Taking our pulse

Did you know?

• About 85 percent of our learning is derived from listening.
• Each day we breathe more than 23,000 times.
• A sneeze travels 85 percent the speed of sound.
• When humans taste things, we taste sweet things on the tips of our tongues, bitter things at the back, sour things on the sides, and salty things all over the surface.
• The number of female physicians and surgeons in the United States is approximately 189,000.

— Adapted from A Natural History of the Senses by Diane Ackerman, the International Listening Association Web site, and the U.S. Census Bureau Web site

Oh, the stress of it all

Do you find yourself stressed out and, then paying a visit to your primary care doctor? You’re not alone. Here are some of the most common ailments.

• Back pain. Stress probably doesn’t cause back pain, but it can make it a lot worse. What can you do to offset the possibility of a back attack? Exercise that strengthens the abdominal and important spinesupporting muscles will help. Improving your posture can also provide back relief. And don’t forget to stop smoking. Lower back pain is more common in smokers.
• Cold sores. There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that stress is a factor in an outbreak of cold sores. Make sure you use sunscreen, as sunlight is a trigger for cold sores. Use ice to eliminate the swelling.
• Migraines. Stress is a big trigger for migraines. You don’t have to see lights or be vomiting to be having a migraine. If you have intermittent, recurrent, and disabling headaches, you are probably suffering from migraines. Try to reduce stress in your life, and stay away from foods such as cheese, nuts, wine, and processed meats.
• Colds. If you’re busy being stressed out, you have less power to fight off any illnesses to which you might be exposed. Wash your hands as often as possible, and keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth.

— Adapted from Self Magazine

Just a spoonful of sugar…

Americans consume 20 percent more sugar now than they did in 1986. That’s 20 additional teaspoons of sugar a day, reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Most nutrition experts agree, however, that too much sugar isn’t a good thing. Here are some tips to help you lower your sugar intake:

• Don’t drink too much soda. Drinking soda contributes more sugar to our diets than any other source.
• Eat complex carbohydrates for energy. High-sugar foods will give you a quick burst, but you’ll be better off if you eat something that will stay with you longer.
• Be wary of non-fat foods. Many non-fat foods such as ice cream actually have more grams of added sugar.
• Get your cholesterol and triglycerides checked. Find out if you’re insulin-resistant, which can make sugar consumption more dangerous.
• Eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains instead of processed foods.
• Practice portion control. Split your dessert with a friend. Eat only half the bag of M&M’s^®.
• Eat the right stuff so you don’t give in to cravings.
• Eat lots of small meals throughout the day to help keep your blood sugar stable.
• Don’t completely deprive yourself. If you do, you might trigger a binge.

— Adapted from Modern Sage

Plane talk

The increasing collective waistline of the American public has played an interesting role in the airline industry. Americans have had an average weight gain of about 10 pounds per person the past decade. And in 2000, United States airplanes used an additional 350 million gallons of jet fuel, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The price tag for that fuel? $275 million annually. That extra fuel consumption also results in the release of approximately 3.8 million tons of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the air.

— Adapted from the University of California, Berkeley “Wellness Letter”