When it comes to intelligence, one of the most controversial ongoing debates is whether gender affects intelligence – in other words, who is the smarter sex, men or women?

Research indicates that men’s brains and women’s brains are in fact different.  Men and women have different structures and wiring in the brain, and they may also use their brains differently.

Men do score better at tasks that involve orienting objects in space, while women do better at language tests.

Scientists have known for a while now that men and women have slightly different brains, but for many years they thought the changes were limited to the hypothalamus — the part of your brain that controls sex drive and food intake.

Researchers have confirmed that sizes of certain parts of the brain are different in men and women. Part of the frontal lobe, responsible for problem-solving and decision-making, and the limbic cortex, responsible for regulating emotions, are larger in women. In men, the parietal cortex is bigger.  This area of the brain is involved in space perception. The Theamygdala, which regulates sexual and social behavior, is also larger in men than women.

Men also have approximately 6.5 times more gray matter in the brain than women, and women have about 10 times more white matter than men do. This difference may account for differences in how men and women think — gray matter is full of active neurons, while white matter consists more of connections between the neurons.

Nonetheless, the average IQ scores are the same for both men and women.

So who is the smarter sex?  The jury is still out.  So for the time being, the battle of the sexes continues!

Healthy Choice Naturals

The holidays are over and the New Year is almost upon us.  New Years is not only a time to look back at the past, it’s a time to reflect on the future.  It’s also a time to focus on your health and well being.  Have you made your resolutions for the New Year?

Here is a list of top 8 Healthy Resolutions for the New Year:

1. Get Fit
   It’s a fact. Exercise keeps you healthy and makes you look and feel better.  Regular exercise has been associated with more health benefits than anything else known to man. Studies show that it reduces the risk of some cancers, increases longevity, helps achieve and maintain weight loss, enhances mood, and reduces blood pressure to name just a few.
2. Lose Weight
   Over 66 percent of adult Americans are considered overweight or obese by recent studies, so it is not surprising to find that weight loss is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions. Setting reasonable goals and staying focused are the two most important factors in sticking to a weight loss program.
3. Quit Smoking
   Smoking is the biggest health threat out there,” says Nancy Davidson, MD, president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.  If you do smoke, stop; and if you don’t smoke, don’t start. There are several treatment options available to help you quit: support groups, nicotine replacement therapy or other medications to help stop smoking.
4. Stop Drinking
   Many people use the New Year to take the initiative to stop drinking; however most are not prepared to make such a drastic lifestyle change all at once. If you have decided that you want to stop drinking, there are several support groups available for help.
5. Enjoy Your Life
   Given the hectic, stressful lifestyles of millions of Americans, it is no wonder that “enjoying life more” has become a popular resolution in recent years. It’s an important step to a happier and healthier you!
6. Take Care of Your Teeth
   More than 40% of Americans avoid going to the dentist. You should have a professional cleaning and have your dentist check for tooth decay and gum disease.  If you don’t, the cost could be your teeth.
7. Protect Your Bones
   Be sure to take your daily calcium to ensure your long-term bone health. Eat foods rich in calcium — such as milk, yogurt, and broccoli — or take calcium supplements. Women should be getting at least 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day, along with vitamin D, depending on their age.
8. Eye Checks
   Almost 30% of 1,000 people surveyed by the American Optometric Association indicated they don’t get their eyes checked by an eye doctor or an eye care specialist at least every two years. That might explain why 3 million Americans today are living with undiagnosed glaucoma.

Try to choose resolutions that are realistic and set goals that are achievable. Most importantly, try to make changes in your life that will lead you to a happier, healthier life.  Bottom line is to make a change for the better in the coming New Year.

Healthy Choice Naturals

Several hospitals across the U.S. are pushing doctors to fully disclose their financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry, in order to help patients determine whether their doctors are making money from drug and device companies they prescribe.

One of the nations’ leading medical centers, The Cleveland Clinic, announced this week their plans to fully disclose all of its doctors’ and scientists’ financial ties with pharmaceutical companies and medical device makers.  The information will soon be available on their Web site, www.clevelandclinic.org.

The CEO of the Cleveland Clinic sited the reason for the disclosure.  “Over time, it came to our attention that we did not want patients concerned that we were making decisions based on the basis of something other than what was in their best interest.”  Since many of us have relationships with the industry to help foster new and improved drugs, we thought we could eliminate potential conflicts of interest by being absolutely transparent about those issues.”

Many experts are praising the clinic for leading the way, arguing that doctors’ treatment decisions may be influenced by the large sums of money provided to them by companies in the form of speaking and consulting fees, drug royalties and equities.

Many doctors are in support of the move as well.  “It builds trust among our colleagues in relation to research and our patients for us to be transparent,” stated Dr. Daniel Hayes, clinical director at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Hopefully this disclosure will set a precedent that many others will follow.  This recent move supports the growing concern regarding patient’s health care and the potential conflicts of interest that exist as doctors receive gifts and other payments from drug companies which may persuade a doctor’s decision as to which drug to prescribe or which medical devise to choose.

Healthy Choice Naturals

We all experience an occasional bothersome headache, but according to the Mayo Clinic, about 4 percent to 5 percent of U.S. adults suffer from chronic headaches.  The most commonly reported headache is the tension headache which accounts for 75%- 90% of people who complain of frequent headaches.

Some experts believe they stem from contracted muscles, while others believe they’re related to changes in your brain chemicals, such as serotonin, endorphins and others, which help your nerves communicate.

Fortunately, these types of headaches aren’t usually a sign of something serious. Instead, tension-type headaches are usually related to lifestyle factors that you can affect.

Some of the most common causes of tension headaches include:

1. Stress
2. Lack of sleep
3. Grinding your teeth
4. Depression and anxiety
5. Hunger
6. Stiff neck
7. Hormonal changes related to menstruation, menopause, pregnancy or hormone use
8. Overexerting yourself
9. Sleeping in an awkward position
10. Eye strain
11. Fatigue
12. Smoking
13. Alcohol
14. Colds, flu or sinus infections

Tension headaches can occur at any time and can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a full week.

Ways to Prevent, and Relieve Tension Headaches

Changes to your lifestyle are the best lines of defense to prevent or minimize tension headaches.

Suggestions for headache relief include:

• Manage your stress levels. Schedule regular times to de-stress during your day by meditating, deep breathing, reading or taking a long walk.
• Start stretching– Regular stretching is well known to help relieve pain, including headache pain.
• Look for triggers –Watch out for signs of something you might do regularly that might set off your headache. Did you have a double espresso? It may be the caffeine. Did you walk by a perfume counter? You may be sensitive to fragrances?
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet—Eating a well balanced with fruits and vegetables is one of the most important things you can do to manage tension headaches.
• Get enough sleep –Most adults need an average of 7-9 hours sleep a day.
• Exercise – Is well known to reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches.  Exercise may even help to relieve the pain of a tension headache in progress.
• Stand up Straight –Improving your posture will help to keep strain on your muscles, tendons and bones to a minimum.

Some Headaches May Be Serious?

Most headaches do not signal an underlying illness, but in some cases headaches can be related to serious conditions.  You should see your physician if you experience any of the following:

• Have headaches that are severe and come on suddenly
• Have fever, a stiff neck, mental confusion, numbness, weakness or double vision along with your headache
• Are over the age of 50 and start to experience headache pain you’ve never felt before
• Get headaches from coughing, moving quickly or straining
• Have a headache after a head injury

Microwaves have become a standard appliance in most American households.  They are a quick and convenient way to cook or re-heat just about anything, and the nutritional value of microwaved food is higher than foods cooked by any other method.  But did you know microwaving foods in plastic containers may percolate chemicals into your food and decompose them, which can take away all the benefits?

Many prepared foods come in plastic microwavable containers.  Recently, concerns about the safety of eating foods cooked in microwavable plastic containers have been raised. To analyze the problem, you need to understand which plastics are considered microwave-safe.

Plastics are classified 1 to 7, according to recycling types. Of these, numbers 1, 2 and 5 are considered safe and free from BPA (Bisphenol A). BPA retards growth and causes neurological defects in humans. However, don’t assume that even these plastics are microwave-safe. Some of the microwave-safe labeled plastics have been found to contain traces of BPA.

Another concern is the use of plastic wraps which have been found to contain diethilhexyl adipate (DEHA). This is added to make the plastic wrap pliable. However, when food is heated with these plastic wraps in close contact with the food, it permeates into the fatty portion of the food, and can taint the food. If you use plastic wraps while microwaving, make sure that there is at least a one inch gap between the food and the wrap.

There is currently no regulation in place for ‘Microwave-safe’ labeling for plastics. Even those labeled microwave-safe have been found to melt, leach and decompose foods.

So what is the best and safest way to heat foods in your microwave?  The best choice is to use glassware and ceramics. Most of the glass containers are safe for microwaving and the same goes for ceramics. Until research about plastic safety proves otherwise, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Healthy Choice Naturals