Daily Pulse: Easy Way to Help Families in Need

On GiveLocally.net, you can read a family's story and help out in measurable, practical ways, such as paying an electric bill.

 

Scientists Name HIV Drug Top Breakthrough of 2011 [Fox News]
An antiretroviral drug that makes HIV carriers less infectious was named this year's most important scientific breakthrough by The American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Johnson & Johnson Recalls Motrin Caplets That May Work Slowly [Washington Post]
There is no safety concern with the batch of recalled drugs, but the company says they are slow to dissolve and may delay pain relief.
Are Lunchables Worth the Convenience? [Huffington Post]
Why the popular kids' lunch item is a health nightmare
The Ultimate Winter-Skin Tool Kit [FabFitFun]
November through January can wreak havoc on your skin. Here are 5 awesome products to keep you glowing all winter long.
 

Read more »

The Top 11 Holiday Stresses

The holidays are supposed to be a time of comfort and joy, but 90 percent of Americans report stressing over at least one aspect of the merry season. "For all the chatter about nostalgia, family fun and gift giving this time of year, many people don't like too much of a good thing," said Tod Marks, senior editor at Consumer Reports, in a holiday news story on ConsumerReports.org.
Here are the top 11 things that Americans dread about Christmas, according to a recent survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. While it's not so surprising that Americans get anxious over weight gain and long lines, we were a bit shocked that "being nice" made the list.

68 percent: Crowds and long lines (31 days of healthy, happy holidays)
37 percent: Gaining weight (graze the appetizer table without guilt)
37 percent: Getting into deb
28 percent: Gift shopping (shoppers may spend 19 hours lookihttp://www.prevention.com/ng for gifts)
25 percent: Traveling (the busiest travel day of the entire year is today!)
24 percent: Seeing certain relatives (what to do if your in-law is a diet outlaw)
23 percent: Seasonal music
19 percent: Disappointing gifts (check out holiday gifts that give back)
16 percent: Having to attend holiday parties or events (how the holidays hurt your sex drive)
15 percent: Having to be nice
12 percent: Holiday tipping
What do you stress about most during the holidays?

 http://www.prevention.com/

Read more »

The Anti-Aging Workout

New research shows that the most effective form of exercise for adults—especially middle-age adults—may be fast, short, and intense types of anaerobic exercise (as contrasted with low-intensity exercise like steady walking or bowling). That's because we may be able to unleash exercise-induced growth hormone with only 10 to 30 seconds of higher intensity interval training. Growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland to help maintain tissues and organs, but levels start to decrease in middle age.

“The most powerful body-fat-cutting, muscle-toning, anti-aging substance known in science--growth hormone--is naturally produced by the body with this type of exercise,” says Greta Blackburn, CPT, author of the Immortality Edge and founder of a national series of boot camps called FITCAMPS.

Blackburn recently released Greta B's Figure 8 DVD, a 20-minute workout that includes just four minutes of intense exercise meant to get you out of breath to safely ease you into a high-intensity anaerobic exercise program. Blackburn acts as your personal, at-home trainer by guiding you through the short workout so you know when to increase your intensity and when to slow it down.

Whether your normal exercise routine includes walking, cycling, swimming, cross-country skiing, or jogging; adding short intervals during your workout can increase your fat burn and trigger your body to produce more human growth hormone to help slow aging. Remember to talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise program: You shouldn’t go all-out to start, but can gradually work your way to a faster pace as your fitness levels improve. 

What are your tricks for adding intervals into your exercise routine?

http://www.prevention.com/

Read more »