Antioxidants: Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine discovered that a chemical found in vegetables reduces problems caused during inflammation. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, states that thiocyanate, a dietary antioxidant found in broccoli and cauliflower, protects cells from damage caused by chemicals released when inflammation occurs as a response to infection and injury. Yet another reason to eat your veggies.
Mating: It looks like women may be responsible for the alpha male personality. According to a study published in the journal Biological Reviews, sexual selection (competition between one sex for a mate – usually males competing to be chosen by females) may have shaped the evolution of the male personality, which is more pronounced, daring and aggressive in males from humans to house sparrows.
Alternative: Based on experiments and surveys in the US, China and India, the authors of a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research concluded that consumers prefer Traditional Chinese Medicine to Western Medicine when uncertain about the cause of an illness because a holistic medicine approach tolerates uncertainty better than Western Medicine. “Western Medicine is primarily concerned with the material aspect of the body and views all medical phenomena as cause-effect sequences,” wrote the authors, “on the other hand, TCM and Ayurvedic Medicine favor a holistic approach, view the mind and body as a whole system.” They also determined that consumers prefer TCM to WM because they believe TCM offers an underlying cure whereas WM just alleviates symptoms.
Smoking: A study to be published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives states that cigarettes are widely contaminated with disease-causing bacteria related to food borne illnesses, anthrax and lung and blood infections. Another, published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygene said that outdoor smoking areas may be a new health hazard, as it found high levels of a nicotine byproduct in nonsmokers exposed to second-hand smoke outdoors. Yet another, published in the online journal Pediatrics, determined that children exposed to tobacco smoke prenatally and to lead during childhood face a particularly high risk for ADHD. Finally, it is now “established” that there is a connection between ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and smoking, according to a study in the journal Neurology. Any more reasons to quit?
Meditation: According to a study to be published in the December issue of the American Journal of Hypertension, Transcendental Meditation may be an effective method to reduce blood pressure, anxiety, depression and anger among at-risk college students. Patients with coronary heart disease who practiced TM had almost 50% lower rates of heart attack, stroke and death compared to nonmeditators, according to another study presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association. With so many great benefits from a few minutes of meditation, isn’t it worth your time?
Behavior: Placing blame might be contagious. According to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, observing someone being blamed triggers the perception that one’s self-image is under assault and must be protected. “When we see others protecting their egos, we become defensive too”, says the study’s lead author. We then tend to protect ourselves by blaming others for our mistakes, which is temporary relief but in the long run can hurt one’s reputation and be destructive to the workplace and society as a whole. Let’s do our best to take responsibility.
