Title: Weekly Health Updates That Could Impact Your Well-being
Check out the latest health news and studies that can seriously change your habits from Greatist News. With an onslaught of headlines to peruse, news articles to sift through, and tweets to favorite, it's nearly impossible to consume every health-related story. To make things easier, we've handpicked our top story picks that could significantly impact your health behaviors.
Alcohol, Red Meat, and TV Time: Are You Subtracting or Adding Years to Your Life?
Want to find out how health behaviors truly affect your lifespan? A new system has been developed that assigns lifestyle choices to "microlives" to see how much time they add or subtract from your life. The verdict? Negative habits such as smoking and excessive drinking can subtract 30 minutes daily, according to Science Daily. Alternatively, daily exercise and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables could potentially add up to an additional two hours to your life. While this system has limitations, it does illustrate the power of healthful habits and their impact on our daily lives, even during the holiday season.
Is Your Smartphone Ruining Your Sex Life?
Whether it's browsing the web before bed or texting during intimate moments, incorporating technology into your bedroom experience can negatively impact your sex life. According to a Mashable report, 15% of people who surf the web before sleep are experiencing fewer sexual encounters. Worse yet, doing so can also lead to a later bedtime. To reinforce the relationship and engage in more intimate moments before night, consider setting aside your devices for the evening.
Does Sleep Deprivation Affect Your Pain Tolerance?
Recent findings have linked sleep deprivation to weight gain, depression, and irritability. Not only can getting enough sleep help you maintain a healthy weight and emotional balance, but it may also influence pain tolerance. According to a New York Times study, those who slept for longer durations were able to withstand heat for longer periods without reporting pain. While the exact reason is unclear, scientists propose that insufficient sleep can lead to inflammation and trigger pain pathways. To uncover the benefits of getting more sleep and improve your pain tolerance, focus on prioritizing quality sleep.
Are Eating More Fruits and Veggies the Secret to Happiness?
A diet loaded with fruits and vegetables has been shown to bring both physical and mental health benefits, but could it be the key to happiness, too? New research, as reported by MSN Today Health, suggests that consuming five to seven servings of fruits and veggies per day is associated with improved overall well-being. The link between psychological health and diet is complex, as some believe that healthier eating habits contribute to happiness, while others suggest that happier individuals tend to opt for healthier diets. Regardless of the association, incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet can lead to numerous health benefits.
TV Chef Recipes vs. Supermarket Meals: Which Are More Healthy?
Whether you're inspired by your favorite cooking shows or tempted by ready-made meals at the supermarket, nutrition experts are advising caution. According to Science Daily, celebrity chefs' recipes often contain more fat, sodium, and less fiber than supermarket meals, while neither meets health standards for a balanced diet. If you're looking for healthier options, cook at home using ingredient lists and guidelines from reputable sources like Healthy Eating or MyPlate.
Stress: Just as Harmful as Smoking
While everyone is familiar with the risks associated with smoking, many are less aware of the dangers of chronic stress. A newly reported collection of studies found that stress can raise your risk of a heart attack by 27%, as reported by Salon. The elevated risk is due to stress-related increases in blood pressure and LDL cholesterol content, which contribute to cardiovascular disease. To protect your heart and promote overall well-being, make stress management a priority by engaging in activities such as meditation, yoga, or simply taking time each day to unplug and unwind.
What were some of the most influential health stories of the week? Share your thoughts below, or send your feedback to @lschwech!
Foundational information on the impact of health behaviors on life expectancy and chronic disease risk:
- American Heart Association. (n.d.). Understanding life expectancy and heart disease risk. Retrieved on November 26, 2021
- American Institute for Cancer Research. (n.d.). The cancer prevention diet. Retrieved on November 26, 2021
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (n.d.). Dietary supplements. Retrieved on November 26, 2021
- World Health Organization. (n.d.). Healthy aging. Retrieved on November 26, 2021
Following the text, here are two sentences that contain the given words:
The article from 'Greatist News' discusses how excessive drinking can subtract minutes from one's lifespan, contributing negatively to health (alcohol). Incorporating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, as suggested by MSN Today Health, could potentially add hours to one's life, emphasizing the importance of nutrition in overall health (othernutrition).
