TIDBIT #1

To Clear Your Mind and Get Your Mental House in Order: Take deep breaths to calm yourself: Deep breathing as a relaxation technique is a well-documented way to regain some mental clarity. It increases the oxygen levels in your body and the brain benefits from more oxygen. Increased oxygen flow is a known benefit of aerobic exercise. pickthebrain.com

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TIDBIT #2

The average American works about 47 to 50 hours per week. Everyone needs to make ends meet, but at what cost to your health? A new American Heart Association study now looks at the link between working long hours and an increased risk of stroke. Working long days to make ends meet is a common story. In a new study in Journal Stroke, French researchers found people who worked long hours for 10 years or more had a 45% greater stroke risk. And the association seemed stronger for people under the age of 50. "The type of work that you do, I'm sure factors into this. The type of lifestyle that you have also factors into this," said Dr. Arbi Ohanian, medical director of Huntington Hospital's stroke program. In the study, working long hours was defined as working 10 hours at least 50 days per year. Ohanian says the most important takeaway is to do the things proven to prevent strokes like quit smoking. "Eating healthy, exercising at least 30 minutes a day. Making sure any risk factors you have like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, any cardiac issues need to be addressed by your physicians," Ohanian said. And make stress management a priority. abc7.com

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TIDBIT #3

Diet Tip: Drink a full glass of water 10 minutes before each meal. Your brain will realize you are full within 10 minutes (instead of the usual 20 minutes) using this technique. Have another glass of water with your meal, sipping in between bites, to slow your eating. Also, chew each bite about 15 times or until you reflexively swallow. healthyeating.sfgate.com

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TIDBIT #4

New research suggests that young people are developing hornlike spikes at the back of their skulls, bone spurs caused by the forward tilt of the head, causing bone growth in the connecting tendons and ligaments. Researchers Dr. David Shahar, chiropractor, PhD and Mark Sayers, professor of biomechanics are concluding that smartphones and other handheld devices are contorting the human form. The formation is a sign of a serious deformity in posture that can cause chronic headaches and pain in the upper back and neck. The danger is not the head horn itself, said supervisor and co-author of this research. Rather, the formation is a "portent of something nasty going on elsewhere, a sign that the head and neck are not in the proper configuration." A sample of 218 X-rays, of subjects ages 18 to 30, showed the bone growth could be observed in 41% of young adults, much more than previously thought. Shahar is pressing people to become as regimented about posture as they became about dental hygiene in the 1970s, when personal care came to involve brushing and flossing every day. Schools should teach simple posture strategies, he said. Everyone who uses technology during the day should get used to recalibrating their posture at night. Ask your chiropractor about ways to correct this. washingtonpost.com

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TIDBIT #5

Blueberries keep you fresh, active, fit, sharp, and in a good mood, as they are very good anti-depressants. Interesting thing to know- the deeper the color of the blueberries, the richer they are in anti-oxidants and other medicinal values. So, eat them until your tongue turns blue and live a healthy, long life! OrganicFacts.net

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QUOTE

Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey! ~Barbara Hoffman

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