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New technological advances are making dentistry not only less cringe-inducing, but also quicker. One of the latest: the CEREC . It’s the latest in digital dentistry when it comes to restorations. Instead of going to the office at least twice over several weeks to get a crown or dentures, the CEREC system allows either to be done in just 20 minutes. The device creates a 3-D view of the teeth, allowing for a more accurate model than the traditional putty molds (which also taste gross). It then quickly produces the ceramic replacement. Better for patients; better for dentists, too. “These technological advances have been speeding up so much,” says Dr. Edward Scherder of Bayview Dental Arts, which employs the CEREC system.
Why isn’t the DASH Diet more popular?
The U.S. News & World Report calls it the best diet around. Federal dietary guidelines are based around it. Following it could lower your blood pressure and trim your waistline. But, as The Washington Post discovered, no one really wants to do it. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Diet has been around for about 20 years, but its popularity has barely gotten off the ground. Only about 1 percent of the population follows its guidelines for meals high in protein and fiber and low on saturated fat, sugar and salt. What makes the DASH Diet so hard to swallow? It’s not that expensive to make a salad. But it is much easier (and tastier) to pick up a pizza. Thus, what plagues DASH plagues the nation: an overreliance on fast, fatty foods.
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Your peak running days may be ahead of you
No need to look back wistfully on your 20s and 30s as the time when you peaked athletically. A study published in PLOS One found that many recreational runners improved on their performance well into their 40s and even into their 50s. The finding came as a bit of a surprise to researchers who found that most marathon runners peak at age 35. But they discovered that those of us who aren’t on that elite level tend to have less wear and tear and can improve on our run times well into middle age. Keep pushing!
A cure for the common hangover
Two Yale University students concocted SunUp, a powdery boost of electrolytes and other nutrients that, when mixed with water and drunk before a night out, will supposedly help you avoid a hangover.
Science behind soothing sounds
If you need to relax, just step outside. The sounds of nature can work wonders. A study published in Scientific Reports took a look at how participants responded to natural sounds as compared to manmade sounds. Not too surprisingly, the sound clips from nature won out. And the researchers have biological feedback to back it up. Researchers found that the participants’ nervous systems and brains returned to more relaxed states while listening to natural sounds. Lead author Dr. Cassandra Gould van Praag said in a release: “We are all familiar with the feeling of relaxation and ‘switching-off’ which comes from a walk in the countryside, and now we have evidence from the brain and the body which helps us understand this effect.”
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Delayed gratification
Next time you’re jonesing for a Snickers bar, wait 25 seconds and then see if you still want to pick one up. Researchers at Chicago’s Rush University Medical System concocted a vending machine with a 25-second wait time on junk food. In the end, they found that more people chose the healthful food and held off on the sugar buzz. The rational is simple: Having to wait makes something less attractive. Makes sense, but just try to test us before ordering a big slice of Key lime pie at Shula’s.
The scale is stacked against you
It’s not impossible to lose weight as you age. It’s just much more difficult. The issue is that we lose muscle mass as we age and replace it with fat. The decline in estrogen or testosterone in middle age only complicates things more. The solution? Don’t worry about it. Sort of. Overall, focus on a healthy lifestyle and don’t get frustrated if those last few pounds aren’t coming off. Also, make sure you’re doing some sort of weight training to build back muscle mass. “It’s about maintaining weight loss, but also about healthy eating and lifestyle,” Dr. Leslie Cho of the Cleveland Clinic told The New York Times.
Doctors are doing just fine
Nine in 10 doctors say they’re satisfied with their career choice, according to a survey from the American Medical Association. However, only two-thirds said they’d encourage others to enter the field.