Carrying This Very Surprising Item Can Improve Your Workouts!

I have a list of things I must keep on my person when I work out--especially when I run. Do you? Keys, ID, baseball cap, phone (plus, you know, the obvious things like clothes and shoes). But according to research from the Stanford University School of Medicine, there might be another great item to tote along...

...a cold bottle. Keying off earlier studies, which found that athletes who wore cooling vests were less tired and performed better, the Stanford researchers recruited women who qualified as "obese" to walk on treadmills and perform other exercise, like lunges. Some of the women held special cooling devices in their hands. The women outfitted with the devices had better attendance rates for the exercise sessions--and had significantly better workouts, going faster and longer on the treadmills. They also noticed more improvements in blood pressure, heart rate and waist size than women without the devices.
To get the same effect, the researchers say, freeze a bottle of water and carry it with you while you exercise. Couldn't hurt, right? I'm thinking the bonus would be that the ice would melt enough by the end of your workout to give you a supercold drink--refreshing!

Could Getting Tipsy REALLY Make You More Creative?

There's a quote from Ernest Hemingway that I love: "Write drunk; edit sober." (I did not learn of this quote in any of my English or writing classes. I learned this from Pinterest. Can you believe it?) I'm not much of a drinking-while-writing type--pretty sure I'd end up using my keyboard as a pillow--but it looks like science is actually backing up Hemingway.

Hemingway's not alone, of course. There are plenty of artists who have called on the bottle (and other things) when they were writing, painting, composing, or drawing when they wanted some creative inspiration. Now, a new study in Consciousness and Cognition is showing that alcohol may actually help creative problem-solving. In other words: it really could get you thinking more creatively.
In the study, researchers gave half of the participants (all men) vodka and cranberry cocktails; the other half teetotaled it. Everyone watched Ratatouille (this is sounding like an awesome party!) and then had to answer a series of word-association problems. The drunk guys--who had blood alcohol contents of 0.075 (just under the legal limit)--solved the problems more quickly and correctly than the sober guys.
Plus, the vodka-swilling men solved the problems more intuitively, reporting that the answers just "came to them," instead of thinking them out in specific ways.
The researchers say that, because alcohol impairs "executive function," it may help free up parts of the mind to deal with problems in a more creative way. This opens up other questions, according to TIME's Healthland: "Perhaps creative people are more likely than others to be attracted to drugs in the first place, as a possible source of inspiration. And then, if reduced executive function is responsible in part for their initial talent, this, too, could make them more susceptible to addiction once they start using. Having less executive control before you even take drugs means you'll have less ability to stop once you start."
Naturally, the findings come with a word of caution: "We tested what happens when people are tipsy--not when people drank to extreme. There could be no argument from these findings that drinking excessively would have the same effects," said study co-author Jennifer Wiley.

January Jones Pops Pills Made From Her Own Placenta When She Needs Energy. Would You?

January Jones got people talking with a bit of news she dropped to People.com the other day...

... that when the "Mad Men" star needs some extra energy, she takes some pills made with her own dried placenta, at the suggestion of her doula.
Says Jones: "Your placenta gets dehydrated and made into vitamins. It's something I was very hesitant about, but we're the only mammals who don't ingest our own placentas." She also says, "It's not witch-crafty or anything. ... I suggest it to all moms."
The preparation, usage, and consumption of placentas after birth is time-honored--Sarah covered the practice a few months ago and the controversy surrounding it is as big as ever. From "it's all right" to "ewww," there are a lot of opinions about it.
But traditions aside... are there any real health benefits to eating placenta (dried, cooked, or other)? According to ABCNews: "Research has shown that the afterbirth is indeed a nutrient-packed pouch, and it has been touted as a way to prevent post-partum depression and promote a fast recovery after pregnancy. There is no hard evidence that humans benefit from consuming it, though."
Hm. I wouldn't (and didn't) take part in the placenta-eating practice, but I know it has significance for a lot of women. So--I kind of think it's a "to each her own" kind of thing.

Healthy Snack Recipe: Cauliflower Crisps

While I love cauliflower, I'll admit it's not the first vegetable I'll reach for in the produce aisle or on the crudite platter. So I'm always interested when a yummy-looking recipe features the healthy veggie--and this one was no exception.

I stumbled upon this recipe for cauliflower chips at Making Healthy Choices and knew I had to try it.
It involves: one head of cauliflower (preferably organic), 1/3 cup miso paste, 2 tablespoons water, 1 teaspoon curry powder, and a pinch of sea salt. You whisk all the ingredients together, then chop up the cauliflower to little bite-sized pieces and toss them into the mix. Then, you just lay the florets onto a cookie sheet and bake in the oven at its lowest setting.
Crunchy and healthful with a bit of a spice kick--and very yum!

The Best News You'll Hear All Day: Chocolate Lovers Weigh Less!

Love chocolate? Me too! Good news for us: Chocolate lovers tend to weigh less than those who don't go for the stuff. Here's the fabulous news...

Calling all chocolate lovers! You're going to love this news: A large new study from University of San Diego researchers found that people who eat chocolate a few times a week weigh less than those who don't treat themselves to chocolate.
What's going on? The researchers are stumped, actually. But one theory seems to be that people who indulge in chocolate regularly, in moderation, use it to reward themselves for other healthy choices, such as exercise and eating right. So maybe chocolate-lovers, in general, just make better health choices? Let's mull this one for a while...

How This Smart Employer Is Tricking Workers to Eat Healthier

Why would your boss care what you eat? Because it makes you healthier and happier, which, in turn, makes you a better employee, according to much past research. Check out the strategies this mega company is using to get its employees to eat more healthfully...

Google recently revamped its workplace food service in effort to help its employees get healthier. While their strategies may sound like outright trickery, we can all learn a thing or two from them:
*Trick yourself into eating more greens: At the salad bar, we're more likely to load up on things we see first, which is why Google has placed large bins of mixed greens at the front of the bar so employees load up on greens.
*Hide the soda: If you're thirsty, reach for water first--it's the healthiest beverage (duh), which is why Google is making it harder for employees to find soda (now stocked in the back and on the lower half of the company fridges, while water is front and center.
*We don't want to hunt for our candy: Google learned that, psychologically, people get a reward response when they see candy and can grab what they want quickly. Instead, Google is keeping candy (yep, still available for employees) tucked away in bins. Interestingly, this small change has led to a 9 percent reduction in candy-eating across employees.

Crazy-Good Workout or Just Plain Crazy: Lastics

This workout testing quest has sent me up, down, around, in, out and, well...in some other I-didn't-know-my-body-bent-this-way positions. I figured Lastics would be a great way to wind down from all of my running around, but to my surprise, it was quite the workout on its own.

The Workout: Lastics is a stretching technique that's designed to increase your flexibility and body awareness. Its creator, Donna Flagg, is a trained dancer, so many of the moments come out of dance positions.
I came in expecting a guided series of stretches, which I certainly got. However, stretching muscles to warm up and stretching muscles to strengthen, tone and lengthen them is entirely different. In a carefully put-together sequence, we set up in particular positions (think alignment in yoga), and did a lot of pulling of our muscles in opposite directions. Sounds easy, right?
Um, it wasn't for me. I'm fairly flexible, and figured the whole thing would be simple enough, but I was constantly being corrected on my position. Apparently, I have a lot to learn about the way my body aligns, what a flat back or a hyperextended arm really looks and feels like...and at times, my left from my right. Honestly, I couldn't believe how bad I was at it! I'm not the kind of person who gets very self-conscious about screwing up in a fitness class, but everyone else (they'd all taken the class before!) looked so graceful and fluid that I couldn't understand why I was struggling so much.
That said, working extra-hard was a nice workout. I was a bit embarrassed that I seemed cognitively incapable of processing what was being asked of me, but once I was corrected, each position felt amazing. That was one of the things I really liked about Lastics--you know your muscles are working, because you feel the tension. And you know you're not working hard enough if you're not feeling it.
With multiple classes (or views of their DVD!) I can definitely see what a huge improvement this could make to one's form, posture and overall awareness of her body. I bet it'd be a great pick if you're in recovery from an overexertion injury; what you'll learn is as important as what you'll feel.
Intensity factor: 5, physically. Mentally, like, 95! I sore in some seriously odd places the next morning.
So, crazy-good workout or just plain crazy? It's definitely not crazy, and if you have the commitment and want strength and toning without a high-impact, fast-paced workout, this is definitely worth a try.
Do you like stretching workouts? Would you try Lastics?

Afternoon Snack: Mini Caprese Bites

Oh how we love caprese salad around here, and these cute mini bites are no exception...

How cute are these little caprese bites? Perfect snack, or a perfect party app. You can find the easy how-to over on Framed Cooks, but don't forget to drizzle with balsamic and olive oil for optimum flavor!

The Curious Case of Elisabeth Hasselbeck's Missing Belly Button

ither Elisabeth Hasselbeck was born without a belly button, or she's fallen victim to some intense retouching in a new series of fitness TV ads...

Elisabeth Hasselbeck is the spokesperson for Proform Exercise equipment, and a recent article pointed out something unusual: In one TV spot, it appears that the star doesn't have a belly button! The, reason, according to reports, is heavy-handed retouching. In effort to make her belly look absolutely perfect, someone seemed to have airbrushed out her belly button entirely. Oops!
Here's what's sort of annoying about all of this, if it's true that Elisabeth was retouched (and, for the record, I'm not blaming her for any of this): a.) we're supposed to be thinking that the product she's selling got her abs looking that fab, when we may not be seeing a real portrayal of what her tummy looks like, and b.) it sends a message to other moms that perfect abdominals post-baby are the norm, and possibly easy to obtain (FYI: anyone who's had a baby, knows that this can be one of the biggest post-baby fitness challenges!)

Massage ... What? New Study Suggests Rubbing This Body Part Increases Health

The 1 most neglected body part? Experts say it needs a little love too! In fact, if you rub it with this, you may even be healthier...

The thing you're not doing for good health? Rubbing your gums--preferably, with a bit of toothpaste.
Huh?
A new Swedish study found that people who gave themselves daily gum massages using a bit of toothpaste (and clean fingers!) increased the fluoride absorption in their teeth/mouth by as much as 400 percent and reduced cavity formation. The key here, though, was leaving the toothpaste on your teeth (and not rinsing) after the gum-and-tooth rubdown.
Have you ever given yourself a gum massage? Would you try this?

Crushed Bugs in Your Strawberry Frappucino? Well, Yes.

You love it when food makers, like Starbucks, go the natural route, right? Well, in order to ditch artificial coloring, how far is too far? Using crushed red bugs for coloring?

A Starbucks barista recently blew the whistle on the coffee-maker's use of crushed bugs for food coloring by submitting a tip to This Dish Is Veg recently. She wrote:
"I'm a vegan who currently works as a barista at a Starbucks in the midwest, and I wanted to let you guys know that the Strawberries and Cream Frappucinos and Strawberry Smoothies at Starbucks are NOT vegan," she wrote. "The strawberry sauce we use contains 'cochineal extract.' My guess would be that the recipe changed about three or four weeks ago, when our strawberry sauce got new packaging. I was hoping you guys could help get the word out there so that no vegans end up drinking this formerly vegan frappucino by mistake! Thanks."
This Dish Is Veg explains just what "cochineal extract" is: "For those wondering, cochineal extract is a red dye made out of dried female cochineal insects. And to put things in perspective, according to PETA it may take as many as 70,000 cochineal to produce 1 pound of the red dye."
What do you think? Are you cool with a food coloring that comes from bugs?

Health Controversy: Do We Drink Too Much? England May Be Changing Alcohol Guidelines

It's hard to keep up with all the news about alcohol: It's good for you! It's bad for you! Wait, it's good for you! No, it causes cancer! With all the flip-flopping and conflicting advice, the head honchos of Britain's medical boards are convening to possibly change the recommended drinking guidelines for their population. This is all making us, across the Atlantic, wonder if we should too...

When it comes to alcohol, do the guidelines for how much is too much need tweaking? Officials in England are asking that question now, especially as it seems the current guidelines in their country--no more than three units of alcohol for women, and four for men--seem a little outdated. Experts in the UK worry that these recommendations could leave people at a higher risk for diabetes, heart disease and cancer. But, the jury is still out as new research on the health benefits and consequences of alcohol seem to be always updated.
Another interesting twist: Some in England are suggesting that people don't drink everyday, as a way to give the liver a rest, and this could be part of the new guidelines in discussion (currently, there is no suggestion for no-drinking days in the UK or US's alcohol guidelines).
How often do you drink? Do you think, as a culture, we drink too much?

Healthy Snack (or Lunch!) Recipe: Quinoa-Stuffed Burritos

I've been on a quinoa kick lately. Current obsession: these quinoa cakes. But, I have a new love affair going with this idea...

My latest quinoa obsession? Using this high-protein grain as a filling for burritos, like the way the gals do over at Three Many Cooks.
Blogger Maggy Keet writes: "Since cutting back on our meat consumption, I have been looking for a way to make our weekly fajita night meat-free too. A few times I tried throwing extra vegetables into the roasting pan, but Andy and I both still felt they lacked filler - something that was healthy, but made us feel full. Since quinoa is packed with protein, I developed a quinoa-black bean fajita filler that’s flavorful and easy to make. ... These were a huge success!"

Dinner Tonight: A Fab Recipe for Pita Pizzas!

Say you're really, really tired, and out of creativity, and yet you're craving something healthy and satisfying. Make this.

Josie from Pink Parsley has the perfect dinner idea for a work night when you really, really don't want to cook: Pita Pizzas!
"I am all about quick and easy meals these days," she writes. Her solution: Pita Pizzas! "I loved them so much that I had them for lunch the next two days as well. You start with a pita--whole wheat if you're feeling healthy--and crisp them up shortly in the oven. Hummus acts as the sauce, then you can play with the toppings and add whatever you see fit. I did a combination of cherry tomatoes, onion, and kalamata olives. Sprinkle with some mozzarella and feta, then the pizzas get another brief stint in the oven to heat everything up and melt the cheese. And then the grand finale: Drizzle the whole thing with tzatziki!"

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Breakfast at Your Desk: Mix This Into Your Oatmeal for a Surprising Boost of Health

Whether you're eating oatmeal or cereal, mix in this add-in for a boost to your overall health, say researchers...

Go raisins!
Your favorite snack as a kid may help lower your blood pressure, say researchers. According to a new report, a handful of raisins (better yet, eaten three times per day) may have the power to decrease blood pressure and improve heart health. I love raisins sprinkled into oatmeal or even yogurt as a natural sweetener.

Weight Loss News: Could This Type of Coffee Beans Help You Lose Weight?

You love coffee, but if you're grinding up these types of beans in the morning, they may have a weight loss benefit, say researchers...

University of Scranton researchers report that green coffee beans may have surprising weight loss qualities. Yes, green coffee beans don't usually appear in your favorite bag of coffee, but maybe they should. Here's why: In their study, researchers found that overweight people who consumed a daily ground green coffee bean supplement lost more weight than research subjects who ate the same amount of calories but did not take the green coffee bean supplements.
The study was small, and the researchers did receive funding from a company that is looking into the antioxidant and health properties of green coffee beans, so definitely more research is needed before we get all excited about unroasted coffee beans. But still, interesting! (For anyone interested in buying green coffee beans, you can find them here.)
What's your stance on coffee: Do you feel good about drinking it, or are you always trying to cut back? Personally, after reporting on years of health research about the good benefits of coffee, I feel great about my morning (and afternoon!) cup!

Your Happiness: How Keeping a Secret Changes Your Mental Outlook

Are you keeping a secret? A big one? Is it healthy? Researchers have answers that might surprise you.

Sadly, if you're keeping a big secret, it may not only be stressful, it might actually decrease your overall happiness and make you feel physically burdened down. Researchers at Tufts University found that people keeping deep secrets (for example: the truth about one's sexual orientation or infidelity) perceived life all around them as more daunting. When researchers asked them, for instance, to gauge how steep a hill was, the secret-keepers were more likely to believe it was steeper and more insurmountable than those who weren't keeping a big secret.
So interesting!

Healthy Snack Recipe: Mediterranean Cucumber Cups

You gals know that I looooove cucumbers. And, I'm loving the idea of these little cucumber cups...

Georgia from The Comfort of Cooking hit the spot (for me, at least!) with these adorable and flavor-packed Mediterranean cucumber cups (think: feta, kalamata olives and tomatoes). Get the recipe here.
I always feel, oddly, refreshed and calmer after munching on cucumbers. Is this all in my head? Perhaps. But I'm OK with that.

Dessert Tonight! A Recipe for--Amazing--Nutella Fudge Pops

Love Nutella? I do! Yeah, it's not exactly health food, but a little goes a long way, and with just a few ingredients, you can make these beauties for dessert...

Chocolate-Covered Katie shared her amazing recipe for Nutella Fudge Pops recently, and I adore them because they just call for a smidge of Nutella, and only a few other ingredients (like bananas and cocoa powder). These look soooo good and satisfying! Making ASAP. (Somebody give this girl a cookbook contract!)

Healthy Sleep: The 1 Reason to Get at Least Six Hours a Night

Are you yawning at your desk today? If you got less than six hours of sleep last night, and this is a pretty regular thing for you, read on...

Health experts have known for a long time that sleep is key to good health--and happiness. But did you know that not getting enough sleep can also reduce your lifespan?
In a new study, British researchers say that getting less than six hours of sleep per night is associated with a higher risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure. In fact, in the 1,000 people studied, those that got less than six hours of sleep a night were twice as likely to have a stroke or heart attack 70 percent more likely to have congestive heart failure as compared to people who slept more than six hours per night.
That's a big deal! And, because it's very easy to get less than six hours a night when leading a busy life (I'm guilty!), I think this is a reminder that we all need.

How many hours do you get a night?