Past research has tied poor sleep to increased risk of cancer, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes, but new research adds ruined relationships to the list. And since so many of us get less than the recommended seven to nine hours of shut-eye, it is no wonder our relationships are suffering.

Researchers at the Ohio State University discovered that people who sleep less than seven hours per night had a higher risk of becoming hostile towards their partners. If one partner had enough sleep, however, there were lower chances of a fight or resolving an argument in a hostile way.

The Study

The research team asked 43 couples to argue about their common issues in laboratory conditions. The discussions were recorded. Volunteers agreed to have their levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 proteins measured. High levels of these two proteins can boost the risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases.

While sleep deprivation did not alter these markers it did lead to arguments that boosted the markers. Past studies had revealed that men tend to be more aggressive than women after one night of poor sleep. The research also showed that couples tend to start hostilities after just two weeks of sleep deprivation.

The Ohio research revealed that there is a link between sleep deprivation, conflict and a rise in inflammatory markers that can lead to disease. We may be aware that lack of sleep makes us short tempered and less able to make decisions or be empathic. Lack of sleep also takes a heavy toll on the partners’ sense of humor, which is a must-have in any relationship.

Researchers explained that sleep deprivation affects the part of the brain that enables us to solve problems. Without sufficient sleep, it is hard to be an active listener, have a good sense of humor and be open to another person’s suggestions.
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E-cigarette use or vaping is considered to be a lot safer than traditional smoking, but new research suggests vaping may entice teens to take up smoking.

The study, which was published this week in the journal Tobacco Control, found a “robust” link between vaping and starting to smoke within a year in teens. For their research, scientists surveyed nearly 3,000 children from 20 schools in the U.K. Most of the volunteers were non-smokers, while a third had tried e-cigarettes.

Thirty four percent of the group that vaped reported having smoked at least one real cigarette within one year. Only 9 percent of the teens in the group of non-smokers that never vaped reported starting smoking within a year.

Lead author of the study Mark Conner underlined that the findings are a “strong indicator” that e-cigarette users tend to take up smoking or try conventional cigarettes within 12 months.

Other Findings

The research team couldn’t tell if the teens took up smoking over that period or just experimented with tobacco cigarettes. Researchers couldn’t tell either if the teens using e-cigarettes would have tried conventional tobacco products anyway.

However, researchers found that teens with no smoking friends would normally have the lowest risk of taking up smoking, but if they vaped that risk increased exponentially.

The study revealed that e-cigarette users with no smoking friends had a 4.5% higher risk of becoming smokers than non-e-cigarette-users with smoking friends. Co-author Sarah Grogan concluded that vaping boosts the risk of starting to smoke cigarettes in teens with no smoking friends.

Grogan noted this particular finding is at odds with the popular belief that-cigarette users end up smoking because of peer pressure from smokers in their network of friends.

Researchers speculate that the recently-found link between vaping and smoking may be due to nicotine addiction which is a real problem for e-cigarette users too.
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A team of scientists released a paper which states that its price tag could also influence a person’s taste buds when consuming wine. According to this, a more expensive wine is considered to taste better than one with a cheaper price tag. To test this theory, the research team also conducted a series of experiments.

The Perception of How Wine Tastes Like Influenced By the Marketing Placebo Effect

University of Bonn scientists from the Center for Economics and Neuroscience (CENs) led by Professor Bernd Weber conducted this new study.

They carried out a series of experiments which involved 30 participants, half of them women, the other half men. On median, these were around 30 years old. The research tested the so-called “marketing placebo effect”.

This claims that identical products are perceived to taste differently because of their more expensive or cheaper price tags. For this research, the team looked to assess how the varying prices affected the participants’ perception of how a wine tastes like.

The people tested allegedly different wines while being connected to an MRI scan which registered their brain responses “live”. Before consuming the wine, each participant was shown its set price tag, be it cheaper or more expensive. Then, they were asked to rate it via a button. This registered a response on a nine-point scale.

The research team used an average to good wine in its tests.

This is because “The marketing placebo effect has its limits: If, for example, a very low-quality wine is offered for 100 euros, the effect would predictably be absent,” stated Professor Weber.

He then continued by saying that “The reward and motivation system is activated more significantly with higher prices and apparently increases the taste experience in this way.”

The research team will reportedly be looking to determine if the reward system could be trained to be less vulnerable to the placebo marketing phenomenon.

Current study results were released in a paper in the journal Scientific Reports.

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A new study found that around 2 billion people struggle with excess weight, obesity, and other health problems caused by poor diets and lack of physical activity. This means that one-third of the world’s population is affected by weight issues.

In the U.S., there is the highest percentage of obese teens and kids (13%), while Egypt has the most obese adults (35%), among the 195 countries surveyed.

In 2015, 2.2 billion people lived with excess weight, of whom more than 700 million were diagnosed as obese. In addition, more and more people are killed by health issues caused by carrying excess weight such as heart disease or diabetes.

The findings were reported this week in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Researchers also found that 4 million of the people who died because of a high BMI were not diagnosed as obese. This means that excess weight can lead to premature death even when the patient isn’t considered obese.

A Piece of Advice from Researchers

Lead researcher Dr. Christopher Murray who is heading the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation noted that people who ignore their weight problems do it at their own risk.

Murray advises people to turn their New Year’s resolutions to lose weight into year-round commitments to shed the extra pounds and prevent excess weight in the future.

For the study, researchers sifted through data on 68.5 million people. The data was provided by the Global Burden of Disease study which analyzes trends involving injuries, diseases, and conditions worldwide.

The study revealed that the number of people living with obesity has doubled over the last three decades in more than 70 countries. Women were the most likely to be affected by obesity.

The number of children affected by obesity was lower than adults, but obesity rates among children were higher, which means childhood obesity could become rampant in the near future if nothing is done to curb it.

The chances of having a 100 percent healthy diet are as likely as the possibility of growing your own fruits and vegetables in a 2-bedroom apartment. Nevertheless, it is not impossible to lead a balanced life sustained by vitamin-packed foods. Unfortunately, there are many “posers” out there, tricking people into believing that they are eating healthy when, in fact, they are filling up on flavor enhancers and harmful oils. To this extent, we have compiled a list of 11 food items that confirm the adage looks can be deceiving.

Crispbread

While many prefer to replace a good old loaf of bread with a couple of pieces of crispbread as the latter looks healthier, it is not always the truth. Unfortunately, many manufacturers use things like preservatives, dyes, and modified starch when producing it, individuals ending up eating food that looks, tastes, and has the nutritional value of a piece of cardboard infused with harmful oils and preservatives.

Healthy replacement: Whole-wheat crispbread with no additional dyes, preservatives, yeast, and modified starch; whole-wheat or whole grains bread.

Gluten-Free Foods

Speaking of bread, gluten-free foods have become a trend, lately, a concerningly high number of people who do not suffer from celiac disease choosing a gluten-free diet without realizing the risks they are exposing themselves to. Gluten is a protein found in most grains. It only affects about 1 percent of the entire population of the planet – those suffering from gluten intolerance. When people who tolerate gluten replace bread with a gluten-free variant, they actually give up on eating a healthy meal while imbibing themselves with the plethora of refined additives that replace the protein.

Healthy replacement: bread

Banana Chips

Banana chips are relatively healthy as they contain magnesium, iron, potassium, and food fiber. However, the majority also contain plenty of sugar and flavor enhancers. Moreover, not all banana chips are cooked in the oven, manufacturers preferring to deep-fry them.

Healthy replacements: bananas or homemade banana chips baked in the oven (keep in mind that homemade banana chips will not be as sweet as their sugar-packed commercial counterparts).

Vegetable Chips

While banana chips still contain some vitamins and nutrients that are undeniably beneficial for the body, vegetable chips are among the biggest posers on this list. Usually, a bag of vegetable chips contains sweet potato, carrots, beetroot, parsnip, and kale. In order to make them taste as delicious as they do, manufacturers add more than a dash of salt, sugar, and flavors. More than often dyes are added into the equation.

Healthy replacements: if you don’t have the time to bake your own vegetable chips, you can always chop fresh vegetables and dip them into a home-made yogurt dressing.

Candied and Dried Fruit

Candied fruits usually contain high amounts of sugar, a single piece satisfying the daily recommended dose. Dried fruit can go bad as quick as regular fruit. To avoid selling bags filled with moldy dried apricots, manufacturers usually add sulfur dioxide and fungicides to their products.

Healthy replacements: home-made dried fruit or their natural counterparts

Canned Fruit and Vegetables

It’s true that caned fruit and vegetables are considerably cheaper and longer-lived than the unprocessed items, a can of vegetables of fruit contains more than enough sugar, vinegar, and barbecue sauce.

Healthy replacements: if you don’t afford to always buy fresh and risk the food to spoil, canning fruit and vegetables at home is always a healthier option.

Tasty Starchy Vegetables

Not all vegetables are healthy, some bringing more benefits than others. For example, starchy food items like pears, potatoes, corn, yams, and pumpkin offer more calories than minerals, fibers, and vitamins, meaning that they are best suited for breakfast or lunch.

Healthy replacements: if you’re on a diet and counting your daily calories, it’s best to eat more leafy greens. However, starchy vegetables shouldn’t be eliminated from your daily meals, just opt for a lighter dinner.

Processed Cheese

Processed cheese – especially the shiny deep yellow stuff found in cheeseburgers – is riddled with salt and other additives. Canned cheese is a definite no-no, and spreadable cheese has more additives than natural ingredients.

Healthy replacements: cottage cheese, mozzarella, Edam, cheddar, and any other quality cheese products.

Instant Oatmeal

As a general rule: nothing that contains the word instant is healthy. Instant oatmeal is no exception as the smaller the flakes, the more time it took to process them and enhance their flavor.

Healthy replacements: coarsely ground oatmeal that, even though it takes a little more time to cook, packs plenty of nutrients and fibers.

Fruit Yogurt

Fruit yogurt rarely contains actual pieces of fruit, but in abounds in preservatives, dyes, and flavor enhancers. Even more, to make it more appealing, manufacturers usually add extra sugar.

Healthy replacements: natural Greek yogurt or yogurt with high levels of proteins and low amounts of sugar.

Sports Drinks

Even though they have electrolytes – which are the new best thing – sports drinks are also rich in carbohydrates, artificial flavors, and even caffeine or taurine. They’re not health-hazard bad, but sports drinks can stress the pancreas into releasing more insulin than needed, ending up making the body feel more tired than if the person in question opted for a tall glass of water instead.

Healthy replacements: water or freshly squeezed orange juice.

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In a not so distant future, sex with robots could replace human intimacy, at least partially. Manchester is host to the Human Choice and Computers conference on human intimacy and technology. Scientists from various fields are discussing how technological advancements will impact society.

The rise of artificial intelligence and “sex dolls” could prove to be addictive enough to replace human to human intimacy.

There is a large media library on “robots taking over.” In a different context, famous genius Stephen Hawking believes that the rise of artificial intelligence could be the end for humans.

In a world already troubled by flawed communication and intimacy, robot technology could prove to be a serious competitor to a romantic relationship.

Robot sex dolls could become so advanced, that some could become addicted to this type of cyborg sex.

Encounters between humans and robots will not carry emotional baggage or performance ratings. It could also save a lot of money on expensive gifts or dates. It could also be a progress to some people who find it hard to maintain human relationships.

According to Dr. David Kreps, senior lecturer from Salford University, new materials, and advancements in technology have resulted in an increased level of intimacy for humans and technology.

He further explained that technology plays a bigger role in our lives than ever before. We’ve got Facebook for personal relationships, all kinds of sensors to track diseases and portable smartphones. Sex dolls with artificial intelligence were the next obvious step.

There are some benefits to this new technology emerging. For example, robot-dolls could be the end of sexually transmitted diseases and we could even see the end of unwilling humans being pushed into prostitution.

Some experts in the field believe that there is a middle way. Humans could end up using sex toys or even robots to spice up their sex lives, and eventually build a stronger relationship which may include robot use.

Kate Moyle, a psychosexual therapist in London has come up with a novel idea: an iPhone app called “Pillow Play.” It uses interactive technology to allow couples to improve their intimacy.

Moyle has not commented on the app but pointed out that one of the negative effects of having a sex life based solely on robotic encounters could impend an individual’s ability to connect with others.

Do you think we’re headed for a bleak robot future? Or that we could find a balance between the benefits and disadvantages of technology? Leave us a comment, below! Thanks.

Image Source – Pixabay

 

 

There is a growing homework debate across America. While some teachers completely give up assigning homework to students, others still believe in the power of homework to shape young minds.

Teacher Brandy Young is one of the teachers who sparked off a national debate, by completely renouncing homework.

Young works in the Godley School, in Fort Worth. She gave a notice to parents that she will not assign work outside class.

She says she bases her decision on research, which has shown no conclusive evidence that homework helps a child perform better in school.

Instead, she asked parents to spend the evenings in ways that are proven to ensure success for students. Methods like eating dinner together, reading together,  playing outside and tucking the child in bed early.

It sounds like a great advice for all families. However some wonder if a little bit of homework could go a long way.

Some parents tell stories of teachers who give their students with boring, mindless homework that wastes a lot of time. These are families already stressed out from parents’ jobs and kids’ homework activities.

Some newspapers are touting the homework apocalypse, even, with headlines like “We’re destroying our kids with homework” and others along those lines.

Some parents tell stories of fifth graders who are supposed to be in school from 8 pm to 5 pm. Others are upset because their child is supposed to read 10 books every day and can’t get enough sleep.

There is some research which supports these parents and teachers – a 2006 survey found that homework in primary grades doesn’t have to do with academic performance, and it’s only beneficial to older students, in smaller doses.

However, upon a closer look, most researchers agree that smaller amounts of homework help students get good study habits, act responsibly and involve parents in their child’s education.

These studies recommend between 10 and 20 minutes of homework daily, for the youngest students. Most teachers only ask their students to do simple things, together with parents- things like practicing counting, reading aloud and recognizing words.

What’s your opinion on this article? Do you think that your child receives too much homework? Or maybe we should focus on our children more? Please leave a comment below.

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Around twenty-four million people take cruises each year. An earlier report showed that people love cruising around, especially after retirement. A quarter of the cruising enthusiasts are sixty or older, and over one-fifth are retired.

One of the main reasons cruises are popular with this age group is because they are taken care of at high standards. There is no need to do the cooking, cleaning, there are a lot of activities going on and there is plenty of entertainment.

Most people return home to their regular lives when the cruise is over. Lee Wachtstetter however never leaves the ship. She lives on board the Crystal Serenity permanently. She has been doing so for the past eight years.

She loves the fact that the doesn’t have to clean the house, shop, or cook. She can do what she pleases when she pleases and that’s very reassuring.

She talks to her family back home daily. She even talks to them twice a day, just so she won’t be there. Her late husband, Mason was also a cruise enthusiast. When he died, they had taken almost one hundred cruises together. His last words before dying were “Don’t you quit cruising.”

So the senior started to cruise frequently. Soon, she got tired of packing and unpacking so she sold the house she had in Florida and her car and belongings and did not look back ever since.

Captain of the Crystal Serenity, Birger Vorland, said that “she knows everybody and everybody knows her.” He also compared Lee Wachtstetter to a diva. She’s got her opinions and her day to day habits and she’s a great person.

Although many people of her age choose a retirement place, she doesn’t want to. She is a great-grandmother, but she doesn’t want to spend all the time she’s got with them.

Mama Lee, as she is known on the ship, has done over 240 cruises worldwide. She’s seen many ports. But for her, it feels like she’s seen it all. She loves the company and she loves the ship. She doesn’t get off it anymore.

The price tag for such an amazing adventure is around 175,000 dollars per year. The cruise director, Rick Spath sees himself as part of Mamma Lee’s family at sea.

The 86-year-old loves to dance and does so every day, around a quarter passed five.

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It is the first time a major sexual minority study reveals unfair treatment. The premiere survey conducted at a national level has asked high school students about their sexuality. It found that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered teens had a greater risk for depression, bullying and other types of violence, compared to their straight colleagues.

According to Dr. Jonathan Mermin, a senior official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the numbers were “heartbreaking”.

The study found what smaller studies have been hinting for years. However, this particular survey is important because it’s the first time the government looks at teenage sexuality in connection to identity. The study found that around eight percent of the high schoolers described themselves as LGBT. That accounts for 1.3 million students across America.

These teenagers were three times more exposed to rape, than their straight counterparts. LGBT teenagers skipped school a lot more than their colleagues, as they did not feel safe. One-third of them was bullied on school premises. These teens were twice as exposed to injury or threat with a weapon on school property.

Over forty percent of LGBT students considered suicide and twenty-nine percent attempted to do so in the year previous to the survey. When it came to drug use, 1.3 percent of straight students had used heroin, compared to a six percent figure of the lesbian, gay , bisexual and transgendered students who have done the same thing.

Dr. Mermin also pointed out that the nation should act on reducing these figures quickly. The survey was conducted with 13,600 students across the United States, with ages ranging form 14 to 17.

Although the figures reveal loneliness and discrimination which is too longstanding and too familiar, at least they helped create a national database with information on teen sexuality.

Dr. Debra Houry, who is in charge of the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control wants more prevention campaigns.

She mentioned programs such as Green Dot which empowers students to support victims of bullying.  Other programs help vulnerable students cope with dangerous situations.

The report did not look at the underlying causes of the situation.

What’s your opinion on this news piece? Have you ever experienced bullying? Please leave a comment below and tell us what you think. Thank you.

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New research suggests that reading books could prolong your life. The study involved looking at 3,635 people’s reading habits.

Experts split the sample in three groups: those who did not read at all, those who read up to three and a half hours per week and those who read for more than three and a half hours weekly.

The study got published in Social Science and Medicine and it revealed that book readers are more likely to be females with a college education and in higher income groups.

Researchers correlated this information with other factors, like age group, race, health, employment and marital status.

Compared to those who did not read at all, those who were in the middle group were seventeen percent less likely to die over a course of twelve years, and those who read more than three and a half hours weekly were the least likely to die, by twenty-three percent.

Those who read more lived two years longer than those who did not read at all. There was a similar connection between newspaper readers or periodical readers but it was not as strong as the above-mentioned link.

Even people who read as little as a half hour per day have a better chance of survival than those who don’t read at all – according to senior author, Becca R Levy, professor of epidemiology at Yale.

Others have argued that reading remains a sedentary activity, so maybe it’s not fair to expect increased life spans for reading.

But the authors of the study remain convinced that reading, perhaps through enhancing knowledge, leads to longer lifespans.

Another Mayo Clinic Study on Aging found in 2008 that reading books could protect older people from dementia, by as much as 50 percent.

Over the last few years, we are seeing an increase in the e-book market. Nearly half of all Americans were reading e-books in 2014.

The trend seems to be less in favor of paperback books. A lot of people choose e-books because they are less expensive, they can read them off their tablet and they are more portable than traditional print books.

What’s your opinion on this article? Do you agree that reading expands your life? Leave a comment below. Thanks!

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