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Here’s some career advice for the new year. Experts often suggest that people follow their passion when looking for work that they’ll feel enriched by. But sometimes you don’t have a choice and have to take a job that you’re not quite wild about, to put it mildly. But rather than feel resentful and unhappy every day, over time you can learn to love the job — or at least like it. There are two different mindsets when it comes to finding job satisfaction: the “fit theory” and the “develop theory,” according to researchers from the University of Michigan and the University of Southern California. For people with the “fit theory” mindset, the priority is finding work that they can be passionate about from day one. People with the “develop theory” mindset aren’t as concerned with finding the perfect job. They focus more on the practical, like having a paycheck and believing they’ll develop an inner passion on the job as they master the position. After numerous studies, the researchers discovered that people are actually more flexible than they might think and can change their approach to fit the situation. So if you find yourself in a job that you only feel lukewarm about, there are steps you can take to feel more connected sooner. To create more passion at work: Search out tasks that… read on >

Being in tune with the present moment — called mindfulness — can relieve stress and make you an actor rather than a reactor, a wellness expert says. Focusing on what’s happening right now allows people to notice things they might otherwise miss, said Dr. Timothy Riley. He is an assistant professor in the family and community medicine department at Penn State Health. That might sound simple enough. But being engaged in the present moment, on purpose and non-judgmentally, can be a challenge, he said. “Being aware of physical sensations, thoughts and emotions — both pleasant and unpleasant — can help us choose how to respond, rather than simply react,” Riley said in a Penn State news release. Each individual’s upbringing and genes have programmed how they approach situations, he explained. A person’s automatic reactions can be spot on — or not. “You walk by Starbucks, see a cookie and you have an emotional response,” he said. “You want the cookie. Then may come guilt for wanting a cookie.” If you’re mindful, you see the cookie, are aware of your emotional response, and you can let it be without judgment, Riley added. “It puts you in this observer stance where we can witness what is happening without getting wrapped up in it,” he said. “It gives you a bit of space.” That moment can help you… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Caffeine in limited amounts is OK for most people, but too much of the stimulant can be dangerous to your health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. The FDA adds: Caffeine is found in many foods, including various beverages and dietary supplements. Coffees and teas labeled “decaffeinated” can actually contain 2 to 15 milligrams of caffeine in an 8-ounce cup. Pregnant women and people who take certain medications should be aware of their doctor’s recommended caffeine consumption. The FDA suggests consulting a physician about the safety of children consuming caffeine. Caffeine should not be used as a substitute for sleep. If you want to cut back on caffeine, do so gradually to avoid unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

(HealthDay News) — PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy is a relatively new treatment for pain, the American Association of Orthopaedic Medicine says. It has shown promise, the association says, for treating ailments including osteoarthritis of the knee, shoulder, hip and spine; rotator cuff tears; chronic plantar fasciitis; and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. The association explains how the therapy works: Doctors draw a sample of the patient’s blood and place it in a centrifuge where it will be spun at high speeds to separate the platelets from other blood components. The concentrated platelets are then injected back into the point of injury to jump-start the healing process. The platelets initiate repair and attract the critical assistance of stem cells. The injections take about 2 hours and can be done in a doctor’s office. Up to three PRP injections may be given within six months. Improvement may be seen within a few weeks. Ultrasound and MRI images have shown tissue repair after PRP therapy.

When it comes to so-called good foods and bad foods, it’s pretty easy to separate a green salad from a piece of pie. But some healthy foods can become less beneficial for you simply because of the way you cook them. Researchers analyzed three years of eating patterns of kids between the ages of 7 and 13 who gained excess weight in that time, and identified the foods most likely to get the blame. Fat-based spreads like butter, desserts, candy and sugary beverages and processed meats were on the list. But so were poultry and fish when breaded and battered, and potatoes cooked in oil — from French fries to chips. In these cases, the cooking methods undermined the value of otherwise healthful foods, and not just the chicken and fish. The researchers pointed out that when boiled or mashed without any fat, potatoes are satisfying, yet not associated with unwanted weight gain. Of course, if you leave off the coatings, chicken and fish won’t lead to excess pounds either. Note: Baking, poached and light sauteing are tasty alternatives, especially when you add herbs to increase flavor. The researchers also singled out whole grains and high-fiber cereals as good foods that don’t promote overweight. These happen to also be high in fiber, which is important for children as well as adults — and many kids… read on >

Alcohol. It’s a fixture at New Year’s parties, but it’s also is a calorie guzzler — one drink can eat up 10 percent or more of a dieter’s daily allotment, depending on how fanciful the beverage is. And there are other ways booze can undermine your wellness efforts. The calories in every gram of alcohol have no nutritional value, so you’re also missing out on the vitamins and minerals you get from food calories. What’s more, heavy drinking can affect your metabolism and lead your body to store fat, hampering muscle development, the American Council on Exercise reports. Despite its initial feel-good effect, alcohol is actually a depressant, negatively affecting brain function, balance and hand-eye coordination. It can leave you feeling sluggish while ramping up your appetite, causing you to eat hundreds of unwanted calories, often unhealthful “bar food.” But the news isn’t all bad. As with most consumption, it comes down to moderation — that’s a max of one drink a day for women and two for men. To avoid overdoing it on booze: Know the standard drink sizes so you can account for the correct number of calories. Never drink on an empty stomach — food helps to slow down alcohol’s effects. Have a sip of water between sips of alcohol to make the drink last longer. Set daily and weekly goals for… read on >

One of your New Year’s resolutions should be to be good to your skin, and dermatologists have 10 ways to help. “All the stresses and excesses of the holidays can leave your skin in bad shape, which makes you feel low, too,” said Dr. Megan Rogge, an assistant professor of dermatology the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. “At the start of a new year, we all want to look great,” she added in a university news release. “The good news is that with a little extra time and effort, or sometimes just breaking bad habits, you can change your skin condition for the better.” Here’s how: Chill out: Stress can cause many skin problems and make some worse. So try to relax. “Acne, psoriasis, eczema, and certain types of hair loss all get worse when you’re feeling stressed. Unfortunately, these are the four most common complaints of my patients,” Rogge said. Yoga or meditation can help you decompress, but even simple breathing exercises can make a difference, she said.” Give your diet a makeover: A healthy diet not only helps control weight, it also will make your skin look better. Dr. Rajani Katta, a clinical professor of dermatology at UT, urges her patients “to eat more foods rich in antioxidants, especially fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, since they’ve been shown to help… read on >

(HealthDay News) — A change in your nails may be no cause for concern, but certain changes should be taken seriously, the American Academy of Dermatology says. The academy suggests visiting a dermatologist at the first sign of: A dark streak. This could be a sign of melanoma skin cancer. A nail lifting up. This could be a sign of a fungal infection, psoriasis, injury from an aggressive manicure or injury from cleaning under your nails. Redness and swelling around a nail. You probably have an infection. Greenish black color. You probably have an infection. Pitting nails. These may be triggered by psoriasis, atopic dermatitis or alopecia. Yellow nails. These could be a sign of lung disease or rheumatoid arthritis. Deep grooves or gaps. These could be triggered by chemotherapy, an injury or major stress. Curved nails. These can be hereditary or a sign of lung, heart, liver or stomach disease.

How highly you rate your health could predict how likely you are to catch a cold — and, even more important, how healthy you’ll be in later years. Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh asked 360 healthy adults to rate their health as excellent, very good, good, fair or poor — and then exposed them to a virus that causes the common cold. Overall, about one-third developed colds. While none said “poor” and only a few said “fair,” those who rated their health as “fair,” “good” or even “very good” were more than twice as likely to develop a cold as those who described it as “excellent.” What makes people give themselves a high health rating independent of indicators like their medical records or a doctor evaluation? Such factors include following positive lifestyle habits like regular exercise, having a strong social network and feeling a high level of emotional well-being. People who fit the bill are less likely to get sick and more likely to live longer, the researchers found. Conversely, people who think of their health as poor tend to have a poor health trajectory as they age. On the subject of warding off the common cold, a separate study done at Carnegie Mellon along with researchers at the University of California, San Francisco found that just one extra hour of sleep can… read on >

Stress and uncertainty plague many Americans, but there are a number of steps you can take to cope, a psychiatrist suggests. “In this day and age of ‘digital’ perfection, the stress of daily living can take a toll on our health, causing anxiety and depression, leading to relationship difficulties, problems at work, and the feeling that you have little control over your life,” said Dr. Smita Agarkar. She is chief at the Crisis Stabilization Unit at Gracie Square Hospital in New York City. “The good news is that there are many effective ways to manage and reduce stress,” she added. Be mindful or aware of your feelings. Try to be compassionate towards yourself, accept the current situation, and let it go. There are many exercises for mindfulness. Keep a stress diary. It can help you identify when and why stress strikes, so that you can focus your efforts on managing stress, according to Agarkar. Regular exercise helps improve your ability to fight stress. After stressful events, eat healthful, well-balanced meals and get enough rest and sleep. Don’t turn to drugs, alcohol or compulsive behaviors, such as eating, to combat stress. Set limits and learn to say no to things that cause you stress. Make time for hobbies, interests and relaxation, and spend time with people you enjoy. Consider joining a support group. If stress and… read on >

Weekly Gravy

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Building Passion When You’re Not in Love With Your Job

Mindfulness Can Help Tame Everyday Stress

Health Tip: Understanding Caffeine

Health Tip: What is Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy?

Foods That Can Lead to Obesity in Kids

Alcohol May Be Sabotaging Your Diet

Keep Your Skin Glowing With Good Health in 2019

Health Tip: Nail Changes to Take Seriously

Can You Predict Your Common Cold Risk?

Dial Down the Stress