Issue Date: January 22, 2006
Let happiness bloom
We gardeners know that flowers bring happiness, and research confirms this correlation. "Evolutionary Psychology" published results of three recent Rutgers University studies:
Flowers bring smiles. Of 147 women of varying ages, those who received flowers smiled significantly more than those who received fruit and sweets or a candle.
A single bloom creates talk. Another study took place in an elevator where a single flower was handed to a man or woman. Both women and men who were presented with a flower (rather than a pen or nothing) were more likely to smile. They were more likely to stand at a social distance (rather than an impersonal one) and were more likely to begin a conversation.
Bouquets beat depression. Retirees, whose average age was 73, were asked to keep a diary of daily social interactions. Those who received bouquets were happier and perhaps less depressed than those who did not, and they scored higher on memory tasks.
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Desk jobs = fat
A recent Australian study shows that those who sit six or more hours a day at work are more likely to be overweight than those with active jobs. And it affects men more than women. "If we lead sedentary, desk-bound lives," says researcher Kerry Mummery, "we shouldn't expect 30 minutes of exercise per day to be sufficient for weight maintenance."
Researchers speculate desk jobs had less impact on women because they typically do more incidental activity, such as housework and child care. Desk-bound workers should limit calories and get more than half an hour of exercise a day to maintain a healthy weight.
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Standout suitcases
The latest trend in luggage: suitcases that are easy to spot on the baggage carousel. Bright colors and distinctive designs are helping travelers break away from the basic black bag.
New colors. "We were screaming for more color, and they finally got it to us," says Buzz Kaehler, president of WorldTraveler, an online travel goods store. Choices like "ocean" and "paprika" are in Tumi's new Signature collection. The Samsonite Oyster's shades include orange (above) and royal blue.
Dress up a black bag. Try a colorful accessory. Eagle Creek offers luggage tags and straps in "cactus," "poppy" and "Pacific blue."
Customize. Kaehler and other members of the National Luggage Dealers Association have introduced a luggage brand called Mosaic. The bottom of each bag contains a 4-inch ID plate that can be customized with letters and colorful tiles.
Track bags. Some luggage makers offer complimentary tracking systems. Tumi suitcases contain 20-digit bar codes that can help reunite owners with misplaced bags.
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Surprises for your heart: A little cheese is OK
New heart research shows surprises:
THE LATEST WORD
OK in moderation: cheese, alcohol
Skip: cola, butter, trans fats
Help yourself: dark chocolate, coffee, olive oil, fish
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Cholesterol. Dairy fats raise cholesterol, but cheese is less harmful than butter. In an Australian study, bad LDL cholesterol went up 9% in people who ate 4.2 ounces of cheddar a day but 15% (or 67% more) in those who ate the same amount of butterfat. Some studies show cheese eaters aren't more likely to die of heart disease. Researchers say moderate amounts of cheese may be OK, even if you have high cholesterol.
Blood clots. A little alcohol seems to reduce heart attacks: It's probably a blood thinner that discourages clots. At Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, the blood of those who had three to six drinks a week was less apt to clot than non-drinkers'. Caution: More than six drinks didn't add benefits.
Blood pressure. Drinking coffee (regular or decaf) didn't raise risk of high blood pressure in a Harvard study. But having four or more colas daily hiked risk by 28% (sugared) or 19% (diet). In other research, eating dark chocolate and monounsaturated fats (olive oil) cut blood pressure.
Inflammation. High blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) signal inflammation, a heart disease villain. Eating fish suppressed CRP in Greek research. Women who eat the most trans fats (margarines, baked goods) have 73% higher CRP than those who eat the least, say Harvard researchers.
Sources for this article
Cholesterol, cheese and butter
Nestel PJ. Dur J Clin Nur 2005 Sep; 59(9): 1059-63
Blood clots and alcohol
Mukamal KJ, Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2005 Oct;29(10): 1906-12
Blood pressure, coffee and cola
Winkelmayer WC. JAMA 2005;294:2330-2335
Blood pressure and chocolate
Grassi D. Hypertension 2005 Aug; 46(2):398-405
Blood pressue and monofats
Appel JL, JAMA 2005;294:2455-2464
Inflammation and fish
Zampelas A. J Am Coll Cardiol 2005 Jul 5;46(1): 120-4
Inflammation and trans fats
Lopez-Garcia E. J Nutr 2005 Mar; 135(3): 562-6
Homocysteine
Am J Clin Nutr 2005 Oct; 82(4): 806-12
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