Zoomer Report

Clemson University food researchers re-visited the long debated issue in National Geographic. Though previous research has shown we may have up to a minute to rescue certain types of spilled food before it becomes contaminated, this work makes a strong case for the “zero-second rule.” The study found that salmonella and other bacteria can live up to four weeks on dry surfaces and be immediately tr...

Research shows it's how we fight—where, when, what tone of voice and words we use, whether we hear each other out fairly—that's critical. If we argue poorly, we may end up headed for divorce court. If we argue well, experts say, we actually may improve our relationship. For 30 years, Dr. Howard Markman, of the University of Denver’s Center for Marital and Family Studies has conducted research that...

A study in the Journal Neurology finds that people who struggle with prolonged bouts of depression may face nearly twice the normal risk of developing dementia. The 17-year study of depression and dementia examined 950 people as part of the Framingham Heart Study. 13 percent were assessed as being depressed when the study began. Their average age was 79 and all were free of dementia. 164 developed...

Living well is not only good for your health ... researchers studied the aging differences in identical twins ... and found one part was genetics, but the visible signs of aging also depend on the health choices they made. Here's a list of the top five aging mistakes ... and what you can do to fix them. "Yo-yo dieting" alters the ligaments in the face and makes you look older. Instead...find your...

On average, people reported being less worried after the age of 50, and less stressed and angry in the years after their 20s. People in their 70s and 80s had the fewest negative emotions. That was the case even though they were dealing with more medical problems and the deaths of people close to them. Researchers at New York's Stony Brook University came to these conclusions after examining a 2008...

The research published in the journal Circulation shows eating processed red meat -- such as hot dogs, bacon, sausage, and cold cuts -- is linked to an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. But the study shows no such link for unprocessed red meat. Eating one serving a day of processed meat -- or the equivalent of a single hot dog or two slices of salami -- was associated with a 42% increa...

A study in the journal Psychological Science examined a database of professional baseball players and found those who put on a happy face in their official photographs — ended up living longer than those who didn't smile. Those with broad smiles lived an average of five years longer than players who didn't smile — reaching an average age of nearly 80. Those with partial smiles lived an average of...

What’s the tone of your conversations? Surprisingly it makes a difference in whether or not they will provide you with mental benefits. A study finds friendly discussions with other people can help you solve common life challenges, but conversations that are competitive in tone aren't helpful. Researchers from the University of Michigan found engaging in a short, 10-minute conversation in which pa...

Here’s good news for mothers: if your daughter is stressed out or upset, a kind word can be almost as good as a hug if you’re too far away for physical contact. According to a study from the University of Wisconsin, for young girls, talking on the phone with their mothers reduces a key stress hormone and also releases oxytocin, a feel-good brain chemical that is believed to play a key role in form...

Here’s more evidence about the importance of a good night’s sleep, especially as we get older. A study of nearly 16,000 Chinese Zoomers has found that those who regularly enjoyed a good night’s sleep also lived longer and enjoyed better health. And it was the very oldest people who had the best sleep. Study subjects aged 80 and over were more likely to report higher sleep quality than those aged 6...

Here’s some great news about one of our favourite foods. Research out of St. Michael’s Hospital says eating chocolate may have a positive impact on stroke. The analysis involved a review of three prior studies, and it suggests eating about a bar of chocolate a week can help cut the risk of stroke and lower the risk of death after a stroke. One study found that people who ate one serving of chocola...

The American Heart Association has come out with seven steps to a healthy heart. Here they are: * You’ve never smoked or quit more than one year ago. * Your body mass index is less of than 25. There are simple BMI calculators online. * Physical activity. You need at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous work each week. * Eat a healthy diet including fruit, vegetables, a...

Here’s a way to improve your health while you’re having a lot of fun. Researchers reviewed several decades' worth of studies on sex and health, for the Journal of Sexual Health. While the underlying reasons might be unclear, here's a list of health benefits that people who have frequent sex enjoy. 1. A longer life In a British study, men who had intercourse at least twice a week lived longer than...

Do you live near a nice patch of green? There is more evidence that being close to parks, woods, or other natural settings may improve your mental and physical health. A study out of the Netherlands finds that proximity to green spaces is associated with less depression, anxiety, and other health problems. The relationship was strongest for children and people with low incomes. Investigators in th...

Here’s more evidence that it’s never too late to quit smoking. A study in the British Medical Journal finds that kicking the habit after a diagnosis of early stage lung cancer doubles the odds that a patient will live another five years. Researchers found that only about a third of early stage lung cancer patients who kept smoking survived for five years, while 63 to 70 percent of those who quit s...

Here are some findings that could help settle a longstanding debate about the use of antidepressants to treat depression. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, some widely prescribed drugs for depression provide relief in extreme cases but are no more effective than placebo pills for most patients. Researchers combined data from six studies involving mo...

Here’s some new evidence about the benefits of Vitamin C. It is widely known as an antioxidant. Now a study hints it also could avert premature aging. Research from the Quebec Cancer Research Centre in Quebec City showed vitamin C stopped, and even reversed, symptoms of accelerated aging disease in mice. The results suggest the vitamin, found notably in fruits and vegetables, also may be helpful i...

Here’s another piece of evidence about the benefits of exercise as we age. This tidbit is pretty specific. According to researchers at the University of British Columbia, weight training can keep you mentally sharp as well as improve your strength and mobility. Previous studies have found that aerobic exercise such as walking and swimming is beneficial, yet few have looked at how brain health is a...

Here’s something easy that may soothe pain without drugs. Look at a pleasant picture. Canadian researchers say this may work simply by taking the mind off the pain and creating a better mood. The study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, says pain can be amplified when combined with negative emotions. Researchers gave the subjects small but painful electric shocks. During the s...

Here’s something to watch out for if you or a loved one are on certain medications. People over 60 who take drugs like antidepressants and sleeping pills are at greater risk of falling. And some other common drugs can have the same effect. An analysis of 22 international studies by researchers at the University of British Columbia found that those on antidepressants, anti-psychotics and sedatives...

Loneliness really can break your heart. Researchers at the University of Chicago looked at people aged 50 to 68 and found that over a five-year period the loneliest individuals saw their systolic blood pressure rise enough to give them hypertension. The study authors say the lonelier you are, the bigger the effect. While loneliness has been linked to other factors that could cause an increase in b...

Do you have lower back pain? Most of us can expect to experience it at some point in our lives. For many people, it’s chronic. Now a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine, finds that a yoga class designed specifically for back pain can be as safe and effective as physical therapy in easing pain. The protocol was developed by researchers at Boston Medical Center with input from yoga teachers, do...

It’s often a wrenching decision for Zoomers and their loved ones. When should an older driver stop getting behind the wheel? Now a study out of Columbia university finds that when that happens, people are more likely to feel depressed and to develop other health problems than their peers who remain on the road. The work analysed 16 different studies and found giving up the car keys was linked to a...

It’s our most basic function and we have to do it to live. But according to Health.com you can use the way you breathe to fight anxiety, sleep better, and focus your attention. For instance, you may not notice, but in a stressful situation, the natural reaction is to take quick and shallow breaths, which actually increases your body's stress response. Experts say the fastest way to relieve anxiety...

Here’s some work that underscores the importance of the grandparent/grandchild relationship. A study published in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry finds teens who form close, loving relationships with a grandparent have fewer behavioral and emotional problems than less-attached teens. The benefits to the young people were even greater when they were also close to the parent who was the gran...