Sassafras Station Blog

Archive for February, 2010

New research has been done that shows why kids need to get to bed earlier.  It’s not just about getting enough sleep, it’s about making sure you get enough light.  Early morning sunlight is crucial to stay on track with natures cycles of day and night.  When you don’t get that morning sunlight you tend to fall asleep later, making it difficult to get up the next morning.  Tired kids don’t do as well on tests as their more awake counterparts.  Click on the link below to read the whole article.

Riding in school buses in the early morning, then sitting in poorly lighted classrooms are the main reasons students have trouble getting to sleep at night, according to new research.

Teenagers, like everyone else, need bright lights in the morning, particularly in the blue wavelengths, to synchronize their inner, circadian rhythms with nature’s cycles of day and night.

Study sheds light on ‘teenage night owl syndrome’ – Los Angeles Times

Research shows that being happy is good for your health.  Researchers followed over 1,700 people for 10 years to see whether their attitude affected their health.  The results showed that  people who had a happy and positive attitude had a healthier heart and body.  For more information read the full article below.

Whether you view the glass as half empty or half full may help determine your risk for heart disease.

Just as negative emotions such as depression, anger, and hostility are risk factors for heart attack and stroke, happiness seems to protect the heart.

This was the finding from a large study that examined the impact of positive personality traits like happiness, contentment, and enthusiasm on heart disease risk.

Study: Happiness Good for the Heart

New research shows that women may not have as much time to have babies as they thought they did.  90% of a women’s eggs are gone by the the time she reaches 30.  On the upside, that means there are still 10% available.  Thankfully it only takes one to get pregnant.  Click on the link below to read the article.

By the time a woman reaches 30, she’s lost 90 percent of her ovarian eggs for good, according to a new study, which suggests that the female “biological clock situation is worse than we thought," says Elan Simckes, M.D., medical director and founder of The Fertility Partnership of St. Peter’s, MO.

Biological Clock Ticks Faster Than Most Women Realize

Grapefruit juice is loaded with vitamins.  New research is showing that not only is it good for you but it can also help you lose weight. 

If you take certain medications you need to take precautions if you drink grapefruit juice.  It can interact with some medications.  If you drink grapefruit don’t take any medications for at least an hour.  

Click on the link to read more about grapefruit juice and drug interactions.

Grapefruit juice provides many nutrients, including vitamin C, potassium and lycopene. But chemicals in grapefruit juice and grapefruit pulp interfere with the enzymes that break down (metabolize) various drugs in the digestive system — including certain calcium channel blockers and cholesterol-lowering drugs. The result can be excessively high levels of these drugs in the blood and an increased risk of potentially serious side effects. Pomelos and Seville oranges, a type of bitter orange often used to make marmalade and compotes, may have a similar effect.

Grapefruit juice: Can it cause drug interactions? – MayoClinic.com

We know that grabbing fast food isn’t good for us, but some fast foods are worse than others.  Click on the link below to see which foods to avoid the next time you eat out. 

Can an appetizer with the caloric equivalent of 13 Krispy Kreme doughnuts be justified? No. The 2,710-calorie Awesome Blossom has been purged from Chili’s menu–maybe the fat-drenched appetizer couldn’t withstand the scrutiny of being named one of the worst foods in America last year.

Worst Foods in America – That’s Fit