Healing Power of Tears

May be you should cry: It's good for body and soul.
As a child I couldn't understand why my tear ducts were dry when my grandfather died. But that night when my dad tried to lighten the mood with some tickling at my bedtime tuck-in, my giggles turned into crying, much to my horror -- and relief.

So it came as no surprise to learn that researchers believe crying and laughing stem from the same part of the brain. Just as laughing has a host of health benefits (lowers blood pressure, boosts the immune system), scientists are discovering that so, too, does crying.

"Whatever it takes for an individual to vent and release stress is essential to our emotional health," says Jodi DeLuca, a neuropsychologist. And crying seems to work well: One survey found that 85% of women and 73% of men felt better after crying.

Even more important than acting as stress relievers, tears attract help from other people. Researchers agree that when we cry, people around us become milder and less aggressive, and they're more likely to provide support and comfort.

Tears enable self-disclosure too; sometimes we don't even know we're upset until we cry. "We learn about our emotions through crying, and then we can deal with them," says neuroscientist William H. Frey II, author of Crying: The Mystery of Tears.

Just as crying can be healthy, not crying -- holding back tears of anger or grief -- can be bad for our bodies. Studies have linked emotional repression to high blood pressure, heart problems and cancer. "We are genetically programmed to cry, and denying that impulse damages our physical well being," says DeLuca.

Despite the benefits of bawling, if crying interferes with everyday life, see your doctor or a therapist. It could be and early sign of depression.

Doctors aren't prescribing sob sessions just yet; how much we cry depends on genetics, gender (women cry four time more than men) and upbringing. But when you feel like weeping, don't fight it. It's a natural and healthy -- emotional response.

Also read
Healing Power of Laughter
Healing Power of Forgiveness
Healing Power of Music
Healing Power of Sleep » Continue reading

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Where to find help creating an ideal home in the UK?

Anglian Home Improvements has been helping customers make their ideal home in the UK since 1969 and have pioneered the concept of customised home solutions. Anglian promises to help you renovate your home without spending a fortune. From the design to the installation, they will provide you with friendly and professional service through the entire process.

They offer a variety of products and services for homes, including beautiful customizable driveways in many different designs suitable for modern homes. Adding a well designed driveway to your home not only gives a face lift to your home but also increases your home's value.

Anglian products come with a whopping 10-Year guarantee on parts and labour on all of their windows, doors and conservatories and a 15-year guarantee on sealed-gas units.

You can apply for a free quote online on their website. Also check out their website to find special offers on energy efficient windows and doors, kitchens, garage doors, conservatories, rooftrim and much more. » Continue reading

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The write way to go with the flow

Expert scribe Patricia Lovett, a Parker Pen Handwriting Competition judge, reveals the best way to go with the flow:

• Sitting at a comfortable height and the correct angle -- feet on floor, light coming from the left if you're right handed (vice versa if left), not hunched up -- helps the physical act of writing.
  
• A good quality pen helps, especially a fountain pen, as it's good at slowing you down (though left-handers beware of smudging). "Our minds go faster than our hands and speed is very bad for writing," says Lovett.
  
• Have the paper at an angle -- the top right-hand corner higher than the left for right-handers, vice versa for left-handers. This gives your elbow more room to manoeuvre.
  
• As an exercise, good letter combinations to write include: "lilt" (with the "l" the tallest), "nu" (joined up), "oce" (ditto) and "bp". Practicing these strokes will help pen movements.

» Continue reading

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Tooth Be Told

You might not be replacing your toothbrush often enough (I know, it's hard to find the color you like). The American Dental Association recommends you trade in your toothbrush every three to four months, or earlier if it's frayed or loses shape. Recent studies from Oral-B Laboratories found that after just one use, a new brush removed 13 percent more plaque than a brush worn down to simulate three months of use. Compared to the old brushes, not only did the new ones remove 24% more plaque between the teeth, but they also reduced gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) by almost half. » Continue reading

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Watch your words

Do you argue with loved ones over simple misunderstandings? Little wonder. We overestimate how well we get our point across, says Boaz Keysar, a psychology professor. In his recent study, speakers tried to convey meaning using ambiguous statements. Speakers who thought listeners understood were wrong nearly half the time. Here's expert advice to reduce confusion:

1. Don't rely on cues. Listeners often nod, make eye contact or say "uh-huh" to be polite or move the conversation along. But it's easy to misinterpret these as signs of understanding.
   
2. Train the editor in your head. If you say, "Mary discusses her problems with her husband," it's not clear if she's talking to her husband or about him. Try instead "Mary talks to her husband about her problems." Or, "Mary talks to others about her marital problems."
   
3. Ask listeners to restate your message. Preface the request with "I want to be sure I said that right." Questions like "How does that sound?" or "Does that make sense?" may also work.
   
4. Listen well. When on the receiving end, ask questions to be sure you're on the same page. After all, speakers aren't responsible for the whole exchange.

» Continue reading

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Don't Cough Cash

Next time you need to treat a tickle in your throat, reach for the kettle, not your wallet. British researchers reviewed 15 studies of over-the-counter cough medicines, involving over 2000 people, and found no solid proof the pricey potions were any more effective than a placebo. Try granny's recipe first: lemon and honey in a mug of hot water. » Continue reading

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Microwave Myths Zapped!

Myth 1: Microwave ovens are dangerous.
Microwaves are comparatively safe, but take care when using any heating device. If your oven is very old you may wish to have the seals checked by a qualified microwave engineer. Be cautious when removing food covers to avoid scalds from escaping steam.

Myth 2: Microwaved food gets hotter when you take it out.
Microwaves aren't bouncing around in the food after the oven has been switched off. In fact food will begin to cool immediately.

Let it stand for a few minutes so the outer and inner temperatures even up. The food may continue cooking as this happens.

Myth 3: Microwaves cook from the inside out.
Microwaves penetrate at most only about 2.5 to 5cms into food. But this creates enough heat for the rest of the food to be cooked by conduction, as in a conventional oven."

Myth 4: Microwaves heat only water.
Water molecules do absorb microwave energy. But once the water has vaporized, fats and proteins absorb the energy and heat beyond water's boiling point, 100 degrees C.

Also read: Max the Micro! » Continue reading

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