Yoga May Be Good for the Brain

Getting older seems to be inevitably accompanied with memory loss and possibly even dementia. There are now connections made between physical activity and having a healthy brain, but one study in particular focused on the effects of yoga and meditation on the brain.  A group of volunteers practiced yoga and meditation for 12 weeks, and by the end of the study had shown improvements in their mood, their thinking, and scored higher on tests for balance, depth perception, and ability to recognize objects than before the study began. Another group of volunteers participated in a brain training program, without any yoga or meditation. The yoga group bypassed the brain training group in terms of improvement, showing that physical activity, and yoga and meditation specifically are more beneficial to the brain. Just one more reason to grab your mat and get to yoga class!

The Bigger the Bottle, the Bigger the Baby

A recent study has found that babies that are given a bigger bottle while being fed formula are more likely to gain more weight than needed. Weight gain is necessary in babies, but when weight is gained rapidly, it’s an indicator of obesity later in life. It was found that when parents use a smaller bottle, like a 2 oz bottle for example, babies gain weight at a normal pace and weren’t overfed. It’s also important to pay attention to signs of being full from the baby, such as being disinterested in the bottle or trying to push it away. These signs mean the baby is full, and parents should not force them to finish the whole bottle. This is just like adults using bigger plates – the bigger the plate, the more likely a person is to overeat. Using smaller plates (or smaller bottles) allows for normal food intake and prevents overeating.

World Meat-Free Day Reminds People to Consider Their Impact

June 13th was World Meat-Free Day, and its goal was to remind people to consider their impact on the planet through their meat consumption. Deciding whether or not to eat meat is not just a health issue – studies have shown that livestock agriculture is largely responsible for rainforest destruction and is the largest contributor to climate change, while factory farms violate animal rights in the process. Reducing your meat consumption will have a huge impact on your health and the world. If just 10,000 people go meat free for just one day, they save enough water for one person for 93 years and the CO2 equivalent of driving a car 180,000 miles. Now, imagine your impact if you reduce your meat consumption from 3 times a day to 3 times a week, or even less. Even though Meat-Free Day was on the 13th, it’s never too late to participate in your own meat-free experiment. If you don’t think you can go full vegetarian or vegan, try going meatless part-time. Your body, wallet, and environment will thank you.