Do You Schedule Your Free Time? Don’t! Study Suggests It Could Make You Unhappy

Your social calendar might be sucking the joy out of activities that are supposed to be fun or relaxing, according to an upcoming paper co-written by a professor who studies time management. The paper argues that when a leisure activity is planned rather than spontaneous, we enjoy it less. That’s because we tend to mentally lump all our scheduled activities in the same bucket – whether it’s a dentist appointment or grabbing coffee with a friend. And that makes the pleasurable activities more of a chore. “It becomes a part…

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Did You Know: Jet Lag Can Affect More Than Just Your Sleep Cycle

Jet lag can put the brakes on the most exciting vacations. Almost everyone who has ever flown across time zones knows what it feels like. The experience ranks somewhere between eating day-old cooked oatmeal and nursing a hangover. These food and drink metaphors aren’t just a coincidence. Jet lag, it turns out, affects more than our sleep; it affects our internal organs as well. Given what is known about the importance of intestinal bacteria (called the microbiome) and their connection to immune function and well-being, it’s clear that any discussion…

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Parenthood Is A Rollercoaster Ride, Prepare Yourself For It With Your Kids

Parenthood comes with countless surprises. Most involve bodily fluids. Like, for instance, the sudden lack of opportunities for Mom and Dad to sweat. “We both used to get up in the morning and just go exercise,” explains Amanda Holliday, a dance fitness teacher whose son was born in 2016. “That’s not happening anymore.” Even if it’s possible to tote the kid along for a workout, there’s a lot more to consider beyond your number of reps — and a lot more to cram into your gym bag. And although it…

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Wish To Keep Your Brain Healthy? Take Care Of Your Heart First

It turns out maintaining low blood pressure does not just help prevent heart attacks — it can also keep your mind sharp. Research presented Wednesday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Chicago found that at-risk people whose blood pressure was kept lower than the recommended level had a significant reduction in mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the precursor to dementia. The research was part of the federally funded Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), a large-scale, long-term clinical study that also measured the effects of lower blood pressure on cardiovascular…

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White rice and diabetes are not natural fits. Keep these diet tips in mind

Though some might argue that brown rice is a more healthy alternative, white rice is a more popular and preferred foodgrain across India, especially its eastern regions. White rice is a good source of carbohydrates and the better half of many delectable food combos like dal-chaawal, rajma-chawal, biryaanis, pulao, and so on. However, experts say that the calories in white rice can spike blood sugar levels, and excessive consumption could increase the risk of developing type-2 diabetes. White rice is a good source of carbohydrates and the better half of many delectable food combos like…

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Anorexia nervosa can alter your brain’s response to taste

Anorexia nervosa — an eating disorder that makes people obsessive about their weight — could alter the brain circuit and impact the taste-reward processing mechanisms, especially for sugar, a study has found.While most people like sweet-tasting things, those with eating disorders associate the taste with weight gain and try to avoid it. The study showed that the brain activation among the anorexia group was inversely connected with any pleasant experience of eating sugar. Those who are already worried about shape and weight become even more concerned. And a strong response that says “feed me” might be…

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