Prescription for Well-Being

Your Brain and the Emotion: Hate

Hate…such a strong emotion and the emotion used most when we try to understand atrocious human behavior – wars, hate crimes, vengeance, etc. – or when trying to find the right word to convey how you feel when words like angry, frustrated, or annoyed doesn’t really fit the moment. We tend use the word “hate” in our daily colloquial speech to the point where it seems so common place, until it reaches beyond our moral code, and then it becomes something entirely different. What do I mean by this? Have you ever caught yourself uttering, “Ugh, I hate traffic!” or “Argh, I really hate that guy!”? I know I tend to use that word entirely too loosely when other emotions apply, but did you ever wonder why some people act upon their hate or where the emotion of hate originates?  I’m one to argue that “hate” is a learned behavior, but according to a new study published recently on PLoS One, it also lies within our brains. Hate has been linked to sections of the human brain known as the cortex, the sub-cortex, the putamen, and the insula – forming what British researchers call, the ‘hate circuit’. The ‘hate circuit’, according to the study, is associated with the aggression portion of our brains, but is separate from the areas indicating fear, threat, or danger and leads many of us to act upon our initial reactions connected with the emotion of hate.  It also taps into the frontal cortex, a section of our brain that is believed to help us anticipate the actions of others.  This anticipation gives you the advantage when facing or confronting the person you hate, according to researchers. Ironically, the sections identified (frontal cortex, sub-cortex + putamen and insula) as the central location where hate is conceived within our brains is also the same area that prompts romantic love.  Hate, like love, is irrational and can lead people to either act heroically or to become completely twisted – weird how that works...Another interesting factoid mentioned in the study, is that the amount of activity in these locations of the brain increased with the intensity to which the person declared their hate of another individual.  So how does the study work? Those who took part in the study (17 men and women) were shown pictures of those they stated as someone they hated and a “neutral” individual.  The researchers then measured the brain wave activity taking place while the series of images where shown and noticed that the most activity took place when the subject viewed the hated person’s photo.  Pretty crazy, if you ask me…the brain never ceases to amaze me.  However, the study still doesn’t answer my question of where hate originates, mostly it shows the how and why we are affected by hate, but not where the emotion begins.  Even though the study doesn’t answer the question of where hate originates, it is still incredibly interesting and leaves one to ponder about the power held within our minds.

Prevacid and Low Cost Alternatives

On occasion I’ll peruse through some of our top searched drugs on Drx.com to look at drug comparison trends and recently came across Prevacid.

Prescribed to treat effects from stomach ulcers, erosive esophagitis and other conditions, Prevacid is a Proton Pump Inhibitor, which limits production of stomach acid.

I went ahead and did a little research to compile a table with some drug comparison stats on Low Cost Alternatives for you

Enjoy.

Prevacid and Low Cost Altermatives

THE APPROVAL OF YOUR PHYSICIAN IS REQUIRED FOR ALL PRESCRIPTION STRENGTH DRUG OPTIONS AND DOSAGES. THIS INFORMATION USES APPROXIMATE DOSAGES FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES. YOUR DOCTOR WILL SELECT THE APPROPRIATE DOSE BASED ON YOUR CONDITION.

Content provided by Rxaminer: a DRX site, where you can find more information on Low Cost Alternatives.

 

We’re Living Longer, Celebrate!

Fun fact: We humans are living longer than ever before! In the last century (20^th century in case you’re curious) our average life expectancy jumped to 30 years longer.  That’s unprecedented considering in the 5,000 year history of humanity we were only living, on average, for 18-25 years (50 if you were lucky). People are now living well into the 100s range and it has been speculated that it’s the way we live our lives which has contributed to this leap in life expectancy.  According to a slide-show article on MSN Health & Fitness titled, Surprising Signs You’ll Live Longer Than You Think, there are 13 reasons why (besides the usually reasons – advances in health, education, and disease prevention/treatments) this is occurring and the article offers ways to stay happy, healthy, and wise.  I figured I’d pick a few listed to talk about in my blog today. 13 slides is a bunch of information I’d have to talk about, but my hope is that this little blog peeks your interest and you check out the slide-show yourself.  Why? Because it’s fascinating to think about how we’ve come so far as a species and that our life choices are the determining factor in how long we will live.  No longer do the elements, a predator, or a rapidly spreading disease (i.e. the plague, polio, small pox) affect our length of life, but actually how we live life…that’s HUGE considering we’re all about free-will and choice these days. Okay, on to the reasons…

1)      Tea Time Anyone?  A study of more than 40,500 Japanese men and women, who drank five or more cups of green tea each day, had a lower risk of experiencing heart disease or a stroke.  The same results were found with black tea. Why you may wonder?  Apparently fresh brewed tea such as green or black tea, contain something called catechins which helps your blood vessels relax and protects your heart.  The best part? If you’re not a big green/black tea drinker, you only need about two cups of these types of tea to do your heart some good.  However, remember that it needs to be freshly brewed tea. The prepackaged kind (though better for you than coffee or a soda) has lost some of its rejuvenating powers during the manufacturing process and doesn’t work as efficiently as the freshly brewed kind.  Also, avoid milk for your tea…it tends to eliminate the tea’s protective cardiovascular powers and it’s recommend that you just stick to honey or lemon if flavor is needed.

2)      Soda (Yes, even diet) is a Major No-No:  So we all know our dentist griped at us if we drank soda regularly. “It destroys the enamel on your teeth little Susie, so stay away from pop!” he would say and when he was out of sight we’d promptly rolled our eyes and carry on with our soda popping ways.  But, I’m afraid your dentist has a point in warning you against soda.  It does much more than just destroy your pearly whites, it also doubles your risk of metabolic syndrome – a nasty cluster of problems including high blood pressure, elevated insulin levels, and excess fat about your waist which increases your chances of becoming diabetic or heart disease.  Thanks to the artificial flavors and caramel coloring in soda our taste buds tend to become addicted to the taste of ‘sweet’ things therefore we seek out the less than healthy snacks.  So basically, lay off the one or more regular/diet sodas you have daily, and start drinking some of that tea I mentioned above for your caffeine jolt or if you just love the bubbles, try some sparkling water with a splash of lemon or lime juice (it’s good! I should know, I love drinking that stuff!)

3)      Walk this Way! Woohoo, I knew walking would someday be recognized as worthy exercise! It’s an excellent way to stay fit and it doesn’t put too much wear and tear on your body.  The term “Fit People” is defined as those of you who walk at least 30 minutes a day and you’re more likely to live longer than those who walk less.  The beauty of this? It’s regardless of how much body fat you have, according to a study done on 2,603 men and women.  All you have to do is walk for a half hour each day and you’ll be well on your way to A) losing weight and B) living longer.  Basically, just move more each day and you’ll improve the longevity of your life by ten.

4)      Don’t Flounder, Flourish – Who knew the positive person on the train this morning is healthier than their scowling seat-mate?  But apparently, they are.  About 17% of Americans are ‘Flourishers’ – people who have a positive outlook on their lives and live with a sense of community and purpose, 10% are ‘Languishers’ – people who don’t feel good about themselves or their lives, and the rest of us? Well, we’re somewhere in the middle.  Basically, if you are a generally happy person who has a bad day every now and then, you’ll live longer than the person who constantly complains about themselves or their lives.  Scoreboard says: Positive outlook 1, Negative outlook 0…I say, reevaluate and choose to be a little more positive about yourself and the life you lead.

5)      Housework…It’s good for the body? Okay, so yeah…housework is actually good for you? Apparently so.  People who do not have a maid but scrub, mop, sweep, and sweat bullets cleaning the caked on grease from the stove for a little more than an hour can burn, on average, 285 calories and lowers their risk of death by 30%.  Whoa now, you mean, I can live longer AND lose weight if I just clean my apartment?!  *starts to scrub floor*   

Personally, I just think number five is funny and had to include it…but in all honesty, really think about what the slide-show is presenting.  We, as humans, generally love living in this world and the longer we can live in it, the longer we can make our mark.  So stay healthy, laugh as much as possible, and just enjoy every minute you spend on this earth.  It’s bound to produce some rather interesting stories.

The Ever Eatable Egg

For whatever reason the egg[i] has been given a bad rap by doctors and nutritionists in the previous years but fear not, the egg has returned to its former glory of a delectable food option! You might be wondering why it was ever knocked off the charts as a good source of protein and worthy breakfast item in the first place.  Well, it seems there was a misguided notion that the cholesterol in egg yolk raises the cholesterol levels of your body therefore putting your heart at risk.  Luckily, for the egg and breakfast lovers everywhere, this silly idea has been debunked and the ever eatable egg is back on the “good things to eat” list.
According to many studies, including a recent one conducted by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the link between eggs and heart attack or stroke is unfounded in healthy people (i.e. adios bad egg myth!).  In fact eggs, in moderation, are an excellent addition to your diet.  Whole eggs are one of the best sources of a nutrient called choline which may help to lower your chance of having cancer.  A study published in the FASEB Journal titled Choline metabolism and risk of breast cancer in a population-based study (click here for a less science laced explanation of the study) found that women with a higher levels of choline in their diet reduced their chances of having breast cancer by 24%.  The valuable nutrient is found in the yolks of eggs, so what does this mean for all of you who order ‘egg-white only’? You can FINALLY have a reason to enjoy an egg as it’s meant to be enjoyed, yolk and all.  Here is another reason that you should embrace the egg as a whole…Yolks, not only pack a cancer fighting nutrient, but also two useful antioxidants called lutein and zeaxanthin.  Lutein and zeaxanthin help ward off macular degeneration, a disease that affects your eyesight, so you’ll be able to see clearly well into your eighties when others around you enroll in Bifocal 101.
So, we’ve got cancer fighter – check, eyesight saver – check, what else can the egg possibly do for you?  Well I’ll tell you! The egg also helps reduce your waist size in that they’re more filling than your daily bagel.  You’ll be fuller longer if you have a 2-egg omelet in the morning versus that bran muffin you usually eat, which means the urge to eat two hours later dissipates and you’re more satisfied until lunch.   The egg also contains a sequence of amino acids which helps your body absorb the protein found in eggs easier therefore helping to repair your muscles after a strenuous workout.  So for all you out there who exercise like mad, an egg is your best friend. 

There you have it, evidence that the egg is no longer the ‘bad seed’ but rather a little, round treasure trove of goodness.  I say…three cheers for the egg!

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[i] Blog inspired by “Crack Wise” by the Editors of Women’s Health was provided by MSN Health & Fitness