most of us experienced heartburn at one time or another. Researchers at King's College London have found chewing gum is an easy way to help prevent this uncomfortable condition. By popping a piece of gum after a meal you increase your production of saliva. The alkaline in the saliva helps to neutralize stomach acid. More saliva also means more swallowing, an act that stimulates the muscle contractions that help to digest food. Keep a pack of sugarless gum in your bag or car for an easy solution to that nasty feeling so that you can get on with your life.

White Tea

According to new research, it shows that compared with other types of tea, white tea contains more caffeine and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). These are chemicals that scientists believe break down fat cells and prevent new ones from forming.

Take A Deep Breath

The standard advice for soothing stress is to take a deep breath. It appears to help you in more ways than one. A new study in the journal Allergy found that feeling pressured or anxious raises your risk of developing asthma threefold. Chronic stress may heighten the immune system's response to allergens, which causes lung inflammation, say researchers. A few minutes of slow, rhythmic breathing will keep you calm and centered when things get crazy.

Lower Cholesterol

After your doctor warned you about your cholesterol that doesn't mean you need to cut your fat intake, it may not be the best prescription for you, according to a new study in the Journal of Nutrition. People with normal or low levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, did see greater improvement in their cholesterol levels while on a lowfat diet (i.e., 31 percent of their calories came from fat). Those with high CRP levels experienced a bigger cholesterol drop when they ate a little extra healthy fat (36 percent of calories). Researchers suspect inflammation may interfere with the body's absorption of cholesterol. Unsaturated fats such as those found in certain oils and nuts, have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body. If you have high cholesterol, talk to your doctor about getting a CRP test.

Healthier Hotel Stay

There are many people who stays in hotel rooms whether they travel for pleasure or for work they need to know that there are many hotel rooms that are contaminated with germs and bedbugs even luxury hotels. To protect yourself, better safeguard yourself with these three important moves.

1. Wipe Down The Remote. A study from University of Virginia found that even after a routine room cleaning, hotel remote controls, light switches, faucets and telephones can still harbor cold- and flu-causing viruses for a day. Before you settle in, scrub those surfaces with an antibacterial wipe.
2. Do A Mattress Check. Dale Kemery, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Agency says "To ensure your room is free of bedbugs, peel back the sheets and look for telltale small, rust-colored stains,"
3. Slip On Flip-Flops. Padding around the bathroom or shower barefoot can result in a bad case of athlete's foot. Also avoid using the whirlpool bath; although it's tempting, it may expose you to the microorganisms that cause urinary tract infections and rashes.

Simple things mentioned above can protect you from any unwanted diseases. Next time you rent a hotel room do what it says above.

More Benefits of Green Tea

Brush, floss, rinse are simple things we do to take care our teeth. Now you can add "sip green tea" to the list of ways you can protect your smile. A study from Japan's Kyushu University found that people who had a cup or more a day showed fewer signs of gum disease, such as bleeding gums, than those who consumed less. Catechins and other antioxidants in tea may inhibit the growth of infection-causing bacteria, say researchers. So start brewing up some benefits today.

Health Facts

LIFESPAN

1=2

Every hour spent exercising vigorously adds two hours to an adult's lifespan.

Source: Understanding Healthcare, MuscleMag

10 YEARS

That's how much younger you'll be at cellular level when you remain physically active.

Source: Archives of Internal Medicine (Jan. 2008), MuscleMag