Reality Check by Dave Whamond: Choose BLT ...

Reality Check by Dave Whamond: Ask your Doctor ...

Reality Check By Dave Whamond: Doc, It's the Only Way ...

Reality Check By Dave Whamond: The FDA ...

http://www.gocomics.com/realitycheck

Comedy: Hitler's Trip To Yorkshire Is Ruined In This Latest 'Downfall' Parody

Yes, it's another Hitler 'Downfall' video. But we like this one because it's a) British and b) very funny. (Warning: it's also very, very sweary.)

The Führer was expecting a nice trip to God's own county. But instead, he's off to... well, watch the video and find out.

The Huffington Post UK

Posted: 11/09/2014 14:25 BST

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/09/11/hitlers-trip-to-yorkshire_n_5803494.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItcedKDZF0E

MUST WATCH - Ultimate Dog Tease - Video

This post is on Healthwise

Clarke G
In what is one of the most popular pet clips of all time, this owner has an 'actual' conversation with his dog about all of the delicious meats that are in the fridge. Getting the dog excited beyond belief, he lays down a bombshell on him that would be the pinnacle of frustration for any dog.



http://faithtap.com/1663/dog-and-owner-have-conversation-about-food/


Also see this:

• Two Dogs Dining - You Will Love This Video!

Go to Healthwise for more articles

Twenty Things worth knowing about Beer

Mighty is the meek

Posted on 9 December 2013

Nury Vittachi



THE OTHER DAY, I overheard a powerful European feminist lecturing a tiny Asian woman on the importance of resisting male oppression.

The Asian female, a friend of mine, nodded politely. Then she went back to her full-time job, which is to torture and humiliate men.

As head nurse of a male hospital ward, she has the interpersonal skills of the Marquis de Sade, although she has more imagination and better tools.

Funny how Asian women have the image of being meek. In truth, they are quiet only in the way landmines are quiet.

A female colleague called Putri once told me there are three rules in the Asian version of the battle of the sexes.

The women are in charge.

 The men think they are in charge.

 If any man realises the truth, the nearest woman will order him to return to his previous mindset.

This arrangement is neatly demonstrated by a joke I first heard in Sri Lanka.

A young bachelor asks a married woman the secret of a happy marriage.

She replies: “I deal with the small questions of life and I let my husband deal with the big ones.”

The surprised bachelor asks: “You’re okay with that?”

The wife nods: “I decide where we live, how we spend our money and how to raise the children, and he deals with the big stuff such as what is the meaning of life.”

This is so true.

In Asia, women have traditionally controlled family finances, with men being given back a small amount of their earnings to buy beer, arak, beer, newspapers, beer, cigarettes … and did I mention beer?

But last year in Sulawesi, an island in northern Indonesia, mutinous male civil servants reversed the system, keeping their pay packets and peeling off a few notes for their wives.

The horrified Gorontalo provincial government announced it would force society to return to the old ways by transferring the pay of the 3,200 married male civil servants direct to their wives’ bank accounts.

If you think about it, it’s a brilliant system that benefits everyone, but it’s too sexist to be allowed in the West.

Earlier this year, executives at China Merchants Bank announced they would launch an Asian married couples’ account that computerised the traditional system.

Every month, bank computers would automatically transfer the husbands’ earnings to the wives’ accounts, while leaving the guys a bit of beer money.

Thousands of modern young people took to the social media networks to point out that this was sexist.

Baffled older people of both sexes said: “Yes? And your point is …?”

There was so much outrage from the younger generation that the bank cancelled the scheme.

I think they should relaunch it but take out the words “wife” and “husband”, replacing them with gender-neutral terms such as “the sensible spouse” and “the other one”, or perhaps “the one who wears the pants” and “the one who thinks he wears the pants”.

Meanwhile, this writer and his spouse/managing director make sure they keep on terms of perfect equality by regularly going out for dinner together.

On the most recent occasion, all was sunshine and peace until I picked up the menu.

“Order something the dog likes,” she instructed.

http://www.thesundaily.my/news/901119

Bound and Gagged by Dana Summers (Comics)

 November 01, 2013

Bound and Gagged by Dana Summers



http://www.gocomics.com/boundandgagged/2013/11/01#.Uny6O76wq00

The Duplex by Glenn McCoy (Comics)

November 03, 2013

The Duplex by Glenn McCoy



http://www.gocomics.com/duplex/2013/11/03#.Unxx2r6wq00

The Duplex by Glenn McCoy (Comics)

November 05, 2013

The Duplex by Glenn McCoy



http://www.gocomics.com/duplex/2013/11/05#.UnxxDL6wq00

The Duplex by Glenn McCoy (Comics)

November 06, 2013

The Duplex by Glenn McCoy




http://www.gocomics.com/duplex/2013/11/06#.UnxuCL6wq00

The Twist - Chubby Checker (Videos)

Brings a smile whenever I watch these videos.

I can't help noticing how slim everyone was in those days, almost 3 generations ago.

Enjoy!



(Not sure what happened to this video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qApIQt4qKjg




http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=im9XuJJXylw




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh8eb_ACLl8

EvianBabies

baby&me / the new evian film
      

EvianBabies·86 videos

Published on Apr 19, 2013

Dancing with my baby-me. evian Live young.
Music: Here comes the Hotstepper - Evian remix by Yuksek
Download on iTunes: http://bit.ly/BabynMe
Agency: BETC
Directors: We are From LA
Production team: Iconoclast & Mikros
http://www.evian.com

Source:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pfxB5ut-KTs


 

Baby & me / the making of

      

EvianBabies·86 videos

 

Published on May 3, 2013

Music: Here comes the Hotstepper - Evian remix by Yuksek
Download on iTunes: http://bit.ly/BabynMe

Agency: BETC Music
http://www.evian.com

Source:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxDWoZ8XhmY


 

Evian Roller Babies international version

EvianBabies·86 videos

Uploaded on Jul 1, 2009

Discover the new evian film "baby&me" on http://www.youtube.com/user/evianbabi...

Source:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQcVllWpwGs


 

Evian Roller Babies Making Of
      

EvianBabies·86 videos

 

Uploaded on Jul 1, 2009

Laughter Therapy…Laugh Your Way To Well Being

Danica Collins

How Laughing Out Loud Promotes Health and Heals Disease

Everyone loves to laugh, but few people know how much truth is contained by the words “laughter is the best medicine.” The natural gift of laughter confers outstanding medicinal benefits. Laughter therapy can improve mental and physical well-being, and its therapeutic effects are even being applied towards the treatment of serious health conditions, including cancer.

The History of Healing with Laughter

Laughter therapy (or humor therapy, as it’s sometimes called) is the practice of intentionally initiating laughter to relieve physical or emotional stress and promote overall health and wellness.

As long ago as the 13th century, surgeons used humor to distract patients from pain. Norman Cousins, author of Anatomy of an Illness, first seriously undertook the scientific study of laughter’s healing impact. Cousins published his book in 1979 after he himself used humor to sustain himself through a grueling and prolonged battle with a serious disease.

Now, hospitals around the globe are incorporating laughter therapy programs into their practices. In India, laughing clubs — where participants meet each morning solely for the purpose of sharing a laugh — are gaining tremendous popularity.
Laughter therapy is also taking hold in the West. The Pentagon has even begun training military families to use these techniques.

Some integrative cancer treatment centers, such as the Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), are incorporating laughter therapy into their cancer treatment protocols. According to the CTCA, “Laughter is a natural medicine. It lifts our spirits and makes us feel happy. Laughter is a contagious emotion. It can bring people together. It can help us feel more alive and empowered.”

Studies show that laughter may significantly boost health in myriad ways. Just some of the functions of laughter include its ability to:

• Boost the immune system and circulatory system
• Enhance oxygen intake
• Stimulate the heart and lungs
• Relax muscles throughout the body
• Trigger the release of endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers)
• Ease digestion/soothe stomach aches
• Relieve pain
• Balance blood pressure
• Improve mental functions (i.e., alertness, memory, creativity)

In addition, the immediate pleasure we feel while laughing can offer surprisingly long-term benefits, including sustained improvement in overall attitude…relaxation…sleep…quality of life…social bonds and relationships…and well-being.

The Science of Laughter

Many of laughter’s positive effects are the result of the hormones laughter stimulates, called catecholamines. Catecholamines trigger the release of endorphins — the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals, capable of reducing pain and stimulating elation.

Once your body is awash in this “happy juice,” you’ll automatically begin to feel more content and relaxed. According to a research team at Texas A&M University, each laugh relieves stress…reduces anxiety … lifts energy…and even cultivates hope. In fact, the team found that laughter therapy could lead to significant increases in hopefulness.

David H. Rosen, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told Science Daily that humor specifically fosters hope by blocking negative thoughts with positive ones. The positive emotions generated through humor can increase a person’s perceived ability to overcome an obstacle, an important psychological aspect of hope.

Children also benefit greatly from laughter. Researchers at UCLA did a study that showed that watching funny shows on TV improved children’s tolerance for pain.

In addition, a team from the University of Maryland found that those who watched funny movies compared to those who watched sad ones experienced increased blood flow — an important factor for health and healing.

You Don’t Have to Feel Like Laughing to Heal

Perhaps the best part of laughter therapy — other than how good it feels – is that even if you don’t feel like laughing, you can benefit. Luke Burbank, a National Public Radio reporter, addressed this question in an interview with Steve Wilson, the head of World Laughter Tour, a university-educated psychologist, and a “self-taught joyologist.”

According to Wilson, “All human beings have an original, authentic natural laughter.” His mission is to help us all access that laughter at any time. But, says Wilson, it doesn’t matter if you’re faking it. He and other professionals are convinced that the brain can’t tell if your laughter is legitimate or forced. The physical act of laughter — spontaneous or forced — is enough to relax your muscles…improve your digestion…normalize your heart rate…and enhance blood flow.

Besides, many who start out with a forced laugh find that they very quickly transition into authentic, joyful laughter, especially if they are laughing with others.

In the interests of optimal health, remember the words of e.e. cummings: “The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.”

Further Related Reading:

• How Laughter Therapy Can Become Your Best Medicine
• Heal Your Body One Sweet Bite At A Time with Cacao
• Using Salt Therapy to Treat Anxiety and Cystic Fibrosis

http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/laughter-therapy-well-being-and-health

How to Boost Brain Power

Until just a few years ago, doctors believed that the brain stopped making new neural connections - meaning that the memory began to get irreversibly worse - when the body stopped developing, usually in the early 20s. And doctors knew that, like any other part of the body, neurons weaken as people age. Loss of brain function due to neural breakdown was assumed to be a normal, unavoidable part of aging. It turns out they were wrong.

In the past few years, it has become clear that you can, in fact, make new neurons starting in your 20s and continuing well into old age. You can literally rewire the brain with new parts as the older parts wear out. How?

There are lots of things you can do right now to preserve, protect and enhance your gray matter.


1 Physical exercise

A healthy body really does mean a healthy mind. In the last decade it became clear that regular exercise beneficially affects brain function. Exercise boosts brain power by stimulating formation of new brain cells (neurons), the process known as neurogenesis2. Also, exercise strengthens connections between those cells. Researchers have found the areas of the brain that are stimulated through exercise are associated with memory and learning1.

Physical exercise may even help prevent Alzheimer's disease. Several studies7 have confirmed that regular physical activity reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in old age.


2 Lifelong learning - your brain is a learning machine

For most of us, after we graduate from high school or college, our pursuit of new knowledge bottoms out over time. We may be masters at what we do, but we aren't learning new things. There is clear evidence8 that education and learning produce favourable changes in the brain. Researchers believe that intellectual activity play a neuroprotective role against dementia. Some studies suggest that having a low level of formal education and poor linguistic skills is a risk factor for cognitive decline in later life.

But if you continue to learn and challenge yourself, your brain continues to grow, literally. Recent research9 have demonstrated that learning over time enhances memory and the survival of new brain cells. An active brain produces new connections between nerve cells that allow cells to communicate with one another. This helps your brain store and retrieve information more easily, no matter what your age.

How can you challenge yourself? Scientists agree that anything that is new and expands your knowledge will be effective:

• Learning to play a musical instrument
• Switching careers or starting a new one
• Starting a new hobby, such as crafts, painting, biking or bird-watching
• Learning a foreign language. According to the latest study speaking more than one language may slow the aging process in the mind.
• Staying informed about what's going on in the world
• Learning to cook new dish

If you let your brain be idle, it's not going to be in the best health.


3 Mental stimulation

Researchers found that a woman's memory can be impaired for at least a year after giving birth, although the effects are minor
 

Stimulate your brain. Make sure you're actively problem-solving and having to use your memory. Just as physical activity keeps your body strong, mental activity keeps your mind sharp and agile. The more we think, the better our brains function - regardless of age. Without something to keep us mentally charged, our brains, like unused muscles, can atrophy, leading to a decline in cognitive abilities.

The study6, conducted by researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, found that mentally active seniors reduced their risk of dementia by as much as 75 percent, compared to those who do not stimulate their minds. Researchers from the Princeton University10 found that simple cognitive stimulation such as Bingo can be of great value to the daily management of Alzheimer's patients.

 

Some good ways to stimulate your mind:

• Travel
• Going to museums
• Reading books, newspapers, or magazines
• Play 'thinking' games like cards, checkers, chess, crosswords, sudoku puzzles
• Scrabble or doing crossword puzzles
• Playing musical instruments
• Dancing
• Crafts such as drawing, painting, and ceramics
• Ditch the calculator once in while and forcing yourself to do the calculation
• Volunteering

4 Social interaction - People are good medicine

"Social interaction" can be measured by how often people talk on the phone with friends, neighbors and relatives, how often they get together with them, how many people they can share their most private feelings and concerns with.

Men are one and a half times more likely than women to develop mild cognitive impairment (the transition stage before dementia).
 

Socializing may have a protective effect on the brain because it's a form of mental exercise. Not only does interacting with people stimulate the brain, but it can also keep you sharp, because dealing with people can be pretty challenging. Strong social ties have been associated with lower blood pressure and longer life expectancies.

And having no social ties is believed to be an independent risk factor for cognitive decline in older persons.

A U.S. team found11 that talking to another person for 10 minutes a day improves memory and test scores. They found that socializing was just as effective as more traditional kinds of mental exercise in boosting memory and intellectual performance. They also found that the higher the level of social interaction, the better the cognitive functioning. Social interaction included getting together or having phone chats with relatives, friends and neighbors.

In a study of more than 2,800 people ages 65 or older, Harvard researchers12 found that those with at least five social ties - church groups, social groups, regular visits, or phone calls with family and friends - were less likely to suffer cognitive decline than those with no social ties.


5 Sleep & Nap

Sleep plays a crucial role in brain development and growth.

One of the explanations the science has come up with for the healing power of sleep is that sleep may contribute to neurogenesis, the formation of new nerve cells in the brain. New research in animals13 provides a clue about how the sleep deprivation harm the brains - reduces the number of new brain cells. Without sufficient sleep, neurons may not have time to repair all the damage, and so could malfunction during the day.

Sleep is necessary for the brain to process and consolidate knowledge and for memories to form. Neuroscientists say that during sleep the hippocampus (where memory is stored) becomes highly active and moves knowledge from short-term memory to long-term memory14.
     
The memories laid down by the sleeping brain are of two kinds. Declarative memory is memory for information - facts, dates, and names. Procedural memory is what allows us to do things like play a musical instrument, ride a bicycle, or add up a bill. Scientists think these two types of memory are influenced by different parts of the sleep cycle. Slow wave sleep benefit mainly the consolidation of declarative memories. In contrast, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep seems to benefit procedural memory15.

According to animal studies, when you perform a task, the brain cells fire in a certain sequence. If you then fall asleep, the same cells automatically fire in an identical sequence without being distracted or disrupted by incoming visual stimuli.

There is a consistent pattern: Learn something new during the day, consolidate what you have learned during a good night's sleep, then remember or perform the task better in the morning. However, sleep before learning is also critical in preparing the brain for next-day memory formation.

Even a nap in the middle of the day may benefit some learning, according to a recent study5. Sleep appears to help "set" the declarative memories and make them easier to recall.


6 Stress management

The brain uses 20 percent of our body's oxygen and 20 percent of its blood.
 

Scientists believe people exposed to chronic stress tend to have elevated levels of cortisol - a hormone produced by the adrenal glands in response to acute and chronic stress. High cortisol levels are dangerous to the brain.

Some of the most impressive effects of the stress on brain are hippocampus atrophy, shrinkage of the hippocampus or prefrontal cortex (the area of the brain unique to humans), and even neural death in some brain regions20. The hippocampus, a vital brain region for episodic, spatial, and contextual memory, has many cortisol receptors, which makes it especially susceptible to stress.

Severe stress lasting weeks or months can impair cell communication in the brain's learning and memory region. Increased stress hormones lead to memory impairment in the elderly and learning difficulties in young adults19.

 Short-term stress is also destructive. Researcher from the University of California18 have found short-term stress lasting as little as a few hours can impair brain-cell communication in areas associated with learning and memory. They found that rather than involving the widely known stress hormone cortisol, which circulates throughout the body, acute stress activated selective molecules called corticotropin releasing hormones, which disrupted the process by which the brain collects and stores memories.

Stress is a constant in our lives and cannot be avoided. So, stress management is the key, not stress elimination. Several ways to help you manage stress in your daily life:

• See problems as opportunities
• Get away from the noise
• Exercise
• Learn relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation
• Cut down on unnecessary responsibilities and avoid over-scheduling
• Make time for leisure activities
• Get a massage

7 Laugh & Humor

Laughter is the best medicine! We've heard the expression time and again. Medical world has begun to take more serious notice of the healing power of humor and the positive emotions associated with it. By having fun and laughing, your stress levels decrease significantly. Humor stimulates the parts of our brain that use the "feel good" chemical messenger dopamine. Also, researchers found that humor improves memory26.


8 Healthy breakfast

It might be the last thing on your morning to-do list, or it might not be on your list at all. However, many studies have shown that having breakfast improves the ability of concentration, reaction time, learning ability, mood and memory, whereas skipping breakfast reduces people's performance at school and at work27.

A recent study done at Cardiff University in Wales found that subjects who ate a high-fiber cereal in the morning showed a 10 percent reduction in fatigue, lower incidence of depression, and better cognitive skills. Fiber helps slow down the absorption of food in the stomach, so you have more energy for a longer period of time.


9 Omega-3 fatty acids

High intake of omega-6 rich oils (such as sunflower or grape seed oil) may boost the risk of developing memory problems, say French researchers4.
     

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for brain health - they provide the physical building blocks necessary for the development and maintenance of the structural and functional integrity of the brain. In fact, one of the omega-3 fatty acids, commonly known as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), makes up a large portion of the gray matter in the brain and is vital for brain cells function. Adding more DHA to your brain directly influences cell-to-cell communication, affects nerve conduction and neurotransmitter release, and other things that allow brain cells to send messages to each other21. DHA is essential to normal brain function, and a diet rich in DHA improves learning, while a lack of DHA worsens learning ability.

French researchers4 found that people who regularly consume omega-3 rich oils, such as canola, flaxseed, and walnut oil, are 60 percent less likely to develop dementia than those who do not regularly consume such oils. Regular consumption of fruits and vegetables lowers dementia risk by 30 percent. People who eat fish at least once a week are 40 percent less likely to develop dementia.

Coldwater fish, such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, and herring are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids (just be careful to eat this in moderation due to potential contamination with mercury). Dutch studies22 revealed that high fish consumption may reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive decline.


10 Blueberries

 

Would you believe that eating this tasty, low-glycemic superfood every day was found by the USDA at Tufts University23 to slow and even reverse age-related brain decline, as well as improve short-term memory loss and help reverse age-related loss of balance?!

Blueberries are a major source of flavonoids, in particular anthocyanins and flavanols. Although the precise mechanisms by which these plant-derived molecules affect the brain are unknown, they have been shown to cross the blood brain barrier after dietary intake. It is believed that they exert their effects on learning and memory by enhancing existing neuronal connections, improving cellular communications and stimulating neuronal regeneration.


11 Vegetables

Researchers found that eating vegetables appears to help keep the brain young and may slow the mental decline sometimes associated with growing old16. Cruciferous and green leafy vegetables including cauliflower, spinach, kale, broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprout and collards appear to be the most beneficial17. Researchers say that may be because they contain healthy amounts of vitamin E, an antioxidant that is believed to help fight chemicals produced by the body that can damage cells.

Increased blood level of homocysteine is a strong risk factor for the development of Alzheimer disease and dementia31. Three B vitamins, folic acid, B6, and B12, can help lower your homocysteine levels. Fortified cereal, other grains, and leafy green vegetables are good sources of B vitamins.


12 Want to drink? Choose red wine!

People who drink to forget bad memories may actually be doing the opposite by reinforcing the neural circuits that control negative emotional memory3

While heavy drinking clearly causes serious problems for many people, drinking in moderation may be good for the brain.

Intake of up to three daily servings of wine, unlike other alcohol beverages (liquor, beer), is associated with a lower risk of dementia. This may be due to the ability of red wine polyphenols to protect brain cells against alcohol-induced damage25. There is well-documented evidence that resveratrol, a polyphenol found in red wine and red grape skin and seeds, has a significant antioxidant properties and produces neuroprotective effects24.


13 Care for your heart and vessels

Many risk factors for cardiovascular disease may also contribute to cognitive decline and dementia.
High blood pressure in midlife increases the risk of cognitive decline in old age28.

Diabetes29 and high levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol30 appear to significantly increase the risk of dementia.

14 Neurobics

Created by Lawrence C. Katz, Ph.D., a professor of neurobiology at Duke University Medical Center, neurobics is a unique system of brain exercises using your five physical senses and your emotional sense in unexpected ways that encourage you to shake up your everyday routines. Studies have shown that even small changes in daily patterns cause brain stimulation.
Neurobics can be done anywhere, anytime, in offbeat, fun and easy ways. These exercises can activate underused nerve pathways and connections, helping you achieve a fit and flexible mind:

• Drive to work a different route
• Get dressed with your eyes closed
• Brush your teeth with the other hand
• Unlock the door with your eyes closed
• Use your opposite hand to dial the phone or operate the TV remote
• Listen to music and smell flowers at the same time
• Shop at new grocery store

Research has suggested that using your left hand if you're right handed or your right if you're left handed more often, can help stimulate parts of the brain that you don't normally use.

 

 

Sources & References

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• 2. van Praag H. Neurogenesis and Exercise: Past and Future Directions. Neuromolecular Med. 2008 Feb 20.
• 3. Bruce KR, Pihl RO. Enhanced consolidation of emotionally charged memory by alcohol. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 1997 Aug;5(3):242-50. PubMed
• 4. Barberger-Gateau P, Raffaitin C, Letenneur L, Berr C, Tzourio C, Dartigues JF, Alpe'rovitch A. Dietary patterns and risk of dementia. Neurology. 2007 Nov 13;69(20):1921-30.
• 5. Tucker MA, Fishbein W. Enhancement of declarative memory performance following a daytime nap is contingent on strength of initial task acquisition. Sleep. 2008 Feb 1;31(2):197-203.
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• 18. Chen Y, Dube' CM, Rice CJ, Baram TZ. Rapid loss of dendritic spines after stress involves derangement of spine dynamics by corticotropin-releasing hormone. J Neurosci. 2008 Mar 12;28(11):2903-11.
• 19. Lupien SJ, Fiocco A, Wan N, Maheu F, Lord C, Schramek T, Tu MT. Stress hormones and human memory function across the lifespan. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2005 Apr;30(3):225-42. PubMed
• 20. Madrigal JL, Garci'a-Bueno B, Caso JR, Pe'rez-Nievas BG, Leza JC. Stress-induced oxidative changes in brain. CNS Neurol Disord. 2006 Oct;5(5):561-8.
• 21. Kurlak, L.O., Stephenson, T.J Plausible explanations for effects of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) on neonates. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 1999 March; 80(2).
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• 23. Galli RL, Bielinski DF, Szprengiel A, Shukitt-Hale B, Joseph JA. Blueberry supplemented diet reverses age-related decline in hippocampal HSP70 neuroprotection. Neurobiol Aging. 2006 Feb;27(2):344-50. PubMed
• 24. Bastianetto S, Zheng WH, Quirion R. Neuroprotective abilities of resveratrol and other red wine constituents against nitric oxide-related toxicity in cultured hippocampal neurons. Br J Pharmacol. 2000 Oct;131(4):711-20.
• 25. Assunc,ao M, Santos-Marques MJ, de Freitas V, Carvalho F, Andrade JP, Lukoyanov NV, Paula-Barbosa MM Red wine antioxidants protect hippocampal neurons against ethanol-induced damage. Neuroscience. 2007 Jun 8;146(4):1581-92.
• 26. Schmidt SR. Effects of humor on sentence memory. J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn. 1994 Jul;20(4):953-67.
• 27. Rampersaud GC, Pereira MA, Girard BL, Adams J, Metzl JD. Breakfast habits, nutritional status, body weight, and academic performance in children and adolescents. J Am Diet Assoc. 2005 May;105(5):743-60; PubMed
• 28. Takechi H. Hypertension as a risk factor of dementia and cognitive decline in the elderly. Nippon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi. 2007 Jul;44(4):433-6.
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http://www.emedexpert.com/tips/brain.shtml

The Duplex (Comics) - Funny !

The Duplex by Glenn McCoy

• June 29, 2012

Even a Fake Laugh Will Do

Take a minute and have a chuckle. Haha. Hoho. It may seem like a strange thing to do, but it’s at the root of something that’s very good for you. Laughing improves our psychological and physical health. It does such a good job that formal therapeutic laughter programs have cropped up, inspiring people to take advantage of the physiological changes that occur in the mind and body when we laugh. What’s really funny about it: Laughing produces the same positive effects on the body whether it’s real or simulated (as in the exercise above). Even if you’re not really “feeling” the humor at first, you can fake it—and that simulation often leads to the real thing, says Teresa Verde, a “laughter leader” and “laughter yoga” practitioner in Seattle, who explains why laughter is good for us and how to get more of it…

WHAT LAUGHING DOES FOR US

Let’s face it, laughing feels great. In addition to the psychological lift, it does our bodies a world of good. In a sense, laughing is like exercise—it boosts the immune system, aids digestion and improves cardiovascular and lung function. It’s also believed to raise levels of good cholesterol and reduce pain, inflammation, blood pressure and stress hormone levels. When we laugh, we release endorphins, chemicals that function as neurotransmitters and block pain receptors in the brain.

LAUGHING EN MASSE

Conducted in a group, laughter yoga, as it’s called, is designed to get people laughing together. Laughing is contagious, and laughing with other people is easy to do. Laughter yoga, which was created by a physician in 1995, uses the word “yoga” because this mind-body technique incorporates gentle stretching and yoga-type breathing. It also involves chanting and playful exercises such as slapping your knee and chanting “hoho hahaha” at someone else…shaking hands with others and laughing…and laughing while performing imaginary activities, such as making a phone call. These exercises might not seem particularly humorous as described, but in a group making eye contact and performing silly antics, the laughter soon becomes real. The group might laugh together for about 40 to 60 seconds, which is much longer than laughter following a joke, which is usually about 2.5 seconds.

YES, YOU CAN LAUGH ALONE

Laughter yoga instructors encourage people to laugh on their own. In addition to watching comedies or listening to a comedian, there are other ways to get more laughter in your life. You can spend time with children and pets, both of whom are uninhibitedly silly…socialize with people whose company you enjoy (laughter often follows naturally) or make your own private jokes (giving your car a funny name…inventing your own dance…wearing silly socks). It also can help to keep a journal of humorous incidents to refer to when you need a chuckle. Or recall a statement someone made that got you laughing.

You also can try this exercise: Immediately after waking up in the morning, look in the mirror and laugh. Begin with 10 or 20 seconds, and try to work your way up to two minutes, if you can. Again, feel free to fake it at first. That will get you going. This exercise gives you an energy boost…relieves stress…and helps you feel good all day long.

Laughter yoga clubs, as they are called, are becoming more common than you might think. To find one in your area and to learn more about laughter yoga, go to www.LaughterYoga.org.

Source: Teresa Verde is a certified laughter leader and laughter yoga leader in Seattle, Washington www.OneThousandLaughs.com

Listing Details

Publication                          Bottom Line's High Energy for Life

Original publication date    07/06/12

http://www.bottomlinepublications.com/content/article/health-a-healing/even-a-fake-laugh-will-do

The Duplex (Comics)

One of my all time favourites!

The Duplex by Glenn McCoy

• May 02, 2011

The Duplex (Comics)

The Duplex by Glenn McCoy

• July 06, 2012