Solitude

No need to envy marathoners. Walking is just as good for your mind and body.                                         A Mighty Heart Biking and rowing may get your heart racing, but a low-intensity stroll in the park five to six times a week is actually more effective in preventing obesity and eliminating heart risk factors including insulin sensitivity, total cholesterol, and blood pressure. Walkers trimmed their waistlines more and shed more weight. A Walk to Remember Walking improves memory. Subjects who walked on a treadmill were better at correctly identifying which numbers were repeated in a series of digits read aloud. Walking also improves attention, bolstering your ability to ignore distractions—probably because walking activates brain regions associated with attention. A Spring in Your Step Your gait reflects your emotional state: Sad people walk slow...

Whether you get dementia, scientists now believe, is mostly a matter of lifestyle. That includes what you eat every single day.   When it comes to aging, life can be cruel. There's plenty to...well...let's come right out and say it: think about. What will happen to my looks? What will happen to my body? Will I still be able to pursue my interests? What will happen to my mind? That last question is now the second leading health concern (after cancer) among adults in at least four Western countries—France, Germany, and Spain, as well as the United States—according to a recent survey by the Harvard University School of Public Health and the Alzheimer Europe consortium. Fear of developing dementia would likely stir even more concern if Americans didn't mistakenly believe a cure for Alzheimer's disease exists (more than 45 percent of U.S. respondents think there is an effective treatment). Despite the lack of a cure, great progress has been made in the past th...

 Cerebral palsy, or CP for short, is the most common developmental disability in the United States. There are more than 500,000 people with CP in the United States today. Every year, almost 5,000 babies and infants are diagnosed with the condition. Maybe someone in one of your classes has cerebral palsy — or maybe you have it and you've been dealing with it your whole life. At a time when young people are so conscious of appearance and body image, it can be tough to be in a wheelchair or to have people tease you about the way you walk. But having cerebral palsy doesn't mean a girl or guy can't do what other people do. About Cerebral Palsy Cerebral palsy usually is a congenital disorder, which means that it's a problem that develops before or at birth. It can also result from brain damage that occurs in the first few months or years after birth. Cerebral palsy is a disorder of the brain that affects a person's ability to coordinate body movements....

The secret to losing weight isn’t just watching what’s on your plate; it’s also about watching what’s in your glass. Popular soft drinks, fruit juices, and energy drinks can be loaded with added sugars and carbohydrates that can sabotage your weight-loss strategy. Here are five tasty ways to drink up without packing on the pounds.   1. Water We all know this one, but it’s important to remember that water is the single best choice for effective weight loss. Whether it’s still or sparkling, aim to make water your go-to beverage choice. Think water is boring? Try adding fresh lemon slices, lime, cucumber, and even a slice of tomato to add flavor without adding many calories. 2. Vegetable juice Whether in a can, bottled, or homemade, vegetable juice is an excellent way to get the fiber and nutrients your body needs to fuel your weight loss. If you can find a low-sodium variety, even better. The veggies will keep you fuller longer and the tangy flavor will keep your taste buds happy. ...

By now, it’s an accepted fact that all of us urban workers, unlike earlier generations, will go through at least five to six job changes (if not more) during the course of our working lives. But disengaging from one company and moving to another can be a tricky proposition, particularly if you leave on a bad note. There’s always the temptation to badmouth the former workplace and boss. However, while venting your rage may feel good, it’s not right to vent just anywhere nor is it smart to vent to just about anyone. Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are supposed to be open forums where you can freely speak your mind. But there have been plenty of instances where people have been let go from their jobs for venting on these websites. For example, in 2009, Dawnmarie Souza, a union worker for the American Medical Response of Connecticut, was fired for insulting her boss in a series of Facebook updates. Moving on People quit their jobs for a variety of reasons, b...