PEPPERMINT, CINNAMON MAY HELP FIGHT ROAD RAGE
The scent of peppermint or cinnamon in the car might help lessen frustration and increase alertness, a study suggests. Study author Bryan Raudenbush, associate professor of psychology at Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, W.V., says drivers in the study showed less frustration, anxiety and fatigue and more alertness when getting whiffs of peppermint and cinnamon. The study results were presented at a meeting of the Association for Chemical Reception in Sarasota, Fla.
TIPS FOR SAFE SUMMER SPORTS
Abiding by the rules is one way to avoid being injured in a summer sport, specialists advise. "Children often believe they are invincible when participating in familiar sports or recreational activities, but they are actually more susceptible to sustaining sports-related injuries than adults," says Dr. James Beaty, second vice-president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. "While physical activity aids in developing muscles, it is important to remember that children's bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments are still growing, impacting their coordination and increasing their reaction time." He advises players to: wear appropriate protective gear; check equipment first and know how to use it; warm up before beginning an activity; avoid playing when tired or in pain; take rest breaks and replenish fluids during and after activity.
HAPPINESS BREEDS HEALTH
British scientists say a happy state of mind can lead to a healthier heart and lower levels of stress-inducing chemicals. In the study of 116 male and 100 female middle-age Londoners, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, those who were happiest experienced lower levels of the stress hormone, salivary cortisol, during a working day than those who rated themselves as happy less frequently. The happier men, though not the women, had a lower heart rate than those who were less happy. The main chemical difference between happy and unhappy men and women was the amount of the chemical plasma fibrinogen found in the bloodstream, a major predictor of cardiovascular disease risk, says study leader Andrew Steptoe of University College London.
TEA MAY HELP PREVENT DIABETES, CATARACTS
Tea may help prevent diabetes and its complications, including cataracts, scientists say. In the study, published in the American Chemical Society's Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the researchers fed green and black tea to diabetic rats for three months, then monitored the chemical composition of their blood and eye lenses. At levels that would be equivalent to less than five cups of tea a day for a human, both teas significantly inhibited cataract formation, compared to a group not getting any tea, the researchers found. The team also found both teas decreased glucose levels, affecting other biochemical pathways that accelerate diabetic complications, such as cataracts, says Joe Vinson, a chemist at the University of Scranton, Pa.
(Editors: For more information about PEPPERMINT, contact Steven Infanti at 304-243-2308 or [email protected]. For BYPASS, Michael Kaplan at 917-304-2078. For SPORTS, Carlye Fallon at 847-384-4035 or [email protected]. For HAPPINESS, Alex Brew at 020 7679 9726, 07747 565 056. For TEA, Michael Bernstein at 202-872-4400 or
