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The use of fragrance in products is on the rise -- and so is the number of people affected by them. WebMD offers ways to protect yourself if you're sensitive to scents. In this article by Colette Bouchez, she discusses the rise in the number of people that have fragrance allergies and some suggestions on how to help others with this sensitivity. Do any of these scenarios sound familiar? You catch a whiff of a co-worker's new fragrance, and within minutes, you have a whopper of a headache. You pop open that new bottle of dish-washing liquid, and by the time you've washed the pots and pans, … [Read more...] about Fragrance Allergies: A Sensory Assault

Will that be a pizza for you or will you go for a salad? Choosing what you eat is not simply a matter of taste, conclude scientists in a new study at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital of McGill University and the McGill University Health Centre. As you glance over a menu or peruse the shelves in a supermarket, your brain is making decisions based more on a food's caloric content. The study, published in Psychological Science, is based on brain scans of healthy participants who were asked to examine pictures of various foods. Participants rated which foods they would like to … [Read more...] about Why your brain makes you reach for junk food

  So if you have not been living under a rock or in a cave (pun intended), you have probably heard about the Paleo diet. It is one of the hottest new diet plans on the market. The Paleo diet is a modern nutrition plan based on the presumed diet of Paleolithic humans. The diet is based on several theories: (1) That human genetics have changed only slightly since the end of the Paleolithic era and the dawn of agriculture. (2) That we as modern humans have adapted to the diet of the Paleolithic era. (3) With current science and technology, we are able to distinguish what the Paleolithic … [Read more...] about Paleo Diet Guide – Should You Eat Like a Caveman or Not?

Men with a specific pattern of baldness at age 45 have a 40% increased risk of later developing aggressive prostate cancer, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Increasingly, evidence is suggesting that both prostate cancer and male pattern baldness are linked to increased levels of androgens (male sex hormones) and androgen receptors. In 2013, Medical News Today reported on a study from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, who found that African-American men who experience baldness were 69% more likely to develop prostate cancer … [Read more...] about Specific baldness pattern linked with increased prostate cancer risk

For those who are diabetic or dieting, you may think artificial sweeteners are your best friend. They allow you to get the taste of sugar from foods and beverages without the elevated blood sugar levels or calories. But a new study suggests this may not be the case; artificial sweeteners could actually promote obesity and diabetes. The research team, including Eran Elinav of the Department of Immunology at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, recently published their findings in the journal Nature. Discovered more than a century ago, artificial sweeteners are now found in an … [Read more...] about Could artificial sweeteners promote diabetes and obesity?

Running as little as 30 to 60 minutes per week — or perhaps just 5 to 10 minutes per day — could greatly reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, a new study suggests. And it’s not even important how fast you run, researchers reported Monday in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. In fact, researchers found that compared to non-runners, runners of any kind had a 30 percent lower risk of death from all causes and a 45 percent lower risk of death from heart attack or stroke. “Our study showed that only fairly small doses of running were needed to produce these profound … [Read more...] about Run for Your Life: 5 Minutes a Day May Be All You Need

Does physical activity show signs of a tomato effect? You might rightly ask: “What’s a tomato effect?” The tomato effect is a term used to describe a phenomenon whereby highly efficacious therapies are either ignored or rejected. Generally, the reason for this is that the therapies don't seem to make sense in light of popular beliefs or common understandings. A tomato effect, however, can also occur if people simply ignore the evidence available. For example, the use of aspirin to reduce the pain, swelling, and stiffness of rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by a tomato effect. Why? At the … [Read more...] about Does Physical Activity Show Signs of a Tomato Effect?

It’s time for your kiddos to get back into the classroom and hit the books. As parents, you can help ensure a successful year by developing a regular schedule and teaching your kids healthy habits. But transitioning them from the laissez-faire attitude of summer to a disciplined routine isn’t always easy. Still, with just a little planning, you can implement these five healthy habits so your child can start the school year off on the right foot. 1. Develop a proper sleep schedule. Studies have found that when children don’t get enough sleep, it can affect their school performance. Research … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Prepare for a Healthier Back-to-School