Lifestyle « Weekly Gravy

Bingeing on social media isn’t good for any teen, but new research has pinpointed three ways in which hours spent on Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and Facebook may harm the mental health of young girls in particular. “Almost all of the influence of social media on mental health could be explained by the three mechanisms examined — namely experiencing cyberbullying, sleeping for less than eight hours a night and reduced physical activity — all of which have known effects on mental health,” said researcher Dasha Nicholls, a reader in child psychiatry at Imperial College London. “The influence of these mechanisms in boys was much less marked, however, and it is likely that other mechanisms are operating that we were unable to explore,” she added. Girls use social media much more than boys, Nicholls explained, and girls may use social media differently than boys. They also are exposed to and react differently to the content they see, she noted. “It’s important to keep a balance, so that social media does not displace other activities that are important for mental health,” Nicholls said. Another expert said social media is a mixed bag for teens. Social media use does not necessarily need to be harmful, said Ann DeSmet, a post-doctorate fellow in health science at Ghent University in Belgium. It can reduce loneliness, but can also increase exposure to… read on >

Taking a vacation from social media and digital technology while you travel can cause withdrawal symptoms, but a small study suggests you’ll come to enjoy the offline experience. The British study included 24 people. During their travels to 17 countries and regions, most unplugged from technologies such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets, social media and navigation tools for more than 24 hours. Their reactions before, during and after their “digital detox” were gathered through diaries and interviews. Many had initial anxiety, frustration and withdrawal symptoms, but then increased levels of acceptance, enjoyment and even liberation, according to the study published Aug. 14 in the Journal of Travel Research. “Many people are increasingly getting tired of constant connections through technologies and there is a growing trend for digital-free tourism, so it is helpful to see the emotional journey that these travelers are experiencing,” said lead author Wenjie Cai, a lecturer at the University of Greenwich in London. Researchers said there is growing demand for digital detox holidays. “Our participants reported that they not only engaged more with other travelers and locals during their disconnected travels, but that they also spent more time with their travel companions,” Cai said in a journal news release. The findings could be important for travel companies seeking to develop off-the-grid vacation packages, according to study co-author Brad McKenna, a lecturer at… read on >

You don’t have to have the talent of a Rembrandt or Yo-Yo Ma to express creativity and get some very special benefits from doing so. Everyday creativity boosts well-being and can give you a stronger sense of purpose and engagement, and everyone can tap into it. So why don’t we do more of it? The book, The Creativity Challenge, suggests modern life isn’t set up to promote creativity the way it used to be, and you might need to not only seek out creative outlets, but also carve out time in your hectic schedule to devote to them. The first step is to figure out what interests you. You might look for inspiration at an arts and crafts store or a museum, but be open to new ideas, which can be a challenge for adults. When researchers at North Dakota State University asked adults to think about what they would do with a day off, the answers were better when participants were told to imagine themselves as a 7-year-old, a time in life without inhibitions and more free thinking. So, try to channel your inner child, especially if you consider yourself an introvert by nature. Keep in mind that creativity doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need to schedule (or worry about paying for) lessons for activities like painting, creative writing and cooking. But… read on >

For parents of a child with autism, communication is often the No. 1 hurdle. But what if there were a simple way to help them get their youngster talking? A new study suggests there just might be. It’s called “pivotal response treatment” (PRT). And those who have tried it say it can open up a whole new verbal world for kids with limited speech and inhibited social skills. “My son was having meltdowns all the time because he couldn’t express what he wanted or needed,” said Heidi Pim, a kindergarten teacher in Palo Alto, Calif., whose son James, 8, was diagnosed as a toddler with autism and speech delays. “We would try our best to figure out what he wanted or needed, so we could give it to him, but often we couldn’t,” she said. “Because he didn’t have any vocabulary. And his frustration and aggression would just turn into situations everywhere I would take him. At shopping malls, airports, everywhere.” James was already undergoing standard “applied behavioral analysis” (ABA) treatment. Considered the gold standard among autism interventions, it aims to teach social skills through heavy monitoring, repetition and positive reinforcement of good behavior, typically in a clinical setting. PRT has roots in ABA. But it aims to keep the child in his or her usual setting, and relies on techniques that are easy for… read on >

Want to reduce your risk of dementia? Take care of your heart. That’s the takeaway from a new study that suggests good heart health in middle age could lower your odds for problems with thinking and memory later in life. The study included nearly 7,900 British adults who did not have heart disease or dementia at age 50. Over an average 25-year followup, 347 cases of dementia were diagnosed among participants. Average age at diagnosis: 75. After taking other factors into account, researchers linked a higher score at age 50 on seven healthy habits outlined in the American Heart Association’s “Life Simple 7” with a lower risk of dementia later in life. The Life Simple 7 assesses smoking, diet, physical activity, fasting blood sugar, blood cholesterol, blood pressure and body mass index (a measure of body fat based on height and weight). Dementia rates were 1.3 per 1,000 person years among participants who had high scores on heart healthy habits, compared to 3.2 per 1,000 for low-scorers, according to the study published Aug. 7 in the BMJ. A better score at age 50 was also associated with higher overall brain and gray matter volumes in MRI scans 20 years later. Though the study could not prove that heart-healthy living actually caused dementia risk to drop, the researchers said their findings support public policies to improve… read on >

If you’ve made a financial commitment to athletic shoes, no doubt you want your money’s worth. But it’s important to replace them when you see specific signs of wear. Doing so will help prevent injury and allow you to work out at peak performance. According to the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, there are four main shoe components that can break down or wear out. When any of the following signs of wear occur, it’s time to replace the shoes: The tough outer sole on the bottom of the shoe has worn through to the midsole or is worn down more on one side than the other. The midsole, the layer between the outer sole and the upper, has worn out and no longer provides cushioning and stability. You might see creasing or unevenness when you look at this area at eye level on a flat surface. The heel counter — a stiff piece of material at the back of the shoe above the midsole — feels flexible when pressed side to side or leans to one side. This means that it probably won’t provide essential foot and ankle support. You see signs of wear along the shank. That’s the area between the front of the sole and the heel. Check it and all parts of your shoes after every workout. Surprising as it… read on >

Parts of the United States that raised the legal age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21 have seen significant reductions in cigarette smoking among young adults. Compared to other regions, those with tobacco-21 laws had a 39% decline in regular smoking among 18- to 20-year-olds who had previously experimented with cigarettes, a new study found. In that age group, the reduction was even larger (50%) among those whose close friends smoked at age 16, according to the study published recently in the journal Addiction. “This research indicates that a ‘social multiplier’ effect may amplify the impact of tobacco-21 laws,” said lead author Abigail Friedman, an assistant professor at the Yale School of Public Health in New Haven, Conn. “As peer smoking is a critical predictor of youth smoking, this study suggests that tobacco-21 laws may help reduce smoking among those most susceptible to tobacco use,” she said in a Society for the Study of Addiction news release. “This result supports raising the age of sale to 21 as a means to reduce young adult smoking and improve public health.” As of June, 16 states and more than 400 localities had adopted tobacco-21 laws. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on youth and tobacco.

New research is untangling the complex relationship between symptoms of depression and losses in memory and thinking that often emerge together with Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, the new data suggests that “depression symptoms themselves may be among the early changes in the preclinical stages of dementia syndromes,” explained study lead author Dr. Jennifer Gatchel. She works in the division of geriatric psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. In the study, researchers examined brain scans and other data gathered over seven years from 276 older adults enrolled in the Harvard Aging Brain Study. All of the participants were still living independently in the community at the beginning of the study and were considered healthy. However, the analysis revealed a significant link between worsening depression symptoms and mental decline over two to seven years, and both of these trends seemed to be linked to a buildup of amyloid protein in brain tissue. The slow accumulation of amyloid has long been known as a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. “Our research found that even modest levels of brain amyloid deposition can impact the relationship between depression symptoms and cognitive [thinking] abilities,” Gatchel said in a hospital news release. The new insight that depression symptoms might be part of the Alzheimer’s process could further research into the prevention or treatment of the illness, she added. It “raises the possibility… read on >

Thinking of picking up an electric fan to help keep you cool and protect your health during the next heat wave? You might want to think again. Electric fans might make you feel cooler, but they can actually increase your risk of becoming heat sick and even dying from a heat stroke, the evidence shows. Electric fans could contribute to a potentially dangerous increase in a person’s core heat if outdoor temperatures exceed 95 degrees Fahrenheit, a recent Cochrane evidence review says. “The fan actually will be blowing air that is hotter than our body at us,” said co-author Mike Clarke, director of the Northern Ireland Clinical Trials Unit at Queen’s University Belfast. It’s like switching on an electric oven’s convection fan to speed up the cooking process, the researchers said. Meanwhile, another new study found that electric fans are particularly dangerous during very hot and dry conditions, but can help lower core temperatures and heart strain in hot, humid weather. That study appears in the Aug. 5 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. Electric fans are seen as a cheap way to help people cope with the several days of high temperatures that make up a heat wave, researchers for the Cochrane review said. Global warming means heat waves will become more frequent, and they can have terrible health consequences. As many as… read on >

In the quest for more plant-based protein sources, yellow peas have been getting a lot of good press. And the number of packaged foods enhanced with this “pea protein” has tripled in the last few years. But dried split peas, whether yellow or green in color, were an excellent food choice long before they achieved their overnight superstar status. A mere quarter-cup, measured dry (uncooked), will yield 11 to 12 grams of protein, 13 to 16 grams of fiber and just 180 calories. Tip: Read labels on bags of dried peas since these counts vary slightly. Peas are common legumes or “pulses.” While not a complete protein, like meat or chicken, peas have important amino acids including isoleucine, leucine and valine, needed for building muscle. Keep in mind that foods with just the pea protein extract are missing yellow peas’ fiber, B vitamins and a wide variety of essential minerals and phytochemicals. So rather than paying up for products with added pea protein, especially if it’s the only healthy ingredient in the box, consider adding whole split peas to your diet with meals you make at home. Dried peas are perfect for do-ahead meals. Take a few minutes to cook up a batch, and then use them in recipes throughout the week. They form the base of many Indian dishes and hearty soups. They can… read on >