The Brain and The Impact Of A Smile

What kind of brain wave patterns does looking at someone smile trigger?

Well, it turns out that a smile triggers the same brain wave pattern as if you learned that you had just won $40,000. Researchers also discovered that those who smiled the most lived an extra seven years.

So…$40,000…Seven Years…why that’s enough to make you smile!

Cheer Yourself Up The Fast Way – Inhale

The fastest way to cheer yourself up when you are feeling down is to sniff something pleasant.

Charles Wysocki, PhD, a behavioral neuro-scientist from Mondell Chemical Senses Center found that sniffing works faster to change your mood than looking at a treasured souvenir or hearing a favorite song.

He compared the olfactory system to an interstate and our visual and auditory system to country roads.

This means your sense of smell will affect your brain faster. And the cheeriest scent may be citrus since it boosts the release of norepinephrine, a mood-regulating hormone.

So…cut that lemon or orange and inhale.

(Reported Prevention April 2011)

What Time You Go To Sleep May Affect Your Level Of Depression

Brazilian researchers found that people who go to sleep late at night are nearly 3 times more likely to experience depression symptoms than people who go to sleep early and wake up early.

The researchers speculated that there may be an optimal time to fall asleep and to wake up.

My guess is that this may be accurate since it is only a relatively short period of time that we’ve had electricity which has allowed us to stay up far later into the night than our ancestors who had no electricity.

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Get A Dog And Live Longer!

Even though I have dog I’m not making a prejudice statement. It seems that dog owners 50 and older see their doctors less often, have fewer illnesses and recover more quickly when they are sick verses those who don’t have a dog.

Researchers have even found that simply petting an animal lowers blood pressure by producing an instant relaxation response in the body.

Alan Beck, Sc.D., from the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine reported that animal owners had a higher one-year survival rate following a heart attack than a non-pet group, even when both groups were doing the same level of exercise.

Perhaps retirement communities should reconsider their no pet policies and hospitals and nursing homes could allow the family pet to come to visit the patient.

(As reported in AARP Magazine)

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The Importance Of Exercising As You Age Has Just Gone Up

A study reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine clearly supports continuing to exercise, even for the very oldest among us.

The three-year survival rate was about three times higher for active 85-year-olds who were doing four hours of exercise a week versus the inactive ones.

Even previously sedentary 85-year-olds had a three-year survival rate, double that of inactive 85-year-olds.

As a further plus, the active oldsters also reported less depression and loneliness and a greater ability to perform daily tasks.

So the old adage of “use it or lose it” has taken on new importance for everyone. Just check with your Doc first.

(Reported by Lindsey Tanner, Associated Press)

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Overcome Depression With Healthy Fats

A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry reported that 6 out of 10 people suffering from depression got relief after taking omega-3 fatty acid-rich fish oil supplements.

Those who got the supplements containing 2,000 mg of EPA slept better and felt less worthlessness and guilt.

Don’t take fish oil if you’re on Coumadin or fat-blocking medication.

 

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