ISN'T THERE A LITTLE COOKIE MONSTER IN ALL OF US

Expert baker explains why we love the cookie By Alice Medrich Published December 04, 2015.  

What is it with cookies? Everyone loves them. But then, who wouldn't love a miniature dessert intended to be eaten with your hands-one that leaves traces of chocolate or jam to lick from fingertips, makes a child happy, or cheers up a friend? (Who doesn't want to sneak one for breakfast?) No dessert comes in more flavors, textures, sizes, and shapes than cookies -yet they are the simplest recipe in a baker's repertoire. That means there is a cookie for every personality and predilection, every mood and motivation. If you crave something crunchy to dip into your coffee, there's a biscotti to satisfy you. If you want gooey, or seductive, oozing with chocolate or caramel-from pudding bars to brownies, your options are endless. Soft and cakey, chewy or flakey, spicy with ginger, or tangy with lemon: there are cookies for all of these cravings and countless more. Modern cookies play savory-bacon, Parmesan cheese, herbs, sea salt-alongside sweet. While there is no shortage of classic chocolate chip and oatmeal cookie recipes, you can also find versions with cocoa nibs or whole grains, or vegan, raw, gluten- or grain-free. The very aroma of cookies further explains their primal allure. The human sense of smell links directly to memory: if your mom made cookies for you or with you, I bet you have a special place in your heart for them today. There's no excuse not to treat yourself to a cookie...  When you walk into a cookie shop or approach a cookie platter, you get to choose your own favorite without sharing or compromising. From paper-thin wafers to the soul-satisfying chew of melt-in-your mouth meringues, the choice is yours. It's no wonder that the child in each of us loves a cookie!  You can buy cookies in packages or fresh from a bakery, but there is every reason to DIY. Cookies are fun and easy to make! Cookie-making invites creativity and makes the house smell divine. The very aroma of cookies further explains their primal allure. The human sense of smell links directly to memory: if your mom made cookies for you or with you, I bet you have a special place in your heart for them today. Just one final thought: if you don't bake cookies with your kids, who will pass the torch, ensuring that the next generation loves cookies? Think about it. 

HAVE YOU EVER DONE SOMETHING STUPID

Scientists figure out why we do stupid things By Luke Roney Published December 04, 2015.  

How’s this for a stupid study:  Researchers at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, Hungary, set out to discover the criteria people use when determining that a particular behavior is, well, stupid.  It turns out it doesn't exactly take a rocket scientist: Judging whether something is stupid "comes instantaneously," researcher Aczél Balázs says. "If one person calls something stupid, there's a high likelihood others will do the same thing. In fact, the rate of agreement was 90 percent. . Researchers found that behaviors deemed stupid stem from three primary conditions: Overconfidence: You thought you could, but you couldn't. Lack of control: You knew you shouldn't, but you did. Absent-mindedness: You weren't paying attention. In the study, researchers gathered online anecdotes describing behaviors that had been called stupid. They asked 154 students to read them and determine if they were, indeed, stupid. Then, the students chose reasons why a behavior was stupid from a list. Some interesting takeaways: People with high intelligence aren't necessarily immune to doing stupid things. A determination of stupidity is based on the observer's expectations for a person's behavior; the person engaged in stupid behavior may have different expectations. Understanding the causes of stupid behavior may help people warn others from engaging in it-rather than saying, "You're being stupid," one can say "You're being overconfident. No matter what, we not only recognize stupidity when we see it, we love to "watch other people doing something stupid as a source of amusement. (Stupidity may have thwarted a Nazi invasion of Britain.   

WHO IS YOUR BEST HEALTH CARE ADVOCATE

Steps to being your own health care advocate Published December 03, 2015.   

The rules and regulations in health care can often overwhelm even the most seasoned medical professional. One man has decided that a team approach may be the best way to get healthy and protect personal interests. "Americans do a great job of planning for vacations, for retirement, for saving money for a kids education. But it's a rare person I've met who plans for a serious diagnosis," said Leslie Michelson, author of "The Patient's Playbook. According to a Healthgrades survey, one out of every six patients in the U.S. receives care at a less-than-stellar hospital. Not getting the best care possible could not only increase your risk of medical errors, it could also increase your risk of death. "Before we get sick, everyone has a notion that there's a health care system out there that's suddenly going to spring into action to support them," Michelson said. "Unfortunately, that's not the case. Michaelson wrote his book after getting treatment for a rare disease himself, and today he has made it his mission to help others get the best care possible- no matter how much money they have. The first step is finding a primary care provider who fits your needs. Michelson recommends finding a physician you're comfortable speaking with and who is comfortable speaking with you. "That person should be your health care quarterback," he said. 

LIVE LONG AND PROSPER

New anti-aging drug could extend human life span to 120 years By Max Berlinger Published December 02, 2015. 

Do you ever think that it's kinda crazy that we can order pizza from our cellphones and yet no one can figure out how to stop (or at least slow) the inevitable march towards death? Well, you're not alone.  Science has been trying to figure out this whole aging thing for a long time now, and a new development just could be one of those watershed moments in history.  A new anti-aging drug is going to be tested on human subjects starting next year. The potential result of this could mean that we, human beings, could extend our life spans to 120 years of age and be in good health to the very end.  The drug in question is a widely used diabetes pill called Metformin and costs mere cents to make. Metformin helps to increase oxygen flow on the cellular level, thereby slowing the necessary cell divisions that keep our bodies both functioning correctly but ultimately lead to aging.  Belgian researchers have tested the drug on roundworms, and have had positive results so the next step is to do a human trial.  "I have been doing research into aging for 25 years and the idea that we would be talking about a clinical trial in humans for an anti-aging drug would have been thought inconceivable," says aging expert Professor Gordon Lithgow.  "But there is every reason to believe it's possible. The future is taking the biology that we've now developed and applying it to humans.  Let's just hope that cosmetic surgery can keep apace of these new developments. 

IS ASPIRIN A MIRACLE DRUG

Protein in aspirin may reduce Alzheimer's disease risk, study suggests Published December 01, 2015.   

Researchers have found that a key protein in aspirin may help pulverize an enzyme linked to neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases- suggesting that taking the common drug may help reduce Americans' disease risk. In their research, at Johns Hopkins University and Boyce Thompson Institute discovered that salicylic acid, a byproduct of aspirin, binds to the enzyme GAPDH (Glyceraldehyde 3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase), preventing it from moving into a cell's nucleus where it would cause cell death. During oxidative stress, GAPDH is affected then enters the nucleus of neurons, where it affects protein turnover and leads to cell death, causing neurodegenerative loss. The anti-Parkinson's drug deprenyl already demonstrates GAPDH's ability to prevent entry into the nucleus and the corresponding cell death, according to a news release. "The new study establishes that GAPDH is a target for salicylate drugs related to aspirin, and hence may be relevant to the therapeutic actions of such drugs," co-author Solomon Snyder, professor of neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said in the release. Snyder, along with senior author Daniel Klessig, a professor at Boyce Thompson Institute and Cornell University, used high-throughput screens to find proteins in the human body that bind to salicylic acid. GAPDH primarily plays a role in glucose metabolism, but it also helps regulate plants' immune systems. Past research suggests several targets in plants are affected by salicylic acid and that many are translatable to humans, according to the release. In the current study, scientists also observed that a natural derivative of salicylic acid from the Chinese medical herb licorice and a lab-synthesized derivative bind to GAPDH more effectively than salicylic acid. 

HOPE YOU SLEEP WELL TONIGHT

A good night's sleep is tied to interruptions, not just hours Published December 01, 2015. 

Good sleep isn't just about how long you sleep. Continuity may be equally important. Getting up in middle of the night multiple times to soothe a crying baby or go to the bathroom impacts your mood and cognitive abilities the next day, new research has found. In a study published last month in the journal Sleep, researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that individuals forced to awaken multiple times during the night showed a greater decline in positive mood than those forced to go to bed later. They also had less slow-wave or deep sleep, the third stage of non-rapid eye (NREM) movement sleep. Research from the University of Pittsburgh has shown that the cognitive performance of elderly individuals was impaired when their sleep was disrupted, but not when they slept a shorter amount of time straight through. And a study done in Israel published last year found that a fragmented night of sleep for a full eight-hours impacted mood and attention as much as sleeping just four hours a night. The recent Sleep study included healthy individuals without any diagnosed sleep problems. The 62 subjects were brought into the lab and randomized into three groups: a group whose sleep was repeatedly disrupted; a group whose bedtime was delayed; and a control group, said Patrick H. Finan, an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins and lead author of the study. 

EAT RIGHT AND SLEEP WELL

6 surprising foods that are messing with your sleep    Published November 30, 2015.  

You know that having a double-shot latte after 4 p.m. or plowing through too much sugary dessert will keep you from snagging a solid 8 hours of z's. What you probably don't realize is that there are a number of nutritious foods-ones that doctors and dietitians agree are part of a healthy, varied diet-that could be to blame if you're tossing and turning at night. The kicker is that getting a good night's sleep is crucial to sticking to healthy eating habits. One recent study found that a consistent sleep routine may help people maintain a healthier weight; other research found that a lack of sleep can lead people to buy more food and more high-calorie items at the supermarket. Which, of course, keeps us up at night. And the vicious cycle continues.  Here Are 6 Ways to Change That. To be sure good-for-you grub isn't actually sabotaging your shut-eye, steer clear of these foods before bedtime: 1. Cruciferous veggies Sounds absolutely crazy, right? Veggies like broccoli and cauliflower are loaded with phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals proven to help the body's natural detoxification process and even prevent cancer. (Try making bread out of broccoli.) What's more, they even contain tryptophan-the sleep-inducing amino acid that helps the body produce serotonin, which regulates sleep. However, crucifers are also loaded with insoluble fiber, which is the slow-digesting kind, said Elissa Goodman, a certified holistic nutritionist in Los Angeles. "If you eat a lot of insolublefiber close to bedtime, your body will still be working on digesting it while you're trying to drift off, which can prevent you from getting optimal sleep," she said. Of course, you should still eat these health-promoting vegetables-just have them at least a few hours before bedtime, Goodman said.  2. Tomato sauce It's packed with vitamin C, iron, and lycopene, an antioxidant that's been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and macular degeneration. However, it's also highly acidic, which can lead to heartburn and indigestion during the night, said Alissa Rumsey, RD, a dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. To prevent sleep issues, skip the late-night pizza or pasta and be sure you finish meals that involve tomato sauce at least 3 hours before you hit the hay, Rumsey said.  3. Dark chocolate Chocoholics have been rejoicing lately, thanks to a slew of studies that show big benefits of noshing on this antioxidant-packed treat. However, while a square or two of dark chocolate might be a healthy way to satisfy your after-dinner dessert craving, it's not going to do anything to help you get sound sleep, thanks to its caffeine. In fact, some dark chocolate contains as much as a quarter of the amount of caffeine found in a standard 'cup' of coffee, Rumsey said. And the darker the chocolate, the more caffeine it likely contains. "Dark chocolate also contains tyrosine, an amino acid that can be very stimulating," Rumsey said. 4. Charcuterie Cured meats and aged cheeses may make a beautiful party platter, but snacking on these foods might keep you up, Rumsey said. "Aged cheeses and preserved and smoked meats contain tyramine, an amino acid that triggers the release of norepinephrine, a stimulant that makes us feel more alert," she said.  5. Red meat While it's filled with protein and can be lean-particularly if you're choosing clean, grass-fed options-red meat is still on the fatty side, which take your body a while to digest. Translation: If you have steak or a cheeseburger for dinner, you could very well still be digesting that meal when you're trying to drift off, which can keep you awake, said Beth Warren, RD, author of Living Real Life with Real Food . High-protein diets have also been linked to sleep apnea, she said, a condition that prompts you to stop breathing for bouts of time throughout the night, which can reduce the quality of your sleep. 6. Spicy foods Thanks to their metabolism-boosting benefits, spicy foods are often touted as especially beneficial if you're trying to drop a few pounds. (Plus, they're one of five foods you can't overeat .) However, meals that bring the "heat" can also prompt you to have a restless night, thanks to the fact that they raise core body temperature, which can negatively impact your sleep. Spicy foods can also lead to heartburn, said Natalie Stephens, RD, a dietitian at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, which can make you so uncomfortable that it's tough to drift off and stay asleep.