Category Archives: Health

You really are as young as you feel

Posted on February 8, 2022 by | 7 comments

The saying “you are as young as you feel” turns out to be true.

A 2018 South Korean study found that people who feel they are younger than their chronological age have healthier brains!

The research was conducted by Seoul National University psychologists Seyul Kwak, Hairin Kim and Jeanyung Chey, and Yongsei University sociologist Yoosik Youm. Their study, “Feeling How Old I Am: Subjective Age Is Associated With Estimated Brain Age,” was published on June 7, 2018, in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.

From the article (bold red emphasis supplied):

While the aging process is a universal phenomenon, people perceive and experience one’s aging considerably differently. Subjective age (SA), referring to how individuals experience themselves as younger or older than their actual age, has been highlighted as an important predictor of late-life health outcomes. However, it is unclear whether and how SA is associated with the neurobiological process of aging. In this study, 68 healthy older adults underwent a SA survey and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. T1-weighted brain images of open-access datasets were utilized to construct a model for age prediction. We utilized both voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and age-prediction modeling techniques to explore whether the three groups of SA (i.e., feels younger, same, or older than actual age) differed in their regional gray matter (GM) volumes, and predicted brain age. The results showed that elderly individuals who perceived themselves as younger than their real age showed not only larger GM volume in the inferior frontal gyrus and the superior temporal gyrus, but also younger predicted brain age. Our findings suggest that subjective experience of aging is closely related to the process of brain aging and underscores the neurobiological mechanisms of SA as an important marker of late-life neurocognitive health….

Our findings suggest that feeling subjectively older than one’s age may reflect relatively faster aging brain structures, whereas those who feel subjectively younger would have better-preserved and healthier structures. This study, to our knowledge, was the first attempt to examine the neuroanatomical underpinnings of SA….

[O]ur findings extend the hypothesis that older SA is associated with greater progression of brain aging process and poorer brain health. Significant tissue atrophy in the GM and older brain age may be reflective of cerebrovascular risks (Seo et al., 2012; Lockhart and DeCarli, 2014), and such changes may cause older adults to appraise their deteriorated functions as being a result of their aging (Vestergren and Nilsson, 2011).

Consistent with previous studies that have reported the clinical significance of subjective perceptions of cognitive decline (Rabin et al., 2017), subjective appraisal of one’s own decline may provide information on neurobiological changes not otherwise detectable with objective cognitive tests…. Diminished volumes of GM and older brain age may lead to reduced processing efficiency in a variety of demanding cognitive tasks, and this prolonged mismatch between reduced neural resources and burdensome environmental demands can create a subjective perception of aging. Individuals with older SA feel older because they experience frequent negative sensations as they make more cognitive efforts in daily life compared to those who report younger or same SA….

In our study, while older SA group showed a tendency to have poorer cognitive function and exhibit greater depressive symptoms, feeling younger was especially associated with younger structural characteristics of the brain. 

For the article in full, click here.

There are online calculators to estimate your biological age vs. chronological age. Here’s one.

See also “Being overweight ages your brain“.

~E

7 Comments

Posted in Health

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Monday Funnies!

Posted on February 7, 2022 by | 5 comments

 

~E

5 Comments

Posted in COVID-19, Funnies

Being overweight ages your brain

Posted on February 6, 2022 by | 7 comments

We already know from studies that excess weight, especially visceral fat — body fat that’s stored within the abdominal cavity — increases the risk of many conditions, such as:

  • heart disease, including heart attacks
  • type 2 diabetes
  • raised cholesterol, especially triglycerides
  • raised blood pressure
  • stroke
  • Breast and colorectal cancer
  • Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of senile dementia

Now, there is evidence that excess fat may have mental effects as well — that having too much fatty tissue in the body impairs our brains.

Lizzo is a rapper who is proud of being fat, and is lauded for her “body positivity”. In a recent video, she celebrates having put on more weight, calling her fat acceptance “unconditional self-love”. (New York Post)

A recent Canadian study of 9,200 adults aged 30 to 75 years found what appears to be fat’s direct harm on one’s ability to think quickly, even after taking into account heart health, brain status (injury) and education. The researchers found that as body fat rose, people processed information more slowly, as if their brains had actually aged — by as much as one year for every 9% increase in overall body fat. Excess body fat also appeared to boost the risk for brain injury, including lesions or the kind of markers that indicate a history of unrecognized (“silent”) strokes. (NewsMax)

Scientists believe that the association between excess weight and cognitive impairment may be due to (Medical News Today):

  • Inflammation: One recent study involving more than 15,000 individuals found high levels of plasma C-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker, in those with a high BMI (body mass index) and a high waist-hip ratio. Dr. Eamon Laird, a senior research fellow at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, says inflammation may lead to brain tissue damage.
  • Hypertension: Dr. Laird says that “Obesity could be associated with reduced blood flow to the brain, which may increase the risk of vascular microcellular damage, which could lead to [a] reduction in cognitive test score.” Laird and other scientists found that a 1-centimeter increase in waist size gave the same reduction in blood flow as one year of aging. 

The way to lose body fat is not a mystery: Eat less and exercise.

And the exercise can be as simple as walking.

If everyone between 40 and 85 years of age were active just 10 minutes more a day, it could save more than 110,000 U.S. lives a year, a large study reports. The study’s lead scientist, Pedro Saint-Maurice of the Metabolic Epidemiology Branch at the U.S. National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, said: “Our projections are based on an additional 10 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity. If the walk is brisk, it counts.”

Do you have joint pains?

Did you know that regular exercise is also good for joint health?

Leading a sedentary lifestyle — spending too much time sitting or lying down — can be harmful to your joint health and even exacerbate preexisting joint problems. Getting regular exercise is an excellent way to prevent future joint issues and treat preexisting arthritis. (St. John’s Health)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity each week.

That means just 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week. We can do that, can’t we?

See also “10 reasons why exercise is good for us“.

Update (Feb. 8, 2022):

Here’s another reason for regular exercise: Exercise can help prevent Alzheimer’s, the most common form of senile dementia (WebMD):

  • A Swedish study suggests that stamina is tied to the risk for dementia. Women who were in better cardiovascular health had an 88% lower risk of getting dementia than other women, according to the report published in the medical journal Neurology.
  • The Alzheimer’s Association says regular cardiovascular exercise can help reduce the risk of getting the disease, echoing a similar message from scientists at the University of Southern California. They found that up to a third of Alzheimer’s cases are preventable through lifestyle changes, including physical exercise.

~E

7 Comments

Posted in Health

Tagged , , , ,

As Australia doubles down on tyranny, England & Ireland are ending Covid restrictions

Posted on January 30, 2022 by | 6 comments

Australia has become a tyrannical state, using Covid as the excuse.

The latest: On January 13, 2022, the government of Western Australia, in the person of Premier Mark McGowan, announced that beginning tomorrow (January 31), the unvaccinated will be locked down, barred from most public settings, and that the rules “will not be removed any time soon.”

Australia has undertaken this downright vicious policy despite the fact that being vaccinated affords little to no protection from the Covid virus of whatever variant, the truth of which is confirmed recently by the positive Covid tests and symptoms of two fully-vaxxed friends of mine. (See my post “Questions raised by fully-vaccinated Colin Powell’s death from COVID-19”.)

Meanwhile, two countries — England and Ireland — are doing the exact opposite. Instead of doubling down on Covid restrictions, they actually are ending the lockdown, effectively declaring an end to the pandemic.

On January 19, 2022, UK Prime Minister announced the end of all Covid measures, including compulsory mask-wearing on public transport and in shops, work-from-home guidance, the need to show a certificate proving vaccination or a recent negative Covid test to enter some venues, the legal requirement on people with coronavirus to self-isolate, and an immediate end to the need for pupils to wear masks at secondary (high) schools. Johnson said: “In the country at large we will continue to suggest the use of face coverings in enclosed or crowded spaces, particularly when you come into contact with people you don’t normally meet, but we will trust the judgment of the British people and no longer criminalise anyone who chooses not to wear one.” (The Guardian)

January 21, 2022, Prime Minister Micheál Martin declared that most Covid restrictions in Ireland would end the next day (Jan. 22), including vaccination certificates or passports, curfews, social distancing, restrictions on private indoor meetings (up to four families), and capacity limits for events and weddings. However, mask-wearing is still required on public transport for those aged 9 and over, in schools for children, and in most indoor public spaces for those aged 13 and over, unless food and drinks are being consumed. Testing and isolation guidance for people with Covid symptoms and positive tests, and their contacts remain the same.

Martin said: “Humans are social beings and we Irish are more social than most. As we look forward to this spring, we need to see each other again. We need to see each other smile. We need to sing again…it is time to be ourselves again.” He said people’s trust in the government is a “precious and powerful,” yet “fragile” thing that requires “confidence that the government will do what is needed in an emergency,” as well as knowing “their government will not impose restrictions on their personal freedoms for any longer than is necessary.” (Epoch Times)

But did you hear or see this earthshaking news in the mainstream media?

No?

Why’s that?

~E

6 Comments

Posted in COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccine, Evil, The Left

Tagged , , ,

The Maskless-Congresswoman Caption Contest

Posted on January 18, 2022 by | 12 comments

This is our 253rd world-famous Caption Contest!

Here’s the pic:

About the pic: On Sunday, January 2, 2022, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) was spotted partying in a drag bar in Miami, Florida, without a face mask. The pics above show her hugging and kissing Billy Porter (l), a homosexual actor-singer who likes to dress in drag, and another drag queen (r) with an uncanny resemblance to Oprah Winfrey. Less than 3 weeks before, AOC had written a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives claiming that she “continue(s) to be unable to physically attend proceedings in the House Chamber due to the ongoing (COVID) public health emergency”. (Clash Daily)

You know the drill:

  • Enter the contest by submitting your caption as a comment on this thread (scroll down until you see the “LEAVE A REPLY” box).
  • Body and Soul‘s writers will vote for the winner.
  • Any captions proffered by our writers, no matter how brilliant (ha ha), will not be considered. :(

This contest will be closed in two weeks, at the end of Tuesday, February 1, 2022.

To get the contest going, here’s my caption:

Democrat. Thy name is “Hypocrite”!

For the winner of our last Caption Contest, click here.

~E

12 Comments

Posted in Caption contest, COVID-19, Fun, The Left

Tagged ,

We have a winner!

Posted on January 16, 2022 by | 3 comments

. . . for our 252nd Caption Contest!

This was a difficult contest for our voters because there were many really clever entries.

But our writers dutifully voted for their #1 (best) and #2 (next best) captions. Each #1 vote is worth 4 points; each #2 vote is worth 2 points.

And the winner of our 252nd Caption Contest, with three #1 votes and 12 points, is:

Anonymous!!!

Here is the winning caption:

“It’s okay, I’m trans-normal and if you question that you’re racist.”

Jackie Puppet and MR B. are in second place, each with one #1 vote and 4 points:

Jackie Puppet: “Pediatrician?? He looks more like a pedophile-trician!”

MR B.: “I’m sure this ‘woman’s’ telling us the cure to COVID is a jar of Vaseline petroleum jelly.”

Calgirl, Christy, another Jackie Puppet caption, Jen, and Tim Shey are all in third place, each with one #2 vote and 2 points:

Calgirl: “Unfortunately, for male or female or anything in between, there is no surgical solution to fix UGLY.”

Christy: “I am woman, hear me roar!”

Jackie Puppet: “Rachel??!?! Dick Levine should’ve changed his name to Dick Less-vine!”

Jen: “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.”

Tim Shey: “This picture reminds me of a quote from the film BRAVEHEART (1995): ‘Whom do I send? Not my gentle son. The mere sight of him would only encourage an enemy to take over the whole country.’ – King Edward I “

WELL DONE, EVERYONE!

Congratulations, Anonymous!!!

For all the other caption entries, go here.

Be here this Tuesday for our next very exciting Caption Contest!

~E

 

3 Comments

Posted in Caption contest, Funnies, Health, Joe Biden, The Left

Tagged , ,

People have lost their minds: Texas woman caught with 13-year-old in trunk of car because he was COVID positive

Posted on January 8, 2022 by | 11 comments

The hysteria surrounding the Wuhan virus has made some people stark-raving mad. Example:

Quick summary: A woman stuffed her 13-year-old, COVID-positive son into the trunk of her car to drive him to a Wuhan virus test site. Apparently she believed the trunk situaion was warranted in order to avoid being exposed to the virus. She’s now facing child endangerment charges.

The woman, a teacher, has been placed on administrative leave from her school district.

You can’ read all the details here about this story here.

What happened to this woman’s momma bear instincts? You have a sick child and you take care of them, comfort them, and by no means stuff them in the trunk of a car!

Alas, between the never-ending hysteria and hype surrounding this virus, some people just lose all of their common sense and caring instincts. Terrible.

DCG

11 Comments

Posted in COVID-19, Health

Tagged , , , ,

The Biden-Freak-Show Caption Contest

Posted on December 24, 2021 by | 22 comments

This is our 252nd world-famous Caption Contest!

Here’s the pic:

About the pic: Rachel Levine, 64, born Richard Levine, is a pediatrician and the U.S. assistant secretary for health in the Biden administration, confirmed by the U.S. Senate by a 52-48 vote on March 24, 2021. On October 19, 2021, Levine was commissioned as a four-star admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, becoming the first openly transgender four-star officer in any of the United States uniformed services.

You know the drill:

  • Enter the contest by submitting your caption as a comment on this thread (scroll down until you see the “LEAVE A REPLY” box).
  • Body and Soul‘s writers will vote for the winner.
  • Any captions proffered by our writers, no matter how brilliant (ha ha), will not be considered. :(

This contest will be closed in two weeks, at the end of Tuesday, January 4, 2022.

To get the contest going, here’s my caption:

“Physician, heal thyself!” -Luke 4:23

For the winner of our last Caption Contest, go here.

~E

22 Comments

Posted in Caption contest, Health, Joe Biden

Tagged

High Times in the Big Apple

Posted on November 30, 2021 by | 5 comments

 

Lost in lethal dreams, a junkie destroys his life on a sidewalk.

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio is opening the country’s first “supervised shooting galleries” for junkies, a measure he believes will help keep addicts from shooting up openly on the sidewalks of Manhattan as they now do routinely. His nonprofit-run “Overdose Prevention Centers” are located in East Harlem and Washington Heights, and are expected to open as early as Tuesday (Nov. 30).

The locations were chosen based on “health need and depth of program experience,” according to the NYC Health Department. The sites will provide clean needles and social services. Addicts have to bring their own dope.
According to de Blasio, the shooting galleries are a safe and effective way to address the opioid crisis. “I’m proud to show cities in this country that after decades of failure, a smarter approach is possible,” de Blasio said in a statement Tuesday.

The mayor had attempted to create drug shooting galleries prior to the election of Joe Biden to the presidency but was unsuccessful.
The mayor tried to push the controversial proposal to open a total of four sites before, but was blocked by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and President Donald Trump, who both opposed the plan.

Opposition to the program continues today.
City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) was skeptical about the program’s effectiveness.

“British Columbia has led North America in safe injection sites, all while crossing overdose death milestones every month. How anyone can see this as a solution to a serious problem is beyond me, never mind the concerns of the neighbors,” Borelli told The Post Tuesday.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), whose district includes Staten Island and parts of southern Brooklyn, called on the Department of Justice to block the sites, noting that under former President Trump the DOJ said such sites would violate the federal Controlled Substances Act.

Malliotakis wrote U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland Tuesday urging him to “take swift action to enforce federal law.”

The congresswoman cited a Jan. 2021 Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that determined it was a federal crime for a supervised injection site run by a Philadelphia nonprofit to allow consumption of illegal drug use at its location.
“Instead of focusing on the root cause of the drug epidemic, Mayor de Blasio is enabling drug cartels that continue to break our laws, smuggle illegal drugs over our border, and prey on our children,” Malliotakis said.

“Crime and fentanyl use are at record highs because of open borders, botched bail reform, and anti-police policies that keep releasing criminal drug dealers back onto our streets. Opening taxpayer-funded heroin shooting galleries is not a proper solution. These centers not only encourage drug use but they will further deteriorate our quality of life,” she said.

~ Grif

5 Comments

Posted in Crime, drugs, Evil, Health, Joe Biden, The Left, Uncategorized

Tagged ,

Easy and tasty 2-ingredient chocolate cake

Posted on November 28, 2021 by | 4 comments

I found this super-easy recipe for a two-ingredient, no-bake chocolate cake.

I tried it, and can testify to how easy it is, and how tasty and rich-chocolaty the cake is.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of chocolate chips. (I recommend dark chocolate, which is loaded with beneficial antioxidants. Better still, go for either semi-sweet or no sugar. Instead of sugar, which has zero nutritional value and is really, really bad for us, substitute with non-glucose, natural sweeteners like erythritol and stevia.)
  • 1½ cups pumpkin or banana puree. (I used no-sugar pumpkin puree, rich in fiber and beta-carotene.)

Instructions:

  • Grease or line a baking pan with parchment paper.
  • Microwave the chocolate chips at 1 minute intervals, stirring in between intervals until chips are melted and smooth. (It took me about 4-5 minutes.)
  • Stir in puree until combined.
  • Pour chocolate-puree batter into pan. Smooth top; tap bottom of pan to eliminate bubbles.
  • Refrigerate until set (30-60 minutes).
  • Top with berries or sprinkled powdered sugar.

Enjoy!

~E

4 Comments

Posted in Fun, Health

Tagged , ,