Four health-promoting job traits

Are some jobs healthier than others? Well, yes, and we’re not just talking about extremes, like how a macrobiotic chef job might be healthier than, say, that of a matador or bomb defuser.

According to this piece by Maria Hanson on Yahoo HotJobs, there are certain characteristics of a job that have been scientifically shown to produce big health benefits. The characteristics are:

1. Autonomy/Personal Control — The more personal control people have in their lives, the less their chances of depression and heart disease and the better their health in general.
2. Mentally Demanding — If you use more brain power on your job, you’re less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
3. Low Stress — Research shows that stress can contribute to problems like heart disease, headaches, chronic pain, lowered immunity, and even obesity.
4. Social — Hanson says jobs that require social interaction can lower blood pressure, decrease heart disease, prevent depression, keep you cognitively fit, reduce stress, and increase lifespan.

This data made me wonder about what specific job characteristics could contribute to poor health. And it occurred to me that three out of the four examples above could, if experienced in the extreme, also be detrimental.

For example, if you have too much control, as in ownership of a company, you might be under extreme stress. I’m the type of person who perfers autonomy, but some people are very uncomfortable with that type of freedom.

Also, if a job is too mentally demanding, you could be so preoccupied with it that you neglect other activities that keep you healthy. Have you ever been so drained from thinking too much that you’re “too tired” to exercise?

I understand that having some social aspect to a job is healthy, but I can also see how the nature of the people you have to interact with could alter your stress level for the bad. Can you say “Help Desk”?

Credits: www.techrepublic.com

Energy Foods: A Diet to Boost Your Mood & Energy Level

 

Can Food Boost Energy and Mood?

It’s an intriguing possibility. While it’s too soon to say, “an apple a day keeps the doldrums away,” researchers are studying the links between what we eat and how we feel. There is evidence that changing your diet can alter your metabolism and brain chemistry, ultimately affecting your energy level and mood.

Getting Started

Foods can boost energy in three ways: by providing sufficient calories, by delivering stimulants like caffeine, and by pushing the metabolism to burn fuel more efficiently. As for mood, the best foods are those that stabilize blood sugar and trigger feel-good brain chemicals, such as serotonin. Keep clicking to learn which foods and drinks can do the job.

Smart Carbs

Carbs may be the foe of fad diets, but they’re vital for boosting energy and mood. They are the body’s preferred source of fuel, plus they raise serotonin levels. The key is to avoid sweets, which cause blood sugar to spike and plummet, leading to fatigue and moodiness. Instead, turn to whole grains like whole-wheat bread, brown rice, and cereal. The body absorbs whole grains more slowly, keeping blood sugar and energy levels stable.

Cashews, Almonds, and Hazelnuts

These nuts are not only rich in protein, but they also contain magnesium, a mineral that plays a vital role in converting sugar into energy. Research suggests magnesium deficiency can drain your energy. Magnesium is also found in whole grains, particularly bran cereals, and in some types of fish, including halibut.

Brazil Nuts

Add Brazil nuts to the mix for a helpful dose of selenium, which may be a natural mood booster. Studies have reported a link between low selenium and poorer moods. This mineral also occurs in smaller amounts in meats, seafood, beans, and whole grains.

Lean Meats

Lean pork, lean beef, skinless chicken, and turkey are healthy sources of protein, including the amino acid tyrosine. Tyrosine boosts levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, brain chemicals that can help you feel more alert and focused. Meats also contain vitamin B12, which may combat insomnia and depression.

Salmon

Fatty fish, such as salmon, is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Studies suggest this substance may protect against depression. While the extent of the link is uncertain, omega-3 fatty acids offer a wide range of other benefits, including heart health. Besides fish, sources of omega-3 include nuts and leafy, dark green vegetables.

Leafy Greens

Another nutrient that may reduce the risk of depression is folate. Like omega-3 fatty acids, folate is found in leafy green vegetables, including spinach and romaine lettuce.  Legumes, nuts, and citrus fruits are also good sources of folate.

Fiber

Fiber is an energy stabilizer. It slows digestion, providing a more steady supply of energy throughout the day. Boost your fiber intake by eating beans, whole fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads, and whole-grain cereals.

Water

Dehydration and fatigue go hand-in-hand. Some studies suggest even mild dehydration can slow the metabolism and sap your energy. The solution is simple – drink plenty of water or other unsweetened beverages at regular intervals.

Fresh Produce

Another way to stay hydrated and energized is to eat fluid-filled foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Skip dry packaged snacks like pretzels in favor of apple wedges or celery. Other hydrating foods include oatmeal and pasta, which swell up with water when cooked.

Coffee

Coffee may be one of the world’s most popular pick-me-ups, and evidence suggests it works – at least in the short-term. Caffeine steps up the body’s metabolism, temporarily improving mental focus and energy. Frequent mini-servings will keep you alert and focused longer than a single large dose. Just beware of drinking so much coffee that you can’t sleep at night. Lack of sleep is an obvious energy-buster.

Tea

An alternative source of caffeine is, of course, tea. Research suggests that tea’s combination of caffeine and the amino acid L-theanine can improve alertness, reaction time, and memory. Black tea has also been shown to combat the effects of stress.

Dark Chocolate

Chocoholics, you probably knew this already – a few squares of dark chocolate can boost both energy and mood. Caffeine is at work again, along with another stimulant called theobromine.

Breakfast

For anyone hoping to boost energy and mood, skipping breakfast is not an option. Studies show that people who eat breakfast every morning enjoy more energy and a better mood throughout the day. The best breakfasts deliver plenty of fiber and nutrients through whole-grain carbs, good fats, and some type of lean protein.

Frequent Meals

Another strategy for stabilizing blood sugar, energy, and mood: Eat small meals and snacks every three to four hours, rather than a few large meals. Energy-sustaining snacks include peanut butter on whole-grain crackers, half a turkey sandwich with salad, or whole-grain cereal with milk.

Energy Supplements

Energy supplements are often touted as an alternative to coffee or other stimulants. Many of these supplements actually contain caffeine or similar chemical substances. Examples include kola nut, yerba mate, green tea extract, and guarana. These supplements may give you a temporary boost, but experts say the effect is probably not much different than drinking ordinary coffee.

Energy Drinks and Gels

Most energy drinks and gels infuse the body with simple carbohydrates – in other words, sugar, which the body can quickly convert into energy. This is a convenient way for high-intensity athletes to keep going, but the benefits for the rest of us are dubious. Energy drinks are usually high on calories and low on nutrients.

Exercise for Energy

Besides altering your diet, exercise is a tried-and-true way to boost energy and mood. Even a single 15-minute walk can be energizing, and the benefits increase with more frequent physical activity. Studies indicate that regular exercise can relieve depression and trigger physiological changes that make more energy available throughout the day.

Credits: www.webmd.com

Looking Young May Help You Live Longer

Youthful Appearance Linked to Longer Life, Study Finds

By Bill Hendrick
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

If you look young for your age, chances are you’ll live longer than if you’re haggard and appear worn out, new research indicates.

A team of researchers led by Kaare Christensen, DMSc, from the University of Southern Demark studied photographs and data on 1,826 Danish twins aged 70 or older who’d undergone physical and cognitive tests.

The study is published in the Christmas issue of bmj.com.

The facial photographs of the twins were evaluated by 20 female geriatric nurses aged 25-46, 10 male student teachers aged 22-37, and 11 women aged 70-87.

The assessors rated the perceived age by looking at pictures of the subjects’ faces. They didn’t know the age range of the twins, and each twin had his or her age assessed on different days.

Death records were used to track the survival of the twins over a seven-year period.

The researchers found that perceived age was significantly associated with survival and life span, even after adjusting for chronological age, sex, and the environment in which each of the twins grew up.

Perceived age, the researchers say, adjusted for chronological age and sex, also correlated with physical and cognitive functioning, as well as length of leukocyte telomeres - chromosome tips on DNA of people's white blood cells.

Shorter telomere length is associated with a “host of diseases related to aging and lifestyle factors and has been shown to be associated with mortality,” the researchers write.

The bigger the difference in perceived age within a twin pair, the more likely it was that the twin who looked older died first, the authors say.

The sex, age, and professional background of the assessors made no difference in any of the results.

Basing perceived age on facial photographs is thought to be a robust biomarker of aging that predicts survival in people 70 and over and correlates with important functional and molecular age-related characteristics, the authors conclude.

The data came from the Longitudinal Study of Aging Danish Twins, which was begun in 1995, with assessments every two years up to 2005.

Credits: http://www.webmd.com