For The Love Of }

Thursday, 20 November 2008, 11:55 am

Four Fabulous Facts

1. Turnin' up the Stereo - Sick of your mom or your siblings banging on your door, demanding you keep the volume of your favourite track down? Well, here's your rebuttal: According to research from the University of Manchester, there's scientific proof that the greater the intensity of the music, the more pleasure it brings (Culprit: The Vestibular System that sens a positive message to your brain when sound waves set it off). While a hefty 90 decibels is required to trigger it when sounds are carried across a room, only 30 would do the trick when sounds are carried through mass - such as the floor or leaning against a speaker. So the next time your mom or your siblings bang on your door......your music's probably not loud enough to please 'em. :) But beware,'cos this blaring remedy does come with its precaution-label: 85 decibels for 8 hours.

2. Full Fat vs. Low Fat - Oh, beware, this piece of news is not for the low-fat-ted, 'cos look out HL-Milk, you're heading for the dumpster. A study at the University of Wales of 2375 men over 25 years revealed that those who consumed the most full-fat dairy were 63% less likely to develop "metabolic syndrome" (a cluster of symptoms eg. High Blood Pressure, Blood Lipids, Glucose Levels culminating in diabetes, heart disease and stroke). The culprit: It is believed that medium-chain fatty acids present in full-fat products but not low-fat, enhance insulin sensitivity in those with metabolic syndrome, making it easier for the body to control weight.

3. The Deceiving "Diet" - This is gonna piss some health-conscious, skinny models off. A 2005 study from the University of Texas discovered that in a group of 622 participants studied over 8 years, those who regularly drank diet soft drinks were far more likely to become overweight or obese than those drinking the same amount of non-diet drink. The Culprit: Although artificial sweeteners in diet soft drinks may taste the equivalent of sugar, your body may not be deceived that it's received the same calories - so it craves more. ie. You end up slurping more than you can sip.

4. Mighty Mum - Sulking over the possibilty of an early grave juggling the stress of caring for a family and holding down a job? Fret not, Mommies. A 2005 study found out that women who combined a career with marriage and motherhood are less likely to have poor health than those who stay at home or have no children. A study in the UK following British men and women born in 1946 throughout their lives, also found that 38% of long-term homemakers were obese by their fifties, compared with just 23% who had been working mothers. But of course, this only applies to a whole family.

-Courtesy of Reader's Digest