Is Your Friendship Toxic? 8 Ways to Tell

05/23/2013

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As we mature and grow, some friends come along for the ride and some stay behind. Friends that don’t serve your growth, may in fact be bringing you down. Friendships should be a two-way street--some giving and some taking. Surround yourself with friends that push you toward positivity, not the opposite.

We’ve all had to abandon toxic friendships. While at the time it may have seemed harsh, in the end, you’ll feel better for it.

Here’s how to tell if a friendship is toxic:

1. They don’t listen.

We live in a self absorbed society and we’re all guilty of it from time to time. But some people only want to hear themselves talk. If you have a friend that's constantly talking over you and doesn't wait to hear your side, then you may want to think twice.

2. You’re tired after dealing with them.

Do you get excited to catch up with a friend or do you feel drained after a conversation? Friends should be uplifting, not the opposite. 

3. They talk trash.

Friends who talk badly about everyone else around them are likely to talk bad about you as well. What's worse, you may be brought into the conflict. 

4. Your interests don’t mesh.

You don’t want to be exactly like your friends because then what’s the fun? But if your interests are totally unrelated to a friend, that may explain why you end up with little to contribute to the conversation.

5. They have zero ambition.

Friends don't let friends be lazy. But seriously, a lack of ambition is contagious. Surround yourself with people that are as motivated as you are or at least as motivated as you want to be. As the saying goes, “You can’t soar like an eagle when you hang out with turkeys.”

6. They’re flaky.

Friends that don’t show when they say they’ll be there or are constantly super late, likely put their own needs ahead of your needs. Do you find yourself saying "So and so is always late, that's just them?" When the fact of the matter is that flakiness isn’t funny, it’s annoying. 

7. They're too competitive.

Do your friends pull you up or are they constantly trying to one up you? You want to be able to be yourself and not have to pretend that everything is hunky-dory when it's not. Putting on airs with friends is a waste of energy.

8. They view the glass as half empty. 

It's no fun hanging out with a friend that only sees the negative. You'll feel drained and depressed every time you leave their presence. Surround yourself with optimism and you'll find happiness much more easily. 

Photos: WilleeCole/Rudyanto Wijaya/Diego Cervo/

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Read More: In the Age of Facebook, Is Finding Actual Friends Harder?

 

 

Co-Sleeping Dramatically Increases SIDS Risk

05/22/2013

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Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) kills 2,100 babies per year. It’s a reality that too many parents are forced to face--the death of an infant. But what if one step could drastically reduce the chances of this tragedy occurring?

Babies who co-sleep, or sleep in the same bed as their parents, are at an increased risk of SIDS, according to new research led by Robert Carpenter, a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The risk is greatest among infants younger than 3 years old. It's five times higher than for infants who don’t co-sleep. This is also true of infants that were breast fed and whose parents didn’t drink or smoke.

"This is a really important study, because it does what no other study has done before," in that the researchers separated out each factor linked with increased SIDS risk, said Dr. Rachel Moon, a pediatrician at Children's National Medical Center in Washington D.C., and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics task force on SIDS to LiveScience. 

Researchers looked at nearly 1,500 SIDS cases and 4,700 babies. The increased risk was even worse for babies whose parents smoked or if the mother had more than two drinks in the previous 24 hours. In all, 88 percent of SIDS cases would not have occurred if parents did not co-sleep. 

"It's become really uncommon to encounter a baby who dies of SIDS who wasn't bed-sharing," Moon said to LiveScience.

According to the CDC, it's considered SIDS if the sudden death of an infant can't be explained after a thorough investigation including a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history. SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants aged 1–12 months, and is the third leading cause overall of infant mortality in the United States. 

Photo: Wavebreak Media

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Read More: Baby Names: Why Naming Regret Is Higher Than Ever

10 Tips to Make Your Dreams Happen

05/21/2013

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I remember looking up from my desk, fighting distractions but the thoughts still came rushing in with such force that I couldn’t seem to organize them. I wasn't in the right place and I wasn't doing the right thing. What was my next step? After five years working in my 9 to 5, I felt robotic and dispassionate. 

I had always wanted to be a writer, it was even my major in college, but knowing that it paid so little and success was rare, I had blown off my dreams for the dreams of someone else.

It was at that point, sitting in my cubicle in a small town in South Carolina that I made my decision--I was going to be a writer. I’ve never regretted my decision and wake up each morning excited for the day to come.

1. Acknowledge your dreams.

I had always wanted to be a writer. In fact, I remember trying to write a novel when I was 7 years old.  But it still took me five years of employment to realize that my dreams were my own--mine to work toward or mine to deny. Decide what you want out of life and go for it. 

2. Create a plan.

Lay out what important things must take place for your dreams to come true. What steps must be accomplished for your dreams to become a reality? 

3. Don’t wait for someday.

Don’t put your dreams off, get working on them right now. While planning is of course a necessity, putting your dreams off means they may never come true. 

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice, heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” --Steve Jobs

4. Set short term goals. 

Lay out mini steps to accomplish your goals. Where do you hope to be in two years? What about five years? Figure out what steps need to be taken to meet the goals you need for success.

5. Review progress.

Set dates on your calendar to take a look at how far you’ve come and where you need to go. 

6. Get some confidence.

You have to believe that you can accomplish your goals in order to accomplish them. Notice self doubt when it starts to materialize. Noticing when it comes on is half the battle. You deserve to be happy and get what you want out of life no matter what it takes to reach your goals. But if you don’t believe that you’re capable of reaching your goals, then your own negative talk will actually keep you from reaching them. 

7. Beat down distractions.

What daily distractions keep you from working toward your goals? Look very closely at the way you spend your day and beat down distractions before they begin to eat away at your dreams.

8. It’s not luck.

We often want to think that only the lucky ones realize all their dreams. That’s not true, it's only a little bit of luck, it's also hard work, focus, confidence, and optimism. 

9. Understand that failure isn’t always a bad thing. 

If you don’t get the job you dreamed of or your small business doesn’t make it, that’s not always a bad thing. Sometimes failure helps us move toward realizing our true dreams or we learn something.

“Failures are simply stepping stones to success.  No matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should be.  Either you succeed or you learn something.  Win-Win.  The biggest mistake you can make is doing nothing because you’re too scared to make a mistake.  If you can’t handle failure, then you can’t handle success either.” --MarcandAngelHackLife

10. Believe in hard work. 

If you really love what you’re doing then hard work isn’t work at all. People with a passion have trouble separating work and play because they truly love their life. It’s okay to work really hard. 

Photo: Mikhail Dudarev/Mangostock/Rnl

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Read More: 6 Ways to Find Focus

Sunshine May Reduce Asthma Symptoms

05/20/2013

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Researchers are finding more and more often that environmental factors play a role in the development and maintenance of asthma symptoms. According to Boston Community Asthma Initiative, scented candles and air deodorizers, chemical cleaners, smoking, dust, and mold all play vital roles in triggering asthma symptoms.

But even seemingly indirect factors may impact symptoms. Researchers from King’s College London found that the amount of time asthma sufferers spend in the sun may also impact their the symptoms.

Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to worsened symptoms. The sun seems to calm the overactive part of the immune system that causes asthma. The study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, found that interleukin-17, a chemical in the immune system, is aggravated when vitamin D levels are too low. 

"We know people with high levels of vitamin D are better able to control their asthma - that connection is quite striking," said researcher Prof Catherine Hawrylowicz to BBC News.

The culture of covering up completely in the sun may be causing increased asthma rates in the U.S. Researchers haven’t studied whether vitamin D by itself had the same impact on results. 

Malayka Rahman, from the charity Asthma UK, said to BBC News: "For the majority of people with asthma, current available medicines are an effective way of managing the condition but we know that they don't work for everyone, which is why research into new treatments is vital.”

Treating asthma with sunshine is also more natural than medications with a number of side effects. 

Photo: Howard Sayer/Veer

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Read More: Junk Food Causes Childhood Asthma and Other Allergic Reactions

6 Ways to Let Go of Fear

05/19/2013

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The cycle of fear in our lives can be crippling. It keeps us from falling asleep at bedtime and wakes us up in the night. It distracts us from our workday and keeps us from having a good time when we’re out with friends. We’re afraid that following our dreams will mean we fall flat on our faces. 

Fear isn’t always a bad thing, it plays a major role in our survival, but the cycle of blanketing fear inflicts untold stressors on our body and mind. Here are 6 steps for letting go of the cycle of fear: 

1. Identify it.

When fear strikes, take the necessary steps to identify it. Close your eyes and watch as the fear bottles up inside you. Label your fear in a word or a sentence. Write it down in a journal. Do this every time you feel fear coming on and notice the cycle. Don’t run away from fear, face it. 

2. Is it valid?

If the same fears continue to rise to the surface, note whether they are valid or not. Endless worry often isn’t valid at all, rather, it’s a tendency we have as a result of a mind that wants to be active. 

3. Do something about it if you can, and if you can’t, change the way you approach it. 

If a fear is valid then you can often do something about it, and if it’s not, you have to change the way you approach it. If you’re a worry wart, for example, your mind needs to change, not the things that you fear. What leads you to start worrying? What sets off your anxiety? Watching your mind through meditation can help you to get to know your tendencies better.

4. Don’t compare. 

Comparing ourselves to others worsens the situation. When you feel the fear coming on, stay off Facebook, Twitter, and other social media outlets and resist the urge to list your shortcomings when compared to those around you. 

5. It’s all you.

Your thoughts are your’s alone. “[A]ccept that in order to become more mindful, we must recognize that we are solely responsible for the thoughts our minds produce. While we can’t stop our minds completely, we can take control over them and create moments of peace for ourselves.” --Tiny Buddha 

6. Breathe.

It's about learning to watch your thoughts rather than reacting to them. Take a seat, close your eyes, and begin to watch your breath. On the inhale say “let” and the exhale say “go.” Breathe your fears right out of your body. 

Photo: Corbis Images/John Madere/Sam Diephuis/Corbis Images

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Read More: 13 Ways to Be Free in Spirit 

CDC Finds Swimming Pools Contaminated with Fecal Matter

05/18/2013

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A study of public pools found that they are regularly contaminated with feces by swimmers. The CDC collected samples of water from pool filters in public pools and tested the samples for various bacteria. 

The study found that 58 percent of pool filters tested positive for e.coli, a bacteria found in the human gut and feces. According to the CDC, e.coli is a known marker of fecal contamination. It should be noted that no sample tested positive for 0157:H7 e.coli, the toxin-producing strain of e.coli that’s known to make people sick. 

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which causes infections of the skin and ear, was found in 59 percent of samples. Cryptosporidium and Giardia germs, which spreads through feces and causes diarrhea were found in less than 2 percent of samples. 

The study only looked at public pools, not water parks, private pools, or other types of recreational swimming areas, but the same problems can be expected in all situations. 

“Swimming is an excellent way to get the physical activity needed to stay healthy,” said Michele Hlavsa, chief of CDC’s Healthy Swimming Program. “However, pool users should be aware of how to prevent infections while swimming. Remember, chlorine and other disinfectants don’t kill germs instantly. That’s why it’s important for swimmers to protect themselves by not swallowing the water they swim in and to protect others by keeping feces and germs out of the pool by taking a pre-swim shower and not swimming when ill with diarrhea.”

The study will be presented at Recreational Water Illness and Injury Prevention Week, May 20-26, 2013. 

Here are a few tips that you can take to avoid fecal contamination at the pool: 

• Shower before entering the pool.
• Rinse off before you get back in the pool.
• Check the chlorine levels of the pool often. Proper levels are as follows: (1-3 mg/L parts per million [ppm] and pH (7.2-7.8) levels
• Don’t swallow water in the pool.
• Don’t change diapers poolside.

Photo: Creatas

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Read More: Incurable Gonorrhea Strain Worse Than We Thought 

Your Handbag as Dirty as a Toilet Seat, Study Finds

05/17/2013

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As I look at the bottom of my handbag I find an empty candy wrapper, a wine opener, a few bobby pins, and sand from the beach. It isn’t pretty, in fact, it’s where lip gloss, broken sunglasses, and business cards go to die. It’s not a place of cleanliness because it’s mine and no one has to know it’s dirty but me.

But then there’s the bacteria, a big problem, according to a study from Initial Washroom Hygiene Solutions and reported by CBSLocal.

What’s inside your handbag is covered with germs, more than you’d find on a toilet seat. Hand cream, mascara, lip stick, and hand sanitizer bottles are among the most bacteria-laden. 

Doctor Sorana Segal-Maurer with New York Hospital-Queens said cell phones are also covered in bacteria.

“We don’t want to put it down. It goes into the bathroom with some people — not a good idea,” Segal-Maurer said to CBSLocal. “You really need to wipe it down.”

And that apple--clean it off.

“Number one, you’re probably not going to wash your hands before you go reaching for it, and number two, it’s floating around next to all the other stuff in your bag and then you want to put it in your mouth — it’s not a good idea,” Segal-Maurer said.

The outside of your bag is also covered in bacteria, especially if you’re one of those people that plops their bag down on the bathroom floor. Instead, hang your bag on a bathroom hook or don’t take it into the bathroom in the first place. The study found that leather bags held on to the most bacteria, likely because it’s so difficult to wash them.

This study isn’t any reason to panic, rather, it’s just one more reason to wash your hands with soap and water and clean your bag out once in a while. But for sure, your handbag is another place that germs like to hide. 

Photo: Fuse

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Read More: Can You Get the Flu From Your Cell Phone?

8 Foods that Detox Your Arteries

05/16/2013

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Overtime your arteries can begin to accumulate plaque and if you’re not careful, you may not even notice until the damage is done.

Heart disease can creep up on your body and so can the risk for heart attack or stroke too. Detoxing your arteries should be part of your daily ritual and can be acocmplished through a healthy diet. 

By making certain artery cleansing foods a part of your diet, you can keep your arteries running clean long into old age. Here are some heart healthy foods you should add to your grocery list:

1. Kiwi

Kiwis are loaded with flavonoids that cleanse your blood vessels and decrease inflammation. They're also loaded with fiber, which reduces cholestrol and reduces your risk of heart disease. 

2. Shrimp

While shrimp do have cholesterol, they also contain taurine, an amino acid which protects the arteries from fat crossing the intestinal wall. 

3. Avocado

Avocados have been shown to reduce total blood cholesterol by an average of 17 points. A compound called beta-sitosterol does the work. Cholesterol plays a big role in your arteries because high cholesterol levels build up plaque along the artery walls. Blood vessels can become blocked and even rupture, causing heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. 

4. Olive Oil

One of the polyphenols in olive oil, hydroxytyrosol, helps protect the cells that line your blood vessels from being damaged by overly reactive oxygen molecules. Therefore, it keeps the blood flowing through your arteries flowing strong. 

5. Asparagus 

Asparagus is one of the best, natural artery-clearing foods around, says Shane Ellison, an organic chemist and author of Over-The-Counter Natural Cures to Shape. "Asparagus works within the 100,000 miles of veins and arteries to release pressure, thereby allowing the body to accommodate for inflammation that has accumulated over the years." 

6. Sardines

Sardines have become all the rage as of late and that's a good thing considering that sardines are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids and niacin, both which are good for your heart. Add them to salads, dressings, or eat them with crackers.

7. Rolled Oats

Rolled oats contain beta-glucan, which lowers cholesterol and keeps plaque levels low in the arteries. Make homemade rolled oats with coconut milk, honey, nuts, and dried fruits. 

8. Watermelon

L-citrulline, an amino acid found in watermelon has been found to lower cholesterol because the body produces nitric oxide, which widens the blood vessels.

Photo: Digital Vision/Digital Vision/IStock

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Read More: Baldness a Signal of Heart Disease?

Should You Get a Colonic?

05/15/2013

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A colonic is a proceedure that purges the colon of waste products as a sort of "cleansing" for the body.

Colonics were first used in the U.S. in the 1920’s and 1930’s but in the past few years they’ve become popular once again.

There are two types of colonics: 1) a gravity feed (where gravity does the work of pushing the water into your system) and 2) a pressured colonic (more intensely sprays water into your system). 

What to Expect at Your Colonic

When you go in for a colonic you’ll first fill out a patient history form with your colonic hydrotherapist. Then you’ll get into a gown and lie face down on the treatment table. A disposable speculum will be inserted into your anus, which is connected to a disposable plastic hose and then attached to a colon hydrotherapy unit.

Water is pushed into your body, causing the colon to contract and release feces through the hose. You may feel discomfort from the pressure of the water, but if you choose the less intense gravity feed, you may not. The hydrotherapist may massage your stomach to release additional feces. You can’t smell the feces but you can see it exiting the body through a tube. 

Are You a Good Candidate for a Colonic?

The purpose of a colonic is to remove accumulated waste and toxins as well as to relieve constipation. The theory of autointoxication is another reason why enthusiasts like colonics. The theory says that undigested meat and other foods can cause mucus buildup in the small intestine, releasing toxins into the entire body. This causes symptoms including fatigue, headache, weight gain, and a decrease in energy.

If you feel constipated and think you have these symptoms, this may be something to consider. While research on colonics is limited to this day, enthusiasts cite benefits including improved mental outlook, improved immunity, weight loss, and reduced risk of colon cancer.

But keep in the mind that without a colonic the body detoxes on its own through natural bacteria as well as through the liver, which neutralizes toxins on a daily basis. Mucus membranes in the colon keep unwanted substances from reentering the body and, additionally, the colon sheds cells every three days. 

Negative Side Effects

Negative side effects include vomiting, nausea, cramps, dizziness, dehydration, mineral imbalances, interference with medication absorption, bowel perforation, infection, and depletion of natural bowel flora. You can replenish natural bowel flora with probiotic supplements and by eating fermented, probiotic-rich foods. 

You shouldn’t get a colonic if you have ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, hemorrhoids, congestive heart failure, heart disease, severe anemia, gastrointestinal cancer, recent colon surgery, intestinal tumors, or if you’re pregnant. 

Is a colonic right for you? You be the judge.

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Read More: Is colon cleansing a good idea?

Foreign Born Americans Less Likely to Have Allergies

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A study from St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York found that U.S. kids living outside of the U.S. have fewer allergies.

The questionnaire used for the study was distributed to 91,642 children, ages 0-17 enrolled in the 2007-2008 National Survey of Children’s Health. 

Head researcher Jonathan I. Silverberg, M.D., Ph.D, MPH and colleagues looked at the prevalence of allergic disease. Children who were born outside of the U.S. had less atopic disorders like asthma, eczema, hay fever, and food allergies. Additionally, children born outside the U.S., whose parents were also born outside the U.S., had significantly lower odds of having atopic disorders than children whose parents were born in the U.S., according to Science Daily.

Children who lived in the U.S. for 10 years had significantly higher instances of these allergies when compared to children who had lived in the U.S. for only 0-2 years. 

"In conclusion, foreign-born Americans have significantly lower risk of allergic disease than US-born Americans. However, foreign-born Americans develop increased risk for allergic disease with prolonged residence in the United States," the study concludes.

"It's a stark reality considering that of the 40,000 U.S. families surveyed in another recent study, 8 percent had food allergies of some sort," said Dr. Ruchi Gupta of Children's Memorial Hospital who is also an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University's School of Medicine to PBS. 

A number of issues may be leading to increased allergic vulnerability in U.S. kids including overly sterile environments, which don’t allow a child’s immune system to properly develop. Additives and pesticides in the Western diet may be changing gut flora so that kids can no longer handle certain foods, creating sensitivity, both mild and severe. Milk proteins, genetically modified ingredients, and the prevalence of c-sections may also be to blame for increased childhood allergies.

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Read More: Sharing Your Child’s Pacifier May Mean Less Allergies Later On