Credit: iStock Did you know our brains glow? Well, not glow exactly—technically it’s called fluorescence—but this phenomenon ends up making the brain look kind of like red and green Christmas lights under a microscope. If you want to impress your family and friends at the holiday dinner table this season, read on to learn more … Continue reading The Cerebral Christmas Lights: Your Glowing Brain
Holidays
Gobble Up Your Thanksgiving Turkey for Better Gut Health
Credit: iStock With Thanksgiving just around the corner, many people connect their post-feast drowsiness to the amino acid tryptophan found in turkey. But how does tryptophan make you feel sleepier and more relaxed? It turns out tryptophan is not only known for causing those cozy post-meal naps but also for being a precursor to Vitamin … Continue reading Gobble Up Your Thanksgiving Turkey for Better Gut Health
How Your Brain Reacts to the Sounds of the Season
Credit: iStock With Thanksgiving now behind us, the sounds of Christmas seem to flood the airwaves. Some songs are lively and joyful, while others are slow and contemplative. But whatever the tune, there’s an undeniable familiarity that comes with hearing those omnipresent songs associated with “the most wonderful time of the year.” For some, these … Continue reading How Your Brain Reacts to the Sounds of the Season
Holiday Time: Not So Good for the Heart
Credit: iStock With the holiday season coming up, you may be rejoicing about much-needed time off from school or work. For many of us, the winter holidays mean great food and an opportunity to see friends and family. For many researchers, however, the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day represents a spike in cardiac … Continue reading Holiday Time: Not So Good for the Heart
Don’t Let Food Poisoning Spoil Your Holiday Fun
Credit: iStock In Hawai’i, no matter the holiday or occasion, there’s always a spread of pūpūs, small appetizers and finger foods that typically include spicy ahi poke, shoyu edamame and other local favorites. As my grandma says, “Everything is so ono (delicious)!” Leftovers are often packed as a convenient meal or snack for the next … Continue reading Don’t Let Food Poisoning Spoil Your Holiday Fun
Tired after Thanksgiving Dinner? It’s Not Just the Turkey!
Credit: iStock Are you looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner? It can be a great opportunity to spend time with family or reconnect with friends while enjoying a delicious meal. But feeling bloated and exhausted after dinner could cause your excitement to be short-lived. Who knew eating could take that much out of you? The turkey, … Continue reading Tired after Thanksgiving Dinner? It’s Not Just the Turkey!
Food for Thought
Credit: iStock This Thanksgiving is shaping up to be a holiday unlike most of us have seen. Smaller gatherings—or no gatherings at all—might mean that you’ll have more free time on your hands. Here’s some food for thought—check out these posts from our nutrition- and exercise-related collections. Whether you’re trying to curb your noshing, get … Continue reading Food for Thought
The Rocket’s Red Glare: Eye Damage and Fireworks
The warm weather of July, smell of hot dogs on the grill and the “rocket’s red glare” of fireworks in the sky make Independence Day a favorite holiday for many people. Fireworks have been around for centuries and originated in China. Saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal combined in paper tubes were some of the world’s first … Continue reading The Rocket’s Red Glare: Eye Damage and Fireworks
The ‘Holidaze’: What Happens in Your Body to Cause a Hangover
‘Tis the season for holiday parties—which may include a flurry of festive cocktails that sound too delicious not to try. Overindulge and you may wake up feeling groggy with a pounding head and a mouth drier than a month-old pine tree. Hangovers are no fun, that’s for sure. So how did you go from being … Continue reading The ‘Holidaze’: What Happens in Your Body to Cause a Hangover
Like Father, Like Son (and Daughter): How Your Dad’s Past Affects Your Future
What makes your father the best dad in the world? Maybe it’s his sense of humor or the times he has taken you to the movies or played catch in the yard. Or maybe it’s the fact that he made healthy lifestyle choices before you were born. Recent research suggests that your father’s health before … Continue reading Like Father, Like Son (and Daughter): How Your Dad’s Past Affects Your Future