The Power of One Special Molecule

No one really puts that much thought to one single molecule. Maybe its time to take one molecule - in particular - more seriously. The chemical messenger “oxytocin” has been scientifically proven to act as the headquarters of our morals. Oxytocin seems to be the chemical elixir that builds bonds of trust in your everyday life. This little molecule explains why some of us are nicer, generous, or more intimate.

Oxytocin is firstly known as a female reproductive hormone. Even though it is responsible for contractions during labor, it is also responsible for that really nice and comforting feeling you get when you are getting a massage, or even something as simple as a hug.

Multiple scientific studies have been done with oxytocin. The findings show that he or she who is given high does of oxytocin become more generous and caring, even with complete strangers. Don’t worry though! There are many other ways to become more caring than shooting oxytocin into your system. It’s quite simple! For instance, you just have to show someone a form of trust. Like a hug or lending money to someone. In return, the person being trusted experiences a surge in oxytocin that makes them more content. However, it does have some flaws. From experience, you know that giving someone a hug doesn’t instantly make you a more genuine person. What it does is it helps balance our behavior based on trust and distrust. It points you in the direction of social openness. Who knew that one single molecule could play such a big role in our everyday lives.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304811304577365782995320366.html?mod=wsj_share_tweet

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

  “When you give yourself permission to be human, you are more likely to open yourself up to positive emotions.” -Psychologist Tal Ben-Shahar

          

            We have all heard the song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bob Marley.  Even though he is just a singer, he may not have been far off on the idea that you need to stop worrying and be happy to live a better life.

            Contrary to popular belief, happiness isn’t something you are just born with. It is a skill that you develop over time. The key is to accept your failures, roll with the punches, and acknowledge your failures. The most important thing to remember is that you are not perfect. You are human, just like everyone else. Being happy also pays off. Studies show that someone who is genuinely happy is less likely to suffer health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, or the common flu than someone who has negative emotions, like anger and sadness.

            Here are a few tips in staying happy: First, you need to be thankful for what you have. Second, it’s true what they say, “money cannot buy you happiness.” Studies show that the joy in buying or getting an object you desire disintegrates slowly. Material things are only great for so long. Third, set real, achievable goals. Don’t get me wrong; it is great to shoot for the moon. Just don’t aim to high or you will never recognize when you achieve a small goal, you will only be worried about achieving that one big goal. Lastly, focus on the positive instead of the negative. Throughout your day, think more about what has gone right instead of what has gone wrong. You only have one life to live; you might as well live it right.  

Arsenic

            There are many harmful chemicals in the environment today. One of those chemicals includes arsenic. Well what exactly is arsenic? Arsenic is present in two forms: inorganic and organic. Turns out that organic arsenic is present in 1/3 of the earth’s atmosphere. Fortunately, it is not dangerous to humans. However, inorganic arsenic can prove to be very toxic. Arsenic is very prominent in substances we are exposed to everyday. Some of these substances include water, air, and rock. What makes it poisonous is when it comes from man-made machines. Why? The arsenic toxin actually mimics estrogen in the body and contributes to hormone imbalance or immune suppression. In many scientific studies, especially in third world countries, arsenic has been proven to cause cancer, mostly skin cancer. It is most present in third world countries because there are not enough clean water supplies. Along with skin cancer, arsenic has been known to cause liver, lung, kidney, and bladder. Studies show that the risk of dying from these types of cancer by drinking one liter of water a day could be as high as 13 per 1,000 people. It is scary to think that more than 2.5 million people may be drinking with high doses of arsenic in it every day. Arsenic is mostly found in well water. So if drinking well water is the norm for you, I would proceed with caution and make sure you are purifying the water before drinking it.

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/substances/toxsubstance.asp?toxid=3

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1519547/

What is beauty?

We all have our conceptions of what beauty really is. Some say that it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Others say it’s a good body. It depends on you, and your culture. Of course everyone has their own idea. Western cultures have different defintions of beauty than Asian cultures. But, is it really up to us that decide? Or is it programmed into our DNA? Whether we like it or not, people always compare how they look to other people. For instance, magazines nowadays only show skinny people. Ask yourself, what really makes them really beautiful? Well, There are certain patterns in the brain that subconsciously decide if you believe something is beautiful or not. Professor Zeki discovered that “to define something as beautiful it must go through the brain’s medial orbital frontal cortex.” On top of that, other studies have shown that a person’s facial symmetry has a lot to do with what we perceive as beautiful. Scientists’ believe that specific proportions are naturally more beautiful. These symmetrical features are signs of genetic quality. In the past, our human ancestors evolved to find mates that would pass along good genes. To find a good mate they would probably pick the prettiest and the fittest. So think about it, what is your perception of beauty?

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/02/health/mental-health/beauty-brain-research/index.html?hpt=he_c1

Broken Heart Syndrome

In the spirit of the Valentine's Day buzz, I decided to write about love. Have you ever been through a bad break-up and felt as if you're heart was broken? Well, you might have experienced "Broken Heart Syndrome." It sounds cheesy, but it's a real thing. Studies show that 1 in 320 who are at high risk for heart failure and 1 in 1, 400 people who are at low risk for will experience some form of heart problems due to heartbreak. These heart problems may include a stroke, heart attack, etc. So how do you really get broken heart syndrome? The people who are most at risk for getting it are grieving spouses, people with depression, or just your typical break-up. Symptoms include sleep-deprivation, neglecting to eat, or they will gorge themselves with comfort foods (such as chocolate and ice cream). The true science to this is that grieving increases cortisol levels in the blood. The grief brings on psuchological stress, an increase in heart rate, clotting, and blood pressure. These are the typical symptoms of a heart attack. For example, grieving spouses are more likely to die of a heart attack or a stroke. This accounts for more than 50% of their deaths. So what is the cure to a broken heart? Family and friend support is the best medicine.



http://www.inquisitr.com/179121/broken-heart-syndrome-how-heartbreak-can-literally-kill-you/