The top of your skin is covered with dead cells, and you’re always getting rid of them. Get this: You shed 30,000 to 40,000 cells a day! That’s nearly 9 pounds of skin cells a year.
Don’t worry, though. Your body is always making new skin cells to replace the old ones.
Carrots have a lot of beta-carotene, which gives them their color. The orange skin thing sometimes happens to babies -- carrots are a favorite first food -- and people who juice carrots.
Once it's gone -- prune fingers! Your skin soaks up some water and gives you those ridges.
So what’s the point of the wrinkles, you ask? Experts think it’s your body’s way of helping you. It’s easier to pick up wet things and less slippery with wrinkly fingers. They give you a little traction and grip.
Stretched out flat, the skin of a grown, 150-pound man would weigh about 9 pounds and cover about a 6-foot by 6-foot area. Your skin has three layers and a lot of jobs.
It protects your muscles, bones, nerves, and everything else that’s inside your body. It also helps you stay warm or cool. Every inch of your skin has hundreds of sweat and oil glands, nerve endings, and blood vessels.
Dark red is a healthy newborn’s skin or it could be purple. That’s normal. As he gets more air into his lungs, the redness will go away. The final color of a baby’s skin depends on a lot of things, including his race, age, and health.
If you have darker skin, your body makes more pigment than people who have lighter skin. That pigment is called melanin. It helps protect your skin from the sun. But more melanin doesn’t mean you’re safe. Even people with darker skin can sunburn and get skin cancer. It’s important to wear sunscreen.
The thickest skin is on the soles of your feet. On most parts of your body, your skin is about as thick as a piece of paper.
Your dead skin can help with air pollution. A lot of the flakes of skin that you shed every day become dust in your home. But there may be a bright side. One study found that those skin cells may help lower indoor air pollution. Their oil appears to help get rid of ozone.
When you’re cold or scared, these tiny bumps appear on your skin.
They’re called goosebumps because when you get them, your skin kind of looks like the skin of a plucked chicken or goose.
They happen because muscles attached to your hair get tight. They pull on your skin and make your hair stand up. Experts believe this is one way your body warms you up.
You've got skin tags. Should you not be worried. These small, raised bumps that hang off the skin are harmless. They show up on places where skin rubs against clothing or on body folds, like your armpits. You can also get them on your eyelids.
Your doctor can take them off if they bother you or get snagged on clothes and jewelry. Sometimes they fall off on their own.
Chocolate and greasy foods like french fries don’t cause zits for most people. And neither do stress or dirty skin. What does? Hormone changes, some kinds of medicines, and makeup all can play a role.
Feel like you should have left blemishes behind in your teen years? Take heart. It’s not uncommon for people in their 40s and 50s to get pimples, too.
Your skin is usually pretty elastic. But when it gets pulled too much, these red or purple scars can appear.
Stretch marks can happen if you grow or gain weight quickly and your skin needs to make room. They’re pretty common in pregnant women and kids going through puberty. You can’t get rid of them, but they usually fade over time.
Monday, July 17, 2017
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Mood
Music can improve your mood, but it depends on what you're listening to. In a recent study, volunteers' moods improved when they listened to Mozart but stayed the same when they heard other instrumental music, and their moods were made worse by music from the Holocaust movie “Schindler’s List.”
A recent study found that people who consume a lot of olive oil are less likely to be depressed. Salmon and walnuts are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, and some studies have suggested that these essential fatty acids could have mood-boosting properties. Some research also indicates that eating high-calorie comfort foods, which we typically reach for during times of stress or anxiety, may be a type of “natural reward” that reduces stress responses.
A University of British Columbia study found that even brief interactions with strangers tended to improve people's moods. Researchers theorize that people tend to try to impress strangers and act cheerful around them, which has the collateral effect of putting them in a better mood.
Australian researchers studying the effect of mood on skepticism and trust found that people in a good mood are more trusting and people in a bad mood are more skeptical. People in a bad mood were more likely to detect when someone was being deceptive, while people in a good mood were more easily fooled.
Moods are contagious. Correct!
A recent study found that people can "catch" happiness from happy people around them or become more depressed if they're around people who are depressed. "People’s happiness depends on the happiness of others with whom they are connected," the authors concluded.
Studies have shown that exercise can help create new neurons in the brain, boost blood flow to the brain, and increase levels of key mood-regulating chemicals in the brain, such as dopamine and serotonin.
A number of studies have shown that as people grow older, they generally tend to accentuate the positive. Researchers speculate that as people begin to realize that they have a limited number of years left, they make a conscious or subconscious decision to focus more on positive thoughts. Another possibility is physiological: As people age, a part of the brain associated with emotion is more likely to be activated in response to positive images and less activated in response to negative images.
Although it's true that smokers can feel irritable while they're trying to quit, a Brown University study found that smokers reported being in much better moods after they had successfully quit smoking. However, if they had been trying to quit but were unable to do so, they reported being in much darker moods.
If you're in a good mood, you're more likely to be: Superstitious!
According to a study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, people in a good mood are more likely to be superstitious than people in a bad mood. Researchers speculate that happy people are more inclined to "follow their gut" -- even if it's not rational – since what they've been doing so far has been making them happy.
Numerous studies confirm that people's moods can be significantly affected by the weather. Sunshine is associated with good moods, and "spring fever" appears to be a real phenomenon brought on by warmer temperatures at the end of winter.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder that most often occurs in winter but can occur any time of year. It appears to be related to the body's response to varying amounts of sunlight, so it tends to occur when days are shorter in the winter or in other parts of the year when it's unusually cloudy.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, each year 9.5% of American adults experience mood disorders -- a category that includes depression, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder. Anxiety disorders, a separate category, affect 18.1% of U.S. Depression is differentiated from normal mood changes by the extent of its severity, the symptoms, and the duration of the disorder. Consult a doctor if symptoms persist for more than two weeks.
A recent study found that people who consume a lot of olive oil are less likely to be depressed. Salmon and walnuts are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, and some studies have suggested that these essential fatty acids could have mood-boosting properties. Some research also indicates that eating high-calorie comfort foods, which we typically reach for during times of stress or anxiety, may be a type of “natural reward” that reduces stress responses.
A University of British Columbia study found that even brief interactions with strangers tended to improve people's moods. Researchers theorize that people tend to try to impress strangers and act cheerful around them, which has the collateral effect of putting them in a better mood.
Australian researchers studying the effect of mood on skepticism and trust found that people in a good mood are more trusting and people in a bad mood are more skeptical. People in a bad mood were more likely to detect when someone was being deceptive, while people in a good mood were more easily fooled.
Moods are contagious. Correct!
A recent study found that people can "catch" happiness from happy people around them or become more depressed if they're around people who are depressed. "People’s happiness depends on the happiness of others with whom they are connected," the authors concluded.
Studies have shown that exercise can help create new neurons in the brain, boost blood flow to the brain, and increase levels of key mood-regulating chemicals in the brain, such as dopamine and serotonin.
A number of studies have shown that as people grow older, they generally tend to accentuate the positive. Researchers speculate that as people begin to realize that they have a limited number of years left, they make a conscious or subconscious decision to focus more on positive thoughts. Another possibility is physiological: As people age, a part of the brain associated with emotion is more likely to be activated in response to positive images and less activated in response to negative images.
Although it's true that smokers can feel irritable while they're trying to quit, a Brown University study found that smokers reported being in much better moods after they had successfully quit smoking. However, if they had been trying to quit but were unable to do so, they reported being in much darker moods.
If you're in a good mood, you're more likely to be: Superstitious!
According to a study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, people in a good mood are more likely to be superstitious than people in a bad mood. Researchers speculate that happy people are more inclined to "follow their gut" -- even if it's not rational – since what they've been doing so far has been making them happy.
Numerous studies confirm that people's moods can be significantly affected by the weather. Sunshine is associated with good moods, and "spring fever" appears to be a real phenomenon brought on by warmer temperatures at the end of winter.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder that most often occurs in winter but can occur any time of year. It appears to be related to the body's response to varying amounts of sunlight, so it tends to occur when days are shorter in the winter or in other parts of the year when it's unusually cloudy.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, each year 9.5% of American adults experience mood disorders -- a category that includes depression, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder. Anxiety disorders, a separate category, affect 18.1% of U.S. Depression is differentiated from normal mood changes by the extent of its severity, the symptoms, and the duration of the disorder. Consult a doctor if symptoms persist for more than two weeks.
AGING : Whats NORMAL
You may first notice it while trying to read a menu. Almost all adults get a vision problem called presbyopia, which means you have trouble seeing close up. It often starts in your early 40s.
Non-prescription reading glasses usually help. Their lenses magnify things, and you can find an inexpensive pair at your local drugstore. If you already wear glasses or contacts for distance, consider getting bifocals or “no-line” progressive lenses.
YOU MAY TAKE MORE ANTACID AS YOU GET OLDER
This fiery feeling that starts in your upper chest and moves up into your throat could come on more often as you age. Heartburn is more common in older people and pregnant women. Over-the-counter antacids can usually help for mild symptoms. But tell your doctor if heartburn keeps coming back, you have it more than twice a week, or it’s severe.
Not everyone will have stiff, sore joints, but your chance of getting arthritis does go up as you age. Half of people 65 and older have it, and most of them have osteoarthritis. It happens when the tissue that protects bones in your joints starts to wear away. When there’s none left, the bones rub against each other. You’re most likely to have pain or stiffness in your hands, neck, back, knees, or hips.
Women and children naturally have higher-pitched voices. These types of sounds are often the first to go. Over time, the hair cells inside your ear that send sound waves to the brain become less sensitive. That makes it hard, for example, to distinguish “P” from “T.” The condition, called presbycusis, is sometimes passed down in families, but it can also be caused by loud noise, smoking, or illness. Sometimes it's a side effect of antibiotics or aspirin.
Many older people are still sexually active. But half of people 75 to 85 who still get their groove on say they notice a few problems. Some men have erectile dysfunction, but there are treatments for that. A woman’s clitoris stays vital with age -- she may just need lubrication and extra foreplay to get the blood moving faster.
Between ages 30 and 70, men can lose an inch of height. Women sometimes lose as much as 2 inches. After age 80, both groups might shrink even more. Why? The cartilage between your joints wears out and pushes your spine together. Your muscles get weaker and don't hold you up as well. Thinning bones are often a culprit, too.
As the old song asks, “Do your ears hang low?” The cartilage in ears keeps growing, and that may make them get a little longer. Your nose may only seem larger as tissues around it weaken and it starts to droop.
Anyone can have trouble going to the bathroom, but it’s a pretty common problem as you age. Lack of exercise, changes in diet, medicines, and health problems all play a role. If you use laxatives too often, your body can forget how to go on its own. What can you do to get regular? Keep active. Eat more fruits, veggies, and whole grains. And drink at least six to eight glasses of water a day.
Bladder problems become more common with age. But they don’t happen to everyone. And if you do have troubles, you don’t have to live with them. There are many ways to treat them, from changing what you eat or drink (less caffeine!) to medicine or surgery.
Your thinking abilities decline after your early 20s. FALSE!
Your brain reaches its maximum size in your early 20s, and then it starts to shrink slowly. Blood flow also decreases over time. But some types of memory can improve throughout life, like your ability to recall concepts and facts. Talk to your doctor if you have memory lapses that interfere with your day-to-day life. Losing your keys once in a while is normal. Forgetting what they’re for is not.
Non-prescription reading glasses usually help. Their lenses magnify things, and you can find an inexpensive pair at your local drugstore. If you already wear glasses or contacts for distance, consider getting bifocals or “no-line” progressive lenses.
YOU MAY TAKE MORE ANTACID AS YOU GET OLDER
This fiery feeling that starts in your upper chest and moves up into your throat could come on more often as you age. Heartburn is more common in older people and pregnant women. Over-the-counter antacids can usually help for mild symptoms. But tell your doctor if heartburn keeps coming back, you have it more than twice a week, or it’s severe.
Not everyone will have stiff, sore joints, but your chance of getting arthritis does go up as you age. Half of people 65 and older have it, and most of them have osteoarthritis. It happens when the tissue that protects bones in your joints starts to wear away. When there’s none left, the bones rub against each other. You’re most likely to have pain or stiffness in your hands, neck, back, knees, or hips.
Women and children naturally have higher-pitched voices. These types of sounds are often the first to go. Over time, the hair cells inside your ear that send sound waves to the brain become less sensitive. That makes it hard, for example, to distinguish “P” from “T.” The condition, called presbycusis, is sometimes passed down in families, but it can also be caused by loud noise, smoking, or illness. Sometimes it's a side effect of antibiotics or aspirin.
Many older people are still sexually active. But half of people 75 to 85 who still get their groove on say they notice a few problems. Some men have erectile dysfunction, but there are treatments for that. A woman’s clitoris stays vital with age -- she may just need lubrication and extra foreplay to get the blood moving faster.
Between ages 30 and 70, men can lose an inch of height. Women sometimes lose as much as 2 inches. After age 80, both groups might shrink even more. Why? The cartilage between your joints wears out and pushes your spine together. Your muscles get weaker and don't hold you up as well. Thinning bones are often a culprit, too.
As the old song asks, “Do your ears hang low?” The cartilage in ears keeps growing, and that may make them get a little longer. Your nose may only seem larger as tissues around it weaken and it starts to droop.
Anyone can have trouble going to the bathroom, but it’s a pretty common problem as you age. Lack of exercise, changes in diet, medicines, and health problems all play a role. If you use laxatives too often, your body can forget how to go on its own. What can you do to get regular? Keep active. Eat more fruits, veggies, and whole grains. And drink at least six to eight glasses of water a day.
Bladder problems become more common with age. But they don’t happen to everyone. And if you do have troubles, you don’t have to live with them. There are many ways to treat them, from changing what you eat or drink (less caffeine!) to medicine or surgery.
Your thinking abilities decline after your early 20s. FALSE!
Your brain reaches its maximum size in your early 20s, and then it starts to shrink slowly. Blood flow also decreases over time. But some types of memory can improve throughout life, like your ability to recall concepts and facts. Talk to your doctor if you have memory lapses that interfere with your day-to-day life. Losing your keys once in a while is normal. Forgetting what they’re for is not.
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