Mercury Is in Retrograde: Why Superstitions Can Be Good For You

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Have things felt a little, I don’t know… off these past few weeks? Maybe you’ve fought with your partner, bombed a presentation at work, or missed a flight, leaving you wondering, what in the heck is going on? Well, here’s one explanation: Mercury happens to be in retrograde right now, until June 11.

What that means: “The planet Mercury tends to move slowly eastward across our night sky, but every few months it passes Earth in its orbit around the sun and, because of the relative alignment, it travels westward across our night sky for a few days,” explains Matthew Hutson, author of The 7 Laws of Magical Thinking ($14, amazon.com). “Some people say this ‘retrograde’ movement causes or signals a kink in the pace of life on Earth. They associate it with all sorts or problems or delays that happen during that time, from computer crashes to romantic breakups.”

RELATED: 19 Natural Remedies for Anxiety

Popular astrologist Susan Miller, for example, cautions against making big decisions like signing contracts or taking a new job while Mercury is in retrograde, which happens for three weeks, three times a year.

Okay—so all of that may sound straight out of Professor Trelawney’s crystal ball. But if you’re among the believers, you’re not alone. A 2012 survey from the National Science Foundation found that more than half of Americans rated astrology as either “very scientific” or “sort of scientific,” which is the highest number of believers since 1983.

Photo: a year without searching/ WordPress

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And engaging in a little magical thinking can’t hurt—in fact, it may actually be good for you.

“There are two main reasons magical thinking can occasionally be healthy: it provides a sense of control and a sense of meaning,” Hutson says. “A sense of control can boost performance by increasing self-efficacy, so if you feel lucky you actually become lucky.”

In one experiment for example, researchers at the University of Cologne in Germany gave a group of about 30 young adults ten tries to sink a put. Half of the people were told they were using a “lucky” golf ball, and in the end those people performed 35% better.

“In other experiments, people who had a lucky charm or were wished good luck performed better on other physical and cognitive tasks. So feeling lucky is a self-fulfilling prophecy,” Hutson adds.

RELATED: 12 Worst Habits For Your Mental Health

Meanwhile, a sense of meaning can help you cope with a tough situation and recover faster. If you think a terrible event was meant to be, you can often find a silver lining.

We may even be hardwired for this thought process, Hutson explains. “We quickly form associations between events—you hold a charm and win a game—and expect the patterns to hold up in the future. We see patterns especially when we feel anxious, as a way to regain control.”

In other words, believing your bad luck this month was written in the stars may help restore order in your mind, which is as good of a reason as any to believe it—as long as you don’t take it too seriously.

While there are perks to trusting the planets, Hutson cautions against being overly dependent on such notions. “We might feel lucky and overconfident, taking big risks, or unlucky and defeated, leaving our potential unfulfilled. Since irrational beliefs can be good or bad, we have to be rational about when to encourage them.”

RELATED: 4 Habits That Set You Up for Good Luck

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Can a Vitamin IV Infusion Cure a Hangover? What You Should Know

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Is it OK to get an IV vitamin infusion?

Providers of this trendy service claim that their concoctions, delivered via an IV line, can cure hangover, athletic exhaustion and even jet lag. Some companies will come to your home, office or hotel room to give infusions, which can include fluid, vitamins, electrolytes and sometimes painkillers and antinausea drugs. It may sound crazy, but as long as an MD is in charge, a full medical history is taken beforehand and registered nurses are administering the drips, it won’t cause harm and may help you feel better—in some cases.

For example, you can speed up your recovery from a bad hangover by getting pumped full of hydrating fluids and anti-inflammatories. And during a bad case of food poisoning, IV fluids along with antinausea medicines can be a help. However, it’s unlikely that infusions will turn back the clock on jet lag, and you should be wary of anyone promising that an IV solution can soothe a chronic issue like anxiety or irritable bowel syndrome.

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Also, anytime an IV is placed, there’s some risk of bruising, a painful collection of blood at the spot where the needle is inserted or, more rarely, a serious infection. High doses of anti-inflammatory drugs can lead to tummy troubles like ulcers, so this is not something to rely on regularly. And watch out for those offering megadoses of vitamins; that can be harmful. Finally, it’s pricey: upwards of $200 for a single session, depending on the provider (and your insurance likely won’t cover it).

Next time you’re hungover, try an oral dose of ibuprofen, a big glass of water or a nap. And if you’re frequently using IVs for mornings after, you need to take a look at your drinking.

Health‘s medical editor, Roshini Rajapaksa, MD, is assistant professor of medicine at the NYU School of Medicine and co-founder of Tula Skincare.

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See What Diseases You’re at Risk For Based on Your Birth Month

Steal J. Lo’s Go-To Move for Awesome Abs

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It was a star-studded event at the Tony Awards Sunday night, and not just because of the A-listers in attendance…or those gorgeous gowns they were sporting: All of those amazingly-toned bodies were also a huge highlight. Our favorite frame of the night? Good old Jenny from the Block. Seriously, it doesn’t get any better than Jennifer Lopez when it comes to looking fashionable and fit.

We can’t help you with her stunning dress, but we can offer you one of J.Lo’s real-life must-do core moves, courtesy of her trainer—and Health’s contributing fitness editor—Tracy Anderson. Add it to your workout routine to help you score your own set of red-carpet-ready abs.

RELATED: Why Jennifer Lopez Says She’s Still Learning to Love Herself at 45

Get Jennifer Lopez’s Out-of-Sight Abs

The move: Attitude Lift and Crunch with Reach

Why it’s so great: “It hits the deep-set ab muscles that serve as your flat-belly girdle,” Anderson says.

How to do it: Lie face up with knees bent, right arm extended overhead, and a 3-pound weight in right hand. Rest left hand on back of head (A). Crunch up; lift left leg. Crunch up more; bring right hand and left leg toward each other (B). Lower torso; tap left toes to floor. This is 1 rep. Do 30 reps; rest for 30 to 60 seconds. Switch sides and repeat. Do it six days a week for rock-hard results.

RELATED: A Core Workout for Flat Abs in 4 Simple Moves

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More Young Children Exposed to Marijuana, Study Finds

TUESDAY, June 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — There’s been a sharp increase in marijuana exposure among young children in the United States in recent years, a new study finds.

The increases in exposure come as more states have legalized the drug for medical or recreational use, the researchers noted. Marijuana exposure in young children generally comes from breathing or swallowing the drug.

“The high percentage of ingestions may be related to the popularity of marijuana brownies, cookies and other foods,” study co-author Henry Spiller, director of the Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, said in a hospital news release.

“Very young children explore their environments by putting items in their mouths, and foods such as brownies and cookies are attractive,” he added.

The study included information from the National Poison Database System and found that marijuana exposure among children aged 5 and younger rose more than 147 percent nationwide from 2006 through 2013.

Overall, almost 2,000 cases of marijuana exposure involving young children were reported to Poison Control Centers in the United States from 2000 through 2013.

The exposure rate increased nearly 610 percent among children in states that legalized marijuana for medical use before 2000.

Even in states that had not legalized marijuana by 2013, there was a 63 percent increase in marijuana exposure among young children from 2000 through 2013.

More than 75 percent of children exposed to marijuana were younger than 3. Most exposure involved swallowing marijuana, the researchers said.

The study was published online June 8 in the journal Clinical Pediatrics.

Most of the children exposed to marijuana had only minor problems, but some suffered breathing problems, seizures and even comas. More than 18 percent of the young children exposed to marijuana were hospitalized, the study authors said.

The findings are cause for concern, said study senior author Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy.

“Any state considering marijuana legalization needs to include child protections in its laws from the very beginning. Child safety must be part of the discussion when a state is considering legalization of marijuana,” he said.

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse has more about marijuana.

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New Trial Tests Whether TB Shot Fights Type 1 Diabetes

By Serena Gordon
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, June 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Researchers are launching a clinical trial to see if a vaccine approved long ago to prevent tuberculosis may also hold promise as a treatment for type 1 diabetes.

The proposed five-year study is designed to investigate whether repeated injections of the tuberculosis vaccine bacille Calmette-Guerin (or BCG vaccine) can quiet the immune system attack that causes type 1 diabetes and improve blood sugar levels in people with long-standing diabetes.

“BCG is showing so much promise in worldwide trials [for conditions such as multiple sclerosis],” said study author Dr. Denise Faustman, director of the immunobiology laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

While some may hold out hope that BCG will reverse type 1 diabetes in people, findings from Faustman’s earlier — albeit smaller — human trial suggest the effects are likely to be far more subtle.

“The goal [for the new study] is to create a therapeutic response,” said Faustman, who added that such a response might help prevent some of the most serious complications of type 1 diabetes.

The researchers announced the start of their phase 2 trial Sunday at the American Diabetes Association annual meeting in Boston.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. That means the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks a healthy part of the body as if it were a foreign substance. In the case of type 1 diabetes, the immune system turns on the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.

The BCG vaccine works by increasing levels of a substance called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the body, Faustman said. Higher levels of TNF cause an increase in the amount of good immune system cells, and lower levels of the bad cells that are responsible for destroying the beta cells, she explained.

Higher levels of TNF appear to be helpful in certain autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, celiac disease and possibly some forms of psoriasis and autoimmune thyroid disease, according to Faustman. There are, however, some autoimmune conditions — such as rheumatoid arthritis — where higher TNF levels can be a problem.

But in type 1 diabetes, higher TNF levels appear to lower the attack on the beta cells. And the BCG vaccine causes increased amounts of TNF. Once the immune system attack is dampened, it appears that the pancreas can regenerate at least some insulin-producing beta cells, Faustman said.

She noted that the BCG vaccine has been used to prevent tuberculosis infections for about 90 years, so it has a long record of safety.

The phase 1 trial of the vaccine included six people with type 1 diabetes. The average time the study volunteers had diabetes was 15 years. They were randomly assigned to receive two injections of the vaccine or a placebo. That study lasted 20 weeks.

Two out of three people given the vaccine showed evidence that the vaccine increased the good immune cells and decreased the bad immune cells. The researchers also saw evidence of insulin production.

The new randomized, double-blind trial will include 150 adults between the ages of 18 and 60. Faustman is looking for people who’ve had type 1 diabetes for a long time, probably around 15 to 20 years. They have to still have some activity in their pancreas. This can be measured with a blood test.

Volunteers will receive two injections, of either the vaccine or a placebo, two weeks apart. Then they’ll be given a single injection annually for the next four years. Faustman said initially they’ll need to do blood tests every two weeks or so. Eventually, blood tests will only need to be done every six months to once a year, she said.

Although the trial will be done in Boston, Faustman said people don’t have to live in the Boston area to be part of the study.

Dr. Joel Zonszein, director of the clinical diabetes center at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, said, “It would be very nice if there is any type of response to the BCG vaccine. The vaccine is safe, and it’s cheap.”

But Zonszein said he has his doubts. “The body is very smart. The mechanisms in the body have so many redundancies, I’m reluctant to believe that selective immunosuppression would reverse type 1 diabetes.”

More information

Learn more about type 1 diabetes from the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation.

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Parents’ Age May Be Factor in Child’s Autism Risk

By Tara Haelle
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, June 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Parents’ ages may play a role in a child’s risk of developing autism, a new study suggests.

Past research has already reported a higher risk of autism among children of older parents, as was found in this new paper. But this study also suggests that children of teen parents and of parents with a big age difference have higher odds of developing an autism spectrum disorder.

“Your age and the age of your partner matters, but older age, younger age or a large gap in age is not deterministic,” said study author Sven Sandin, a statistician in the department of medical epidemiology and biostatistics at Karolinska Institute in Sweden.

“Although risk for autism may increase when parents are older or have a gap in ages, most of the children born to such couples will [not develop autism],” he said.

Both Sandin and an independent autism expert noted that although the study found an association between parents’ ages and autism risk, it doesn’t prove a cause-and-effect relationship. They also both said that the overall risk of autism was low, regardless of parents’ ages.

These findings were reported online June 9 in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

Autism spectrum disorders include a range of developmental brain conditions characterized by communication and social difficulties and repetitive behaviors, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC estimates that one in 68 children has an autism spectrum disorder.

The study authors compared almost 31,000 children with autism to nearly 6 million without autism in five countries. Those countries included Australia, Denmark, Israel, Norway and Sweden.

Similar to the findings of past research, this study found the risk of having a child with autism was 66 percent greater in fathers over 50 years old compared to fathers in their 20s. The risk for children of fathers in their 40s was 28 percent higher than for children of fathers in their 20s.

Compared to moms who had children in their 20s, children of women in their 40s were 15 percent more likely to have autism. Children of teen moms were 18 percent more likely to have autism versus children born to moms in their 20s, the researchers found.

Risk for autism went up more if both parents were in their 40s or older. The risk also went up even more if the parents’ ages differed by at least 10 years. The age gap risk showed up especially among fathers between 35 and 44 with a partner more than 10 years younger, and among mothers in their 30s with a partner at least 10 years younger, the study found.

Past research finding a higher risk of autism among children with older fathers has suggested that genetic mutations from aging sperm may be related to development of autism, but this study raises more questions, Sandin suggested.

“This study cannot determine what the mechanisms are,” Sandin said. “But it does suggest that degrading sperm is not likely to be the only mechanism that explains the relation between age of parents and autism. Other mechanisms are likely to be involved.”

Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York in New Hyde Park, agreed. “The increased risk of autism spectrum disorders with advanced paternal age suggests that genetic mutations may be responsible for this increased risk.”

But, he added, “It is unclear why there is an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders in young moms or in couples with a big age difference.”

It’s important to remember that this study cannot show that a parent’s age causes autism, said Dr. Glen Elliott, chief psychiatrist and medical director of Children’s Health Council in Palo Alto, Calif.

“The possibility that large differences in age between parents may independently contribute to an increased risk of autism is novel and hard to explain,” Elliott said. “If the finding holds up, it is a prime example of correlation not being the same as causation because it almost certainly stands in for some other yet-to-be-determined factor.”

For example, Sandin pointed out that the researchers “cannot entirely rule out that factors associated with socioeconomic status are related to autism risk and with age differences between the couples,” even though no evidence suggests that socioeconomic status is related to autism risk in these countries so far.

These findings increase knowledge about the disorder and offer new directions for research, Sandin said.

“The key to keep in mind is that these are relative risks and entail a very large number of subjects,” Elliott said. “The effect of age may indeed, for reasons yet to be established, increase the absolute risk of a couple having a child with autism, but that risk still remains relatively low.”

More information

For more about autism, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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5 Non-Diet Ways to Trick Yourself into Losing Weight

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Convenient. Attractive. Normal. These three words (which are the basis for the even easier to remember acronym C.A.N.) may be the key to eating healthier without really trying, according to a new paper from Cornell University. The review of 112 studies concluded that eaters make good choices when healthy foods are visible and within reach; they’re displayed enticingly; and they’re set up as the most obvious choices compared to other food options. It just makes sense: When you place gorgeous pieces of fresh fruit in a pretty bowl on your counter, you’re more likely to take one than if they’re hidden away—especially if the chips or cookies are even easier to grab. Bottom line, make it handy to eat healthfully and you’ll follow through, no “diet” or willpower required.

RELATED: 8 Salads That Satisfy

In addition to remembering C.A.N., there are plenty of other research-backed strategies for not dieting, and still shedding pounds. Here, four more easy tactics you can adopt.

Plate your veggies artistically

In a University of Oxford study, subjects in one group received salads arranged to resemble an artistic painting; a second group was provided with salads featuring vegetables lined up in neat rows, and salads in a third group were served in a typical piled-up fashion. While all the salads contained identical ingredients, dressing, and condiments, the artistic salad was rated the best by subjects, by a nearly 20 percent margin. In fact, people reported that they’d be willing to pay twice as much for the painting-like versions. The takeaway: We eat with our eyes as well as our stomachs, so if you’re trying to reach for healthy foods more often, put some effort into how you present them. (I think this study demonstrates one reason why Mason jar salads—and the myriad of photos of them on social media—have become so popular.)

RELATED: Change Plates to Lose Weight

Nosh before you shop

You’ve heard this one before, but it’s worth repeating: A 2013 study, also from Cornell University, found that skipping meals before heading to the supermarket is a surefire way to sabotage healthy shopping. Volunteers were asked to fast for five hours, then either given nothing to eat or crackers, and asked to make purchases at a simulated food market. The fasting group bought 18.6% more food—including  a whopping 44.8% more calorie-packed items, like chips and ice cream—than the cracker eating crowd. In a follow-up study, researchers observed shoppers at an actual supermarket just after lunch and in the late afternoon. Compared to post-lunch shoppers, those who strolled the aisles in the late afternoon—when they were way more likely to be hungry—bought over a quarter fewer low-calorie foods like vegetables. To prevent hunger from keeping healthy food items out of your grocery cart, eat something to take the edge off pre-shopping. Stash a golf-ball sized portion of nuts or seeds in your bag, and try to finish them before you walk through the entrance of the supermarket.

RELATED: How to Grocery Shop on a Diet

Spend a little time in the morning sun

The timing, intensity, and length of your exposure to light during the day may significantly affect your weight. In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers at Northwestern University found that compared to people who got most of their light exposure later in the day, those who enjoyed even moderately bright light in the morning had significantly lower BMIs. In fact, the later the hour of light exposure, the higher a person’s BMI, and vice versa. The numbers held true independent of an individual’s exercise regime, calorie intake, sleep timing, and age. The powerful effect, researchers say, is due to how light influences our body’s circadian rhythms, which regulate metabolism and weight regulation. To keep those rhythms in sync and your weight in check, researchers advise getting 20 to 30 minutes of bright light exposure between 8:00 a.m. and noon. And no, you don’t have to be outdoors—a room brightened by natural sun (versus a room with no windows and only artificial light) will do.

Don’t dine while distracted

Bringing your lunch to work is a smart way to control your calories. But if you surf the Web while you eat, you may consume more than you would’ve if you’d focused on your meal, both during eating and later in the day. In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people who played a computer game while lunching felt less full, snacked more, and had more trouble recalling what they had eaten than those who’d eaten without distractions. So while it may feel weird to sit at your desk without checking email or doing anything but eating, that’s the best lunchtime strategy for your waistline. Bonus: You’ll actually enjoy your lunch.

RELATED: 9 Appetite Suppressants That Really Work

What are your thoughts on this topic? Chat with us on Twitter by mentioning @goodhealth and @CynthiaSass.

Cynthia Sass is a nutritionist and registered dietitian with master’s degrees in both nutrition science and public health. Frequently seen on national TV, she’s Health’s contributing nutrition editor, and privately counsels clients in New York, Los Angeles, and long distance. Cynthia is currently the sports nutrition consultant to the New York Rangers NHL team and the New York Yankees MLB team, and is board certified as a specialist in sports dietetics. Cynthia is a three time New York Times best selling author, and her brand new book is Slim Down Now: Shed Pounds and Inches with Real Food, Real Fast. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

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5 Secrets for Aging Gracefully Like Barbara Bush

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The Bush family matriarch turned an impressive 90 years old today, and though Barbara Bush won’t be doing any skydiving—the 90th birthday activity of choice for her husband, former president George H.W. Bush—to celebrate, the nonagenarian is still going strong.

In an interview with her granddaughter Jenna Hager Bush on the Today Show, she talked about her life so far and the (not necessarily scientific) ways she kept feeling and looking great through nine decades, starting with her distinctive pearl necklaces.

“The pearls are to cover the wrinkles, which they no longer do,” Barbara said. “You can’t wear pearls all over your face.”

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While wrinkles are pretty much impossible to avoid at 90, she and Jenna agreed that Barbara is as sharp as ever. “You’re getting older, but your mind doesn’t seem like it, your humor doesn’t seem like it,” Jenna said.

“No. I’m brilliant,” Barbara cheekily replied, keying in on one of the top ways science has shown you can add years to your life: having a positive attitude.

And that’s just one of the many things you can do to up your odds of making it to 90, just like the former First Lady. Here are four more.

RELATED: 14 Ways to Age in Reverse

Sip a cup of joe

Coffee keeps you going for longer than a mere work day: Multiple studies show that drinking it can lower your risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and more.

Get frisky

You’ve already heard that it burns calories, but did you know that regularly having sex can add years to your life too? In fact, the more orgasms women have, the longer they’re likely to live, according to research by Howard S. Friedman, PhD, author of The Longevity Project ($14, amazon.com).

Get pregnant later in life

A 2014 study found that women who naturally have babies after 33 tend to live longer than those who have their last kid in their twenties. Boston University School of Medicine researchers believe it’s because the gene that allows for later pregnancies to occur may be related to the one that helps you live longer, too.

Enjoy a glass of wine

Research into the world’s Blue Zones—regions where people typically live to 100 and onwards—has uncovered fascinating data about what residents there tend to eat and drink. Aside from eating up to 3 ounces of fish a day and sticking to sourdough or whole wheat breads over white, they also tend to drink red wine. Stick to no more than a glass or two a day, and your health may stay golden well into your golden years.

RELATED: What’s Healthier: Red Wine or Beer?

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Chris Pratt Recalls Life at His Highest Weight: ‘I Had Real Health Issues’

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Celebrities and Health readers alike will tell you how exercising and eating healthy grub doesn’t just help you lose a few pounds—it’s crucial for keeping up your energy levels, your mental health—even your sex drive.

Just ask actor and star of the upcoming Jurassic World Chris Pratt.

Pratt’s weight has famously gone up and down for his roles. “I’d gone back and forth, lost weight for Moneyball, got fat again, then trimmed down for Zero Dark Thirty, then gained it all back again for Andy [from Parks and Recreation],” he explained to Men’s Health U.K.

RELATED: 5 Tips to Restart Your Weight Loss

“It became a bit of a game: how fat can I get and how fast,” Pratt said, about purposefully packing on the pounds to play Andy. “I would eat four burgers at every [script] read. I became really fat and got up to almost 300 pounds.”

Not helping were the epic feasts his now-wife, actress (and former Health cover star) Anna Faris, was making for him “I love to cook big, fattening meals,” she said in Health‘s April issue. “I make a really good roast chicken with homemade croutons that are fried and delicious. I used to be able to spend all day making a meal—drinking wine, cooking, and watching television. That was the best way to spend a Saturday.”

Says Pratt now: “I’d fallen in love with a woman who loved to feed her man. We were drinking a lot of wine and having fun. I was her little Hansel out in the woods and she was fattening me up to put me in the fire. It was like Momma Bear and Papa Bear. She would eat a little bit, I would eat all of mine and the rest of hers.”

RELATED: 12 Ways Your Relationship Can Hurt Your Health

During that period, Pratt said that he had never seen himself funnier. Still, getting those laughs didn’t make up for how his body felt: “I was impotent, fatigued, emotionally depressed.”

“I had real health issues that were affecting me in a major way. It’s bad for your heart, your skin, your system, your spirit,” he continued.

It wasn’t until the actor actually got to see himself slimmed down on the big screen in Zero Dark Thirty that Pratt says he decided to clean up his diet. Now, the actor admits his meals aren’t as fun anymore (Pratt goes as far as to describe them as “lame”—which we’d feel too if we’d previously been eating four hamburgers a day, plus Faris’s cooking), yet he’s seeing the perks of eating lighter. “All the time between meals, I feel great,” he said.

As for Faris’s dinners: “Chris won’t let me cook those meals for him anymore. It’s just sad,” the actress told Health with a laugh.

RELATED: Giada De Laurentiis’ Slim-Cooking Secrets

 

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