Why too much stress makes your memory worse as you age

Forgot your keys? High levels of stress worsen memory

Scientists claim to have solved the mystery of how stress contributes to memory loss in old age.

Researchers at Edinburgh University have shown how two receptors in older brains react to the stress hormone cortisol, which has been linked to memory loss in the elderly.

The study found that one receptor was activated by low levels of cortisol, which helped memory.

However, once levels of the hormone were too high they spilled over on to a second receptor, activating brain processes which contribute to memory impairment.

When the receptor linked to poor memory was blocked, the memory recall problem was reversed.

The experiment based on older mice navigating a maze, was published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

The research helps explain why too much stress over a prolonged period interferes with the normal processes in storing everyday memories.

This is despite the fact that a little bit of stress can help us better remember emotional memories.

Dr Joyce Yau said: 'While we know that stress hormones affect memory, this research explains how the receptors they engage with can switch good memory to poorly-functioning memory in old age.'

She added that understanding the mechanisms in the brain, which affect memory as we age, will help find ways to combat conditions linked to memory loss.

The study was funded by the Medical Research Council. 

Professor Chris Kennard, of the MRC, said: 'This research highlights some interesting, original concepts relating to why memory loss occurs in old age.

'With people living ever longer, the MRC is really focussing on research which allows elderly people not just to survive, but also to stay healthy.'

The researchers are looking at a new chemical compound which blocks an enzyme, known as 11beta-HSD1, which helps produce stress hormones within cells.

They hope this could be used to develop a drug treatment to slow the normal decline in memory associated with ageing, or even improve memory in people who are very old.

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9 Best High-Protein SnackS

Busy men are always looking for nutritious snacks to eat when they are on the go. Unfortunately, many of you end up grabbing high-carb, high-fat and low-protein convenience store snacks, which are terrible nutritional choices.

Although the opinions of experts vary greatly as to how much protein men should consume on a daily basis, the generally accepted figure is one gram of protein per 2.2 pounds of body weight. Therefore, a 180-pound man should get about 82 grams of protein in his diet each day.

If you're one of the many men who doesn't manage to meet this minimum requirement, or if you're simply looking for some alternative nutritious snack ideas, read on: The following nine high-protein snacks require little preparation and are generally low in both carbohydrates and fat.

1. Beef jerky
Believe it or not, this old classic is actually a healthy choice. On average, one ounce contains about 70 calories and one gram of fat, but delivers 11 grams of protein. However, the brands sold in convenience stores are often high in salt. If you'd like beef jerky to be one of your high-protein snack options, look for healthier versions in health food stores.

2. Egg whites
One egg white has only 15 calories, is fat- and cholesterol-free and contains four grams of protein. Throw two or three in a pan (with some peppers and onions if you want to make an omelet) for a quick, nutritious mini-meal.

3. Cottage cheese and fruit
A half cup of 2 percent cottage cheese contains on average 16 grams of protein, yet only has 102 calories and two grams of fat (as opposed to other types of cheese, which can be extremely high in fat). If high protein isn't your ideal goal, then mix it with some fresh fruit for a fast, healthy snack.

4. Tuna
Tuna is a great source of protein with approximately 25 grams per can. Plus, one can of tuna in water contains approximately 111 calories and is fat-free. And hey, go easy on the mayonnaise if you're making a sandwich -- it's full of fat.

5. Protein bars
Although there are hundreds of varieties on the market, keep in mind that all protein bars are not created equal. Obviously, protein bars should be a high-protein snack, but be careful and avoid bars that are high in carbohydrates and fat. A good choice is Designer Whey Protein Bars: Each 75-gram bar contains a full 30 grams of protein, with only six grams of carbs and five grams of fat.

6. Shakes
As with protein bars, many commercial protein shakes and powders can be high in carbohydrates. Advanced Protein, which delivers 20 grams of protein, two grams of fat and only two grams of carbs per scoop, is perfect for guys who work out.

You can also make your own high-protein shake without protein powder. Blend the following ingredients:
2 cups natural soy milk (Make sure it doesn't have any added sugar. The only ingredients should be soy and distilled water.)
3 egg whites
1 banana (Or another fruit of your choice.)
1 tbsp natural peanut butter (It only contains peanuts and oil -- no preservatives -- available in health food stores and some grocery stores.)
2 tbsps flax powder (Or 2 tsps flax seed oil.)
1/3 cup rolled oats

7. Lentils
Although they may not seem appetizing on their own, putting a handful of them in your soup or salad will give your snack a protein boost. One cup of lentils has about 230 calories, one gram of fat and 18 grams of protein.

8. Peanut butter
If you loved peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as a kid, you're in luck: one tablespoon contains about four grams of protein, eight grams of fat and 95 calories. For an energy boost, spread it on a slice of whole-wheat bread (60 calories and one gram of fat) and top it with banana slices.

9. Oatmeal
According to Aubyn Garstang, a certified personal trainer, many men who train hard favor oatmeal for its balance of protein and good carbohydrates, which gives them the energy necessary to make it through an intense workout. One packet of instant oatmeal has about five grams of protein, 105 calories and two grams of fat. You can eat it alone or add some cinnamon to the mix.
a question of balance

No matter how busy you are, it's really not that difficult to eat nutritious, high-protein snacks. If you keep a few cans of tuna and some eggs in your fridge at all times, you'll have some healthy alternatives to fatty junk foods like chips and chocolate bars.

However, keep in mind that your body does need a certain amount of carbohydrates, which is the main source of energy for working muscles and other bodily functions. Therefore, you shouldn't try to eliminate carbs completely, especially if you work out.

The key is to eat a balanced diet that includes lean protein, minimally refined carbs (whole grain pasta, whole grain rice), simple carbs (raw fruits and vegetables), and a small amount of fat in order to provide your body with all the nutrients and energy needed to function at your best capacity.

VIA : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/04/21/best-high-protein-snacks/?test=chol

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6 Top Health Myths

An old wives’ tale, an urban legend -- call it what you will, but you’ve all heard them. Be it from your mom when you were ill, from your friends while sitting around a campfire, or from a story you’ve been told about an unbelievable hangover cure, they usually are just that -- unbelievable. 

More often than not, these health myths are rooted in superstition, folklore or paranoia, and often fail to have even a wisp of truth to them. They continue to pervade through society even now, giving overactive imaginations something to worry about. Their effects are often far-reaching, particularly in terms of medicine and home remedies, but they can actually become quite dangerous. We'll dispel some of the health myths and also see if the age-old adage is true: Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

A word of advice, though: If you are concerned about your health in any way, don’t rely on what anyone tells you other than your doctor; even then, if you aren’t sure, get a second opinion.

1. Cold weather will give you a cold

Verdict: False
You’ve been out and got caught in the rain. Shivering and soaked, you feel cold right down to your bones. You’ve plunged into a hot bath as soon as you got home and didn't feel warm till the next day. Somehow you just feel like you’re actually getting ill while it’s happening -- but you are wrong.

Both cold and flu are caused by infections, usually by people sneezing or touching their nose with their hands and transferring germs to an object that you then touch (a door handle, for example, or a newspaper). The most common way a cold is transferred is by a handshake. People would argue that when you’re cold, your immune system is less effective at fighting these germs and, thus, you are more likely to catch a cold. But again, this is false. Tests have shown that you are just as likely to pick up a cold in the balmy heat of the tropics as you are in Alaska.

2. Feed a cold, starve a fever

Verdict: True
The earliest mention of this health myth was way back in 1574, when a dictionary writer named John Withals wrote “Fasting is a great remedie of feuer.” Modern doctors believe the theory was based around food, as fuel warms you up while liquid cools you down from the inside, bringing your temperature down. You’ll probably remember this one from when you were growing up, and it turns out, in this case, that your mom, grandma or aunt was right.

Scientists in Holland in 2002 set up small-scale tests that were based around dietary intake and discovered some interesting results: The different approaches (liquid-only diet, water-only diet and regular food) activated different types of immune cell. That said, doctors now recommend that if you are hungry, you should eat and not starve yourself -- and do get yourself checked out by your doc.

3. The fatter you are, the unhealthier you are

Verdict: False
If we think about the opposite of this statement (the thinner you are, the healthier you are), we’d be a nation of anorexics. It’s pretty obvious that people who are morbidly obese are unhealthy -- but so are those at the other end of the scale, who suffer from malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies, among a host of other health problems. It’s worth pointing out that if you are eating "low-fat" products regularly, you should be checking the nutrition labels. These are usually packed with sugar, often more than regular products. Sports fans will have known this from day on. Those linebackers are just as fit as the rest of the players on the field and yet they’re about three times their size. There are, however, a number of illnesses associated with being overweight, so if you are piling on the pounds, get yourself to the gym and dismiss this health myth.

4. Radiation will give you cancer

Verdict: False
You probably didn’t know this, but you’re actually exposed to a lot more radiation than you think (just from your daily life). The truth is that radiation has been linked to cancer, but -- and it is a big "but" -- this is hugely dependent on the amount of radiation you are exposed to. The low-level dosage that we experience on a daily basis is not enough to permanently damage cells, and your body can repair them. The higher the dosage, the more damage is caused up to a point where your body is incapable of the repair.

Many foods are naturally radioactive; bananas even contain enough radiation to set off the equipment used to detect nuclear material at shipping ports. But exposure to very high levels of radiation is fatal.

5. Eating low-fat foods will make you healthy

Verdict: False
A low-fat diet and a healthy diet are not, surprisingly, one and the same. As mentioned above, low-fat foods are often deceptive, containing marginally reduced levels of fat in exchange for a high dose of sugar. You’ll often see it in the office environment: People concerned with their weight will stick with microwaved low-fat meals and never lose an ounce. If you are trying to become healthier through your diet, the rules are simple: Eat fresh, unprocessed foods. Get enough fruit and vegetables in your diet. Remember to balance. An all-protein diet might be the diet of choice for a weight lifter but not for your average Joe. You need to reduce your calorie intake (and sugars contain fats alongside calories). Eating simple, unprocessed food that you have prepared yourself is the best way to take control of your health.

6. You lose the most heat through your head

Verdict: False
Whichever body part you have exposed will cause you the highest ratio of heat loss. This myth comes from the U.S. Army in the 1970s, who decided that 40 percent to 50 percent of body heat was lost through the head. It filtered down into common belief, and that was that. Your face and head are, however, more sensitive to fluctuations in temperature, which contributed to the belief that covering them up will keep you warmer. In short, a scarf might make you feel warm and cozy, and a wool hat might make you feel snugly, but this health myth is just that -- a health myth.

via: foxnews.com

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5 Tips to Help Prevent Indigestion

Do you have bloating, gas, upset stomach, abdominal cramping, and discomfort after eating? All men occasionally get heartburn and indigestion, especially after big meals — but some of us get this digestive problem very frequently.

Indigestion is certainly common — it is estimated that almost 5 million men in the United States alone suffer from frequent indigestion.

Lack of digestive enzymes

Poor eating habits, such as inadequately chewing food, eating late in the day and "eating on the run" can wreak havoc on your digestive system by causing inadequate production of digestive enzymes.

When you eat a meal, your body releases about 22 types of digestive enzymes from the salivary gland, stomach and small intestine. Each one of these enzymes acts on specific types of food — for example, proteases break down proteins, amylases help digest carbohydrates and lipases break down fat and lipids. By breaking down these foods, these digestive enzymes help your body digest and absorb the nutrients it needs.

For men, aging can also contribute to frequent indigestion. As we get older, our bodies starts to produce lower levels of digestive enzymes — sometimes not enough to properly digest food.

There many things you can do to help prevent indigestion and improve your overall digestive health. Here are five of them:

1. Eat plenty of fiber every day

Fiber is not only key to keeping indigestion at bay, but it is essential for your overall health. Unfortunately, a lot of men's diets consist of junk and fast foods, red meat, and meals that are high in fat certainly a recipe for indigestion.

A high-fiber diet is an important part of healthy eating — in addition to helping digestion, it can also help prevent diabetes, coronary heart disease, hemorrhoids, colorectal cancer, and other diseases.

On average, American men eat only 10 to 15 grams of fiber, or half of the recommended daily intake.

Increasing your daily fiber intake is usually synonymous with eating healthier, considering vegetables, fruits, whole grain cereals, and nuts contain plenty of fiber. It doesn't even have to be painful — you can choose high-fiber cereals for breakfast, eat whole-wheat bread instead of white, and snack on air-popped popcorn instead of candy.

Avoid foods that can give you gas — these include broccoli, baked beans, cabbage, cauliflower, and carbonated drinks. For some men, starches — such as wheat, oats and potatoes — can also lead to excess gas. If you are lactose intolerant, then lay off dairy products or take lactase enzymes to help with digestion.

Also, remember to drink plenty of water, since it can lubricate food in the digestive tract, help dissolve minerals, vitamins and nutrients for easier absorption, and keep stool moist to prevent constipation.

2. Chew your food & eat less of it

Chewing is one of the most important parts of digestion, yet it is probably the most forgotten. Chewing not only helps break down food, it also signals the salivary glands, stomach and the small intestine to start releasing digestive enzymes.

On a related note, try not to overeat. Your body has only so many digestive enzymes to go around. Also, a bigger meal means that your stomach must produce more acid to help digest that food, which will increase your chances of getting heartburn and indigestion.

3. Exercise regularly & avoid stress

In addition to helping you maintain a healthy lifestyle, exercise can also help with digestion. A scientific study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology journal has shown that physical activity can actually help reduce many digestive problems. In this study, scientists found a link between obesity, lack of exercise, stomach pain, diarrhea, and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

Stress, on the other hand, can have a negative effect on your digestion. This is because, in most men, the "fight or flight" response that results from stress reduces blood flow to the abdomen and the production of digestive enzymes, and slows the digestive process, which results in heartburn, bloating and constipation.

4. Don't overuse antacids

Acids in the stomach help the body digest food — however, in some cases, these acids can "reflux" or back up into the esophagus, thus causing the burning sensation of indigestion.
When this happens, men often reach for antacids — usually an over-the-counter type that works by neutralizing stomach acids. However, when overused, antacids can cause the stomach to lose its function and leaves it vulnerable to bacterial infections.

5. Take digestive enzyme supplements

Digestive enzymes derived from plant sources can help promote good digestion and even enhance nutrient absorption. In cases where men are lacking adequate amounts of digestive enzymes due to poor diet and health, taking enzyme supplements can reduce the symptoms of indigestion and upset stomach. Even in healthy men, taking extra enzymes can help maintain digestive health.

A good digestive enzyme contains a mix of amylase, lipase, cellulase (for digesting plant fibers), and protease. This variety of enzymes is key to achieving good digestion of many foods.

Enjoy eating again

Digestive enzymes aren't silver bullets and indigestion can certainly be a symptom of a much more serious digestive disease, such as Crohn's disease, acid reflux or GERD, and irritable bowel syndrome.

So in addition to eating healthy and taking a digestive enzyme supplement, don't forget to check with your physician if you have frequent episodes of indigestion.

via : foxnews.com

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Working Long Hours? Watch Out for Your Heart

People who regularly work long hours may be significantly increasing their risk of developing heart disease, the world's biggest killer, British scientists said Monday.

Researchers said a long-term study showed that working more than 11 hours a day increased the risk of heart disease by 67 percent, compared with working a standard 7 to 8 hours a day.

They said the findings suggest that information on working hours, used alongside other factors like blood pressure, diabetes and smoking habits, could help doctors work out a patient's risk of heart disease.

However, they also said it was not yet clear whether long working hours themselves contribute to heart disease risk, or whether they act as a "marker" of other factors that can harm heart health, like unhealthy eating habits, a lack of exercise or depression.

"This study might make us think twice about the old adage 'hard work won't kill you'," said Stephen Holgate, chair of the population and systems medicine board at Britain's Medical Research Council, which part-funded the study.

The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine journal, followed nearly 7,100 British workers for 11 years.

"Working long days is associated with a remarkable increase in risk of heart disease," said Mika Kivimaki of Britain's University College London, who led the research. He said it may be a "wake-up call for people who overwork themselves."

"Considering that including a measurement of working hours in a (doctor's) interview is so simple and useful, our research presents a strong case that it should become standard practice," he said.

Cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes are the world's largest killers, claiming around 17.1 million lives a year, according to the World Health Organization(WHO). Billions of dollars are spent every year on medical devices and drugs to treat them.

The findings of this study support previous research showing a link between working hours and heart disease.

But the scientists said hard workers should not necessarily be alarmed about their heart health.

"Current evidence on (heart disease) prevention emphasizes the importance of focusing on the total risk, rather than single risk factors," Kivimaki told Reuters Health in an email.

"People who work long hours should be particularly careful in following healthy diets, exercising sufficiently and keeping their blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood (sugar) within healthy limits."

The research used data from a study called Whitehall II which has followed the health and wellbeing of more than 10,000 civil service workers in Britain since 1985.

For this study, men and women who worked full time and had no heart disease were selected, giving 7,095 participants.

The researchers collected data on heart risk factors like age, blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking and diabetes and also asked participants how many hours they worked, including work during the day and work brought home, on an average weekday.

During the 11-year study, 192 participants had heart attacks. Those who worked 11 hours or more a day were 67 percent more likely to have a heart attack than those with fewer hours.

via : foxnews.com

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Signs You're a Healthy Guy

In a society obsessed with health, it's almost impossible to escape health-related horror stories. From news of impending pandemics to symptoms of horrific diseases, health news is often tinged with a touch of fear. We spend so much time worrying about disease that we rarely ever question the flip side: What does it mean to be healthy? Thankfully, that's a question that AM can help answer. Check out the following signs to see if you are a healthy guy.

You have firm pink nails

While their probably not the first item you'd expect to see on a man's checklist of healthy markers, fingernails certainly can reveal a lot about someone's health. Generally, a healthy individual's nails will be pink, firm and smooth. Although subtle variations are common, a touch of white here or a few ripples there, any major changes in the nails should ring the alarm. Thick yellow nails that grow slowly may indicate a respiratory disease like chronic bronchitis.

Indentations across the nails, called Beau's lines, might point to diabetes, while spoon-like nails that curve outwards might be a sign of low iron. Although changes in the nails are rarely the first clue to an illness, if your nails don't appear healthy, it's best to raise this with your family doctor.
Your urine is the color of a manila folder

Ever think of checking your pee to see if you're healthy? If not, perhaps it's time you start since your urine may reveal important clues about your health. Preferably, your urine should be the color of a manila file folder — a pale yellow. You can take that as a sign that you’re a healthy guy. However, normal urine can vary in shades of yellow depending on how much water you drink. If you drink a lot of fluids your urine will likely be clear (and medically, that's no problem). If, however, you're dehydrated, your urine will have a dark, brownish tinge like ice tea. Beyond simple shades, be keen to notice any other major changes. A sweet smell, odd odor, a drop of red, or some other color change that seems unrelated to any food, medication or supplement you've recently consumed should not be ignored.

via : foxnews.com

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Tape Technology May Diagnose Melanoma Quicker

Tape has many useful purposes. It can help with wrapping presents, fixing a hole or hanging up a poster. Now, the sticky adhesive may have the potential to detect skin cancer. Instead of cutting samples of skin that could be malignant, there’s a new tape-stripping product on the horizon that could prevent painful incisions at the dermatology office.

The tape, based on EGIR™ technology (Epidermal Genetic Information Retrieval), takes surface level cells from the skin to check if there are any problems. While the tape is not currently being used on patients, it would make detecting melanoma easier.

“Tape stripping is like taking a small piece of scotch tape and literally stripping the mole or a lesion of concern,” said Dr. Orit Markowitz, assistant professor of dermatology at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. “It's a non- invasive way of looking at skin. You're not cutting. It's not painful to the patient.”

The very thin layer of skin left on the tape, what simply falls off naturally, is sent to a pathology lab to look at its genetic makeup and to determine if further testing or a biopsy should take place.

“This gives you more confidence before you go ahead and biopsy or potentially prevent something that doesn't need to be biopsied from being biopsied,” Markowitz said.

Melanoma, something the tape checks for, is a skin cancer most associated with too much sun, but is also prevalent in areas of the skin not exposed to the sun.

“Melanoma is the deadliest, most preventable, both skin cancer and cancer, in the sense that it's preventable,” Markowitz said. “If you protect yourself from the sun, you're at a much lower risk of developing a much more frequent type of melanoma, which is associated with sun exposure.”

According to the American Cancer Society’s website, 68,130 new cases of melanoma are detected each year, and 8,700 people die from it each year in the U.S.

According to Markowitz, those with fair skin, eyes, and hair, those who have a family history of skin cancer, and those who have numerous moles, are at a greater risk at getting melanoma.

The new tape-stripping technology makes determining whether or not a patient has melanoma quicker and more efficient. While the method has been looked at for a few years now, its recent success rates in determining the presence of melanoma prove to dermatologists and patients that the procedure has promise.

“It's just like taking a little scotch tape and touching something with it,” said Markowitz, who is optimistic about future use of the tape. “Anything that can help us diagnose melanoma early or give us more confidence when we're looking at a lesion that is benign that it is in fact benign, is something that dermatologists are going to be very excited about.”

Currently, dermatologists will closely examine areas of concern on a patient’s skin, taking pictures and cutting skin samples for further evaluation. If something does appear to be irregular or cancerous, a biopsy may occur to remove the lesion.

While this new tool is useful for understanding how concerned a patient should be about a patch of skin, it does not eliminate the need for biopsies. If, for example, an area is determined to have melanoma, it should still be biopsied to find out its depth and severity.

Avoiding any type of physical incision when testing for skin cancer at the dermatology office is something patients look forward to.

“Not having to cut your skin is always going to be a plus,” said one patient, Kim Dooley of New York City. “It just seems a lot less sort of scary. It's like, ‘Oh, just tape it, and send it away.’ It’s a lot better than having to do the shot and the scalpel, and all that sort of thing, so I think it would be great.”

via: http://foxnews.com

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