Published: November 8, 2010
Can what’s on your plate really affect how you feel or think?
woman eating
You’ve heard the claims: Chocolate evokes that loving feeling. Eating fish makes you smarter. Pure carbs calm you down. If you are what you eat, as they say, then it certainly stands to reason that food can influence mood and brain power.
The theory behind these supposed connections seems plausible. Certain neurotransmitters do affect the brain and, consequently, our dispositions in measurable ways. For instance, high levels of serotonin are associated with being calm, happy and relaxed, while low levels are linked to depression and aggression. Dopamine and norepinephrene are reward chemicals released by the brain in response to pleasure.Curious? Continue reading
Source: LA Times
Published: November 7, 2010
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have shown that they may be able to monitor the aging process in the brain, by using MRI technique to measure the brain lactic acid levels. Their findings suggest that the lactate levels increase in advance of other aging symptoms, and therefore could be used as an indicator of aging and age-related diseases of the CNS. [continue reading…]
Published: November 7, 2010
I know its a bit off topic, but regular visitors to ShrinkRap will know I do love beautiful images, and Kenneth Libbrechts images of snowflakes cetainly are. As an art student many moons ago I was mightly influenced by the photographs of Lennart Nilsson. US physicist Kenneth Libbrecht has just been awarded The Lennart Nilsson Award for 2010 for his images of snowflakes – images that open our eyes to the beauty of nature.
Visit Kenneth Libbrechts website to see more of his beautiful images of snowflakes and facinating insight into his work.
Source: Karolinska Institutet
Published: November 6, 2010
Stressed worker
Millions of British workers feel forced to lie to their bosses about having to take stress-induced sick leave, research reveals.
A study by leading mental health charity Mind, released to coincide with Stress Awareness Day (3 November), finds that talking about workplace pressures remains a huge taboo.
Stress has forced one in five workers (19 per cent) to call in sick, yet the vast majority of these (93 per cent) say they have lied to their boss about the real reason for not turning up, citing everything from stomach upsets, housing problems and the illness of a loved one as reasons for their absence.
Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind said
Stress can be a taboo word in many workplaces, but pretending the problem isn’t there only makes things worse. Looking after stress levels and promoting a mentally healthy workplace reduces sick leave, helps staff to stay productive and ultimately saves hard-pressed businesses money. In the current climate, it will be increasingly hard for businesses to prosper with an unhappy and stressed workforce, so it’s vital they work with their employees to discuss pressures on staff before they escalate. Curious? Continue reading
Source: Mind
