Warm parenting offers hope for unemotional kids

If a child receives consistent and warmparenting in a secure family environment, it can prevent them from psychopathic acts and violent crime in adulthood, says a new research.

"We found that the quality of a parent's emotional interaction and attachment with a young child is crucial to predicting if that child will develop this high-risk pattern of behaviour," said David Hawes, from the University of Sydney School of Psychology, who led the study.

Children who early on show a fearless temperament and indifference to other people's emotions, especially when they are upset or in need of help, are known as having "callous-unemotional" (CU) traits. This behaviour has been shown to be a strong indicator of psychopathic behaviour and violent crime in adulthood.

"These children are indifferent to punishment for poor behaviour and, in fact, the more severe the punishment the worse the behaviour becomes," said Hawes, according to a university statement.

"While CU characteristics seem to be largely under the control of genetics if a child receives consistent and warm parenting in a secure family environment, it can protect against those traits. This aspect of parenting is still relevant in terms of influencing the traits even though it is not the cause," said Hawes.

"In fact, its protective effects - its ability to prevent the development of aggressive and oppositional behaviour - also appear to be strongest for children with the highest level of CU traits," added Hawes.

Hawes and his colleagues have just completed a four-year study, looking at children aged two to four with CU traits. The research was unusual in concentrating on very young children and being based primarily on direct observation. It used video analysis to evaluate the quality of interactions and attachment between mothers and children.

"The study suggests that the emotional bonds between mothers and their children strongly predict if they will show high levels of CU traits, as well as conduct problems," said Hawes.

Until recently the quality of a child's parenting was not believed to have an impact on either callous-unemotional or the behaviour of children with such traits, but this research suggests that strengthening the emotional bonds between parents and their infants can make a difference.

Sleep deprivation may reduce risk of PTSD

Sleep deprivation in the first few hours after exposure to a significantly stressful threat actually reduces the risk of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), according to a study by researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and Tel Aviv University.

The new study was published in the international scientific journal, Neuropsychopharmacology. It revealed in a series of experiments that sleep deprivation of approximately six hours immediately after exposure to a traumatic event reduces the development of post trauma-like behavioral responses. As a result, sleep deprivation the first hours after stress exposure might represent a simple, yet effective, intervention for PTSD.

The research was conducted by Prof. Hagit Cohen, director of the Anxiety and Stress Research Unit at BGU's Faculty of Health Sciences, in collaboration with Prof. Joseph Zohar of Tel Aviv University.

Approximately 20 percent of people exposed to a severe traumatic event, such as a car or work accident, terrorist attack or war, cannot normally carry on their lives. These people retain the memory of the event for many years. It causes considerable difficulties in the person's functioning in daily life and, in extreme cases, may render the individual completely dysfunctional.

"Often those close to someone exposed to a traumatic event, including medical teams, seek to relieve the distress and assume that it would be best if they could rest and "sleep on it," says Prof. Cohen. "Since memory is a significant component in the development of post-traumatic symptoms, we decided to examine the various effects of sleep deprivation immediately after exposure to trauma."

In the experiments, rats that underwent sleep deprivation after exposure to trauma (predator scent stress exposure), later did not exhibit behavior indicating memory of the event, while a control group of rats that was allowed to sleep after the stress exposure did remember, as shown by their post trauma-like behavior.

"As is the case for human populations exposed to severe stress, 15 to 20 percent of the animals develop long-term disruptions in their behavior," says Cohen. "Our research method for this study is, we believe, a breakthrough in biomedical research."

A pilot study in humans is currently being planned. The studies were funded by a Israel Academy of Science and Humanities grant and the Israel Ministry of Health.

Weight loss can be ‘contagious’

Teammates in a group-based weight losscompetition considerably influence each other's health goals, indicating that shedding pounds can have a ripple effect, according to a new study.

Researchers from The Miriam Hospital's Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University found that team members not only achieved similar weight loss outcomes, but participants who said their teammates played a large role in their weight loss actually lost the most weight.

"We know that obesity can be socially contagious, but now we know that social networks play a significant role in weight loss as well, particularly team-based weight loss competitions," said lead author Tricia Leahey, Ph.D., of The Miriam Hospital and Alpert Medical School.

"In our study, weight loss clearly clustered within teams, which suggests that teammates influenced each other, perhaps by providing accountability, setting expectations of weight loss, and providing encouragement and support."

The findings are based on the results of the 2009 Shape Up Rhode Island (SURI) campaign, a 12-week statewide online weight loss competition designed by study co-author Rajiv Kumar, M.D. Participants joined with a team and could compete against other teams in three divisions: weight loss, physical activity and pedometer steps.

The weight loss competition included 3,330 overweight or obese individuals (BMI of 31.2 or greater), representing 987 teams averaging between 5 and 11 members each. The majority of these individuals enrolled in all three divisions.

Weight loss outcomes were clearly determined by which team an individual was on. Participants who lost clinically significant amounts of weight (at least 5 percent of their initial body weight) tended to be on the same teams, and being on a team with more teammates in the weight loss division was also associated with a greater weight loss.

Individuals who reported higher levels of teammate social influence increased their odds of achieving a clinically significant weight loss by 20 percent. This effect was stronger than any other team characteristic, Leahey said.

"This is the first study to show that in these team-based campaigns, who's on your team really matters," she added.

"Being surrounded by others with similar health goals all working to achieve the same thing may have really helped people with their weight loss efforts."

However, Leahey noted that individual characteristics were also associated with weight outcomes.

Obese individuals had a greater percentage of weight loss than overweight participants.

Team captains also lost more weight than team members, possibly due to their increased motivation and engagement in the campaign.

Leahey said that future weight loss team competitions may consider requiring team members to share the leadership role.

"We're all influenced by the people around us, so if we can harness this positive peer pressure and these positive social influences, we can create a social environment to help encourage additional weight loss," she added.

The study has been published online in the journal Obesity.

Yoga reduces Stress; now it's known why

Six months ago, researchers at UCLA published a study that showed using a specific type of yoga to engage in a brief, simple daily meditation reduced the stress levels of people who care for those stricken by Alzheimer's and dementia. Now they know why.

As previously reported, practicing a certain form of chanting yogic meditation for just 12 minutes daily for eight weeks led to a reduction in the biological mechanisms responsible for an increase in the immune system's inflammation response. Inflammation, if constantly activated, can contribute to a multitude of chronic health problems.

Reporting in the current online edition of the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, Dr. Helen Lavretsky, senior author and a professor of psychiatry at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and colleagues found in their work with 45 family dementia caregivers that 68 of their genes responded differently after Kirtan Kriya Meditation (KKM), resulting in reduced inflammation.
Caregivers are the unsung heroes for their yeoman's work in taking care of loved ones that have been stricken with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, said Lavretsky, who also directs UCLA's Late-Life Depression, Stress and Wellness Research Program. But caring for a frail or demented family member can be a significant life stressor. Older adult caregivers report higher levels of stress and depression and lower levels of satisfaction, vigor and life in general. Moreover, caregivers show higher levels of the biological markers of inflammation. Family members in particular are often considered to be at risk of stress-related disease and general health decline.

As the U.S. population continues to age over the next two decades, Lavretsky noted, the prevalence of dementia and the number of family caregivers who provide support to these loved ones will increase dramatically. Currently, at least five million Americans provide care for someone with dementia.
"We know that chronic stress places caregivers at a higher risk for developing depression," she said "On average, the incidence and prevalence of clinical depression in family dementia caregivers approaches 50 percent. Caregivers are also twice as likely to report high levels of emotional distress." What's more, many caregivers tend to be older themselves, leading to what Lavretsky calls an "impaired resilience" to stress and an increased rate of cardiovascular disease and mortality.

Research has suggested for some time that psychosocial interventions like meditation reduce the adverse effects of caregiver stress on physical and mental health. However, the pathways by which such psychosocial interventions impact biological processes are poorly understood.
In the study, the participants were randomized into two groups. The meditation group was taught the 12-minute yogic practice that included Kirtan Kriya, which was performed every day at the same time for eight weeks. The other group was asked to relax in a quiet place with their eyes closed while listening to instrumental music on a relaxation CD, also for 12 minutes daily for eight weeks. Blood samples were taken at the beginning of the study and again at the end of the eight weeks.

"The goal of the study was to determine if meditation might alter the activity of inflammatory and antiviral proteins that shape immune cell gene expression," said Lavretsky. "Our analysis showed a reduced activity of those proteins linked directly to increased inflammation.
"This is encouraging news. Caregivers often don't have the time, energy, or contacts that could bring them a little relief from the stress of taking care of a loved one with dementia, so practicing a brief form of yogic meditation, which is easy to learn, is a useful too."
Lavretsky is a member of UCLA's recently launched
Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Program
, which provides comprehensive, coordinated care as well as resources and support to patients and their caregivers. Lavretsky has incorporated yoga practice into the caregiver program.
Funding for the study was provided by the Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation in Tucson, Ariz.. Other authors of the study included David S. Black, Steve Cole, Michael R. Irwin, Elizabeth Breen, Natalie M. St. Cyr, Nora Nazarian, all of UCLA, and Dharma S. Khalsa, medical director for the Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation in Tucson.

Eggs healthier, safer than 30 years ago

Eggs today are healthier, safer and more nutritious than they were 30 years ago because the feed given to hens has changed over the years, leading to less cholesterol and saturated fat in them, experts say.

Institute of Food Research scientists believe eggs are healthier now because the new feed also helps the hens to absorb more vitamin D and other nutrients.

Since the 1980s, they have been fed a mixture of wheat, corn, vegetable oil and high-protein formulated feed, rather than meat and bone-meal. A study funded by the UK Department of Health found that the average mid-sized egg now has nearly 25 per cent less saturated fat - which is linked to heartdisease - than one sold in the 1980s.

Better technology also means scientists can now analyse the nutritional content of eggs more accurately.

Not only are eggs found to be lower in fat, cholesterol and calories, but they also contain more vitamin D than before, nearly twice the amount that was noted in the 1980s, according to the Daily Mail.

The study also found now the eggs contain 177 micrograms of cholesterol, which clogs arteries, just over 10 percent less than the 202 micrograms previously recorded. They have fewer calories than experts originally thought, too - there are 66 in a medium egg, not 78.

Men taking to cooking like never before

... the New age man is now slowly entering what was previously considered a woman's domain. Simi Kuriakose explores

After a couple of conversations and coffee, he buckles you up safely in the front seat of his car, takes you to his plush apartment and spreads this delicious meal in front of you, which ought to appeal to all your senses. You go, "Ohh My God!!", smile widely and are ready to ping your best friend, "Woohoo!! I think he's into me." But before you hit that send button, here's some news lady. The Gen Next Man is actually fond of cooking, and so, now your
man preparing all those delicacies for you cannot be a sure shot sign of him having fallen head over heels.

A recent report by an international university has cited that Generation X men are
surprisingly more involved in shopping for food and cooking. Apparently, they go grocery shopping more than once a week, on an average, and cook about eight meals a week — much more often than their fathers did. Jon Miller, author of this report says, "Women, particularly married women, are still doing more cooking and shopping. But men are much more involved in these activities than they used to be. The stereotype that men can't do much more in the kitchen than boil water just can't hold water, as it were," he said. So men have gone way beyond being just 'The Typical Man', is it? Well, paving their
way to the kitchen is quite a start for the once-upon-a-time-man who thought domestic chores were tasks only women ought to take responsibility for.

Ask clinical psychologist Mansi Hassan as to what she thinks about this study and she says, "Men have changed their outlook to their roles. They no more look at shopping or cooking as women dominated areas, and want to be independent even if it comes to doing the household chores. While there are many singles in recent times who are doing household chores, married men also help with domestic chores as well as parenting."

How true is this for our country, especially since ours is a country where men are primarily the bread winners as opposed to women who're the bread makers. Hassan says, "I think we are a long way away from changing the fact that 'woman are the homemakers'. But there is definitely a gradual change. Men are enjoying discovering a new side to their personalities and have realised that it takes 'two to tango'."

Cooking in over eating out
Twenty-six-year-old, Arun Kartha, an MBA graduate, says, "I don't think we cook more than our dad's did. Absolute numbers could be higher because there are more men now, who work away from home. With rising levels of income, men have more cash to spend and hence shop more. But thanks to so many options in eateries, men, I think, prefer to eat outside than to take the pains to cook." Nikhil Chopra, an advertising professional, agrees, and adds, "I wonder how many men actually take to the kitchen, I surely haven't tread that path yet."

Well, men will be men, and denying that they actually are interested in things once only women were associated with might be hard for them to accept. So we decided to ask some married women as to whether their husbands actually enjoyed cooking and buying groceries for the home.

Do married men enjoy cooking
Neelanjana Gaugh, assistant professor, says, "In an institution like marriage both men and women are stakeholders, and they don't want to miss out on the fun that shared responsibilities bring in. Be it tossing up veggies in the kitchen, doing the dishes, laundry, picking up groceries, or deciding on the menu... these are just coming so naturally to men now. My scientist husband loves his weekend cooking and shopping as much as he loves his lab experiments! Shobha Khandelwal, a bank employee, says, "When I am busy on the weekends and am away from home, my husband would cook lunch by the time I was back; and what variety - momos, idlis, rice-daal-veggies! Whenever I return from a holiday from my mom's place, he ensures that the house is spic-and-span, (whoever said men don't bother changing the bed spread). Yes, I feel at least where I am concerned, my husband is a much better husband than my father is to my mom (though daddy wont like that!).

Neha Malude, writer, sums it up with these lines. She says, "I do think Gen X men like to get into the kitchen more than their elders did. And most men like to say they hate shopping but that's just their pseudo-masochism speaking. My husband loves to shop more than I do and he has more clothes than I do. Really! But, he lends me a hand in the kitchen too. He also loves to cook, so no complains there."

What the study states:
- Married women cooked 12 meals a week, two more meals weekly than single women. For men, that number was eight a week, whether they were married or single.
- Gen Xers bought an average of eight fast-food meals a month and ate three meals in a 'good' restaurant in the same time frame. Unmarried men ate more fast food than married men, or women.
- Adults aged 31 to 51 cooked for guests once monthly. They talked about it more, discussing cooking or food six times a month.
- Men and women watched food shows on television four times a month.
- Half of Gen Xers said they liked to buy organic foods at least some of the time; most had a 'low level of understanding' of genetically modified foods.

Be organised at your workplace

Can't find that file in which you have stocked all your important documents? Did you recently find month old food coupons dumped at the back of your drawer? If so, it's high time to re-group and get rid of that messy desk.

All that clutter in your cubicle can cause stressand negatively affect your productivity. Organizing your desk and work routine will help you focus on your work better. Here are a few desk clean up and cubicle organising tips.

Tips to organize your work space:

Planning is worth the effort
Planning isn't as boring and time-consuming activity as you think it is. Proper planning will give you the overall picture of you tasks at work. It saves time and energy. Plan your day and this will help you slot timings for your meetings and other tasks. You will be successfully able to pull items together in a short amount of time.

Streamline your supplies
Keep only supplies you need on a daily basis on top of your work area. Your drawer at work is just like your cupboard at home. So rearrange it in a way that things that you hardly use are at the bottom. Discard the excess, duplicates and out-of-date items.

Take small steps
Take it one by one. Break large projects down into small and schedule these steps into your day. Spend no more than 30 minutes tackling one task or area. Do one thing at a time.

Communicate effectively
You may wonder how communication can help tidy up your desk, but concise and clear communication can cut down on paper messages, emails and time spent on the phone. Be clear when communicating to others, especially when leaving a message on voice mail or email. This way you are more likely to get a full response, even if the other party doesn't reach you directly.

File it, don't pile it
Create a filing system that works for you. Even a "to file" bin or folder is okay as long as you tend to it on a regular basis. In addition, open and process all mail. Don't let mail pile up.

Manage your time
In order to have a more organized, balanced work style, you need more time. We can't control how many hours are in a day, but successful people spend their time wisely. Figure out the tasks that need to be done and set an appropriate time in which to do them.

Energize your work routine
Work can be boring, you may feel sleepy but there are ways you can breathe new life into your daily grind. The change in routine will not only energize your brain and body, it will even readjust your attitude. Take 10 minute breaks or go for a walk to feel fresh and better.

 

 "Attitude is a small thing that makes a big difference." Dr Kurien S Thomas

Do you like to sleep all the time?

You could be inviting a host of health problems. Zeenia F Baria tells you more about it...

While experts say that an average person needs seven to eight hours of sleep everyday, there are people who suffer from the problem of oversleeping. Hypersomnia is a disorder characterised by excessive sleepiness. One often experiences prolonged night sleep and has difficulty waking up. Other symptoms include anxiety, increased irritation, low energy levels, restlessness, slow thought process, loss of appetite and difficulty in remembering things.

Integrated medicine therapy expert Dr Anil Patil opines that human sleep needs can vary with age and among individuals — there is no established criteria to determine exactly how much sleep a person needs, and sleep is considered to be adequate when there is no daytime sleepiness or dysfunction. "There are several side effects of over sleeping, which can interfere with one's lifestyle by inhibiting the ability to cope with social situations," he says.

Why do some people tend to sleep so much?
Healthcare consultant Dr Parul R Sheth says that some people are habituated to oversleep as their circadian rhythm (the 24 hour body clock) makes them so. "There are people who under-sleep during the week and oversleep during the weekend. Some may have hypersomnia (too much sleep), that makes you sleep during the day in addition to the night-time sleep. Those individuals with a condition called obstructive sleep apnoea in which breathing stops and starts again repeatedly, oversleep and experience daytime sleepiness. Depressed people tend to oversleep and go into sleep inertia. Alcohol, drug abuse and certain medications can also make you drowsy and cause sleepiness. Sleep needs vary from person to person and can change as you age. Your ability to function well depends upon how well rested you are, your total sleep time and the amount of various stages of sleep you get each night," says Dr Sheth.

General medicinal expert Dr Amol Manerkar says that one can overcome this problem by making sure they sleep at more or less the same time daily, not sleep for more than eight hours a day, regularly exercise and maintain a healthy weight, avoid excessive stimulants and alcohol and seek medical help for sleep apnoea. "Remember, that inadequate sleep creates a sleep debt, which the body tries to recuperate by sleeping for longer hours.

Certain diseases and drugs can cause excessive sleepiness eg. alcohol, cough syrups. Other conditions like asthma, congestive cardiac failure and hypothyroidism also lead to excess sleep," he says.

Alternative treatments
- Psychotherapy is recommended for patients with sleep disorders associated with other mental disorders.
- Ayurveda treatment is advised only after taking a detailed history of the patient and location and the exact cause of Hypersomnia.
- For some people, meditation, breathing exercises and yoga can help.

Side effects of oversleeping
Diabetes- Researchers have discovered that a side effect of too much sleep is diabetes. In a study of 9,000 people, they found that those who sleep more than nine hours per night are 50 per cent more likely to contract diabetes than those who sleep seven hours per night.

Obesity- Studies have proven that people who sleep nine to 10 hours per night are 21 per cent likelier to become obese over a six-year time span than people who sleep seven to eight hours nightly, even when food consumption and exercise levels were considered.

Heart disease- A study of 72,000 women found that women who sleep over nine hours nightly are 38 per cent likelier to experience coronary heart disease than women who sleep eight hours every night.

Depression- Regular sleep habits are important to recover from depression. Sleeping too much can worsen symptoms.

Death- A myriad of studies have proven that people who sleep nine or more hours per night have notably greater death rates than those who sleep seven to eight hours nightly.

Headaches- Sleeping too much can cause headaches, which scientists believe are linked to the effect of sleep on certain neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin. Too much sleep can disrupt the balance of the chemicals in the brain causing headaches.

Back pain- Too much sleep can cause great deals of pressure on the back for extended periods of time leading to backaches.

What are the side effects of oversleeping?
Oversleeping can make you feel groggy when you wake up, cause puffiness and eye bags around the eyes. It can also make you lethargic and sleepy during the day.

- Children need more sleep per day in order to develop and function properly — up to 18 hours for newborn babies, with a declining rate as a child grows.
- School children need about 10 to 11 hours of sleep.
- Adolescents need nine to 10 hours of sleep.
- Adults need at least seven to eight hours of sleep daily.

How to raise health conscious kids

Gone are the days when mothers used to force feed their kids in a bid to see them plump and chubby. 

Nowadays, healthy kids are just as important as smart kids. Time after time, studies have revealed that nutrition and exercise can uplift overall health while also improving academic performance. Today, Bangalore-based body transformation expert, Wanitha Ashok gives us a detailed low-down on sustainable and measurable health goals when it comes to raising health conscious kids. 

Teach them sports skills: Introduction to various sports is the first step that any parent needs to instil in their kids. Kids sometimes talk about the sports that they would like to take up but they may not have the right skills for the same. Therefore, exploring various sports would be beneficial. After all, sports are skill based and work for strength, focus, agility, concentration and also double up as a good cardio workout for children. 

Teach them persistence, creativity and importance of health: When it comes to children, the mode is always 'follow the leader', therefore to see the change the parents need to change themselves first. Therefore, a healthy lifestyle consisting of mindful eating habits and following a good exercise regime plays a very important role as the child seeing this from the young age will only believe in this and it becomes a part of his/her lifestyle. Persistence is again a reflected quality and children being keen observer, will soon learn it from a parent. 

Exploring equals to empowering: Parents should inculcate the habit of individuality in their children and allow them to use their brains instead of constantly spoon feeding them. Getting them to explore and experiment will not only bring upon individuality, but also improves their creative mind. A simple rhyming poem construction, painting, drawing, craft, storytelling related to health are the some of the things that one can start with. 

Right food for height and growth: The diet consisting of protein and calcium is essential for their bones and muscles. Additionally, do give them plenty of water, fiber, vitamins and minerals and good carbs, which are required for complete nourishment. Along with this, outdoor activities are recommended as it places a positive stress on the bone density and increases the bone mass. Cycling, basket ball and swimming are said to be good exercise options for height gain in children. 

Right food to build immunity: They should be given a diet rich in Vitamin C, E and citrus fruits, which are known to boost immunity. Exercise is known to improve the immune system and imparts fewer chances of falling ill. And, it also helps children heal and recover faster in case of any kind of injury. 

Eat smart as a family: Practice what you preach. Good eating habits apply to the entire family. And it's good to start early with the kids. If the parents have had an unhealthy lifestyle, then now is the time to correct their ways and start living healthy. The diet should consist of carbs, protein, healthy fats, vitamin and minerals at every meal. 

Snacking options should be healthy choices like fresh veggies with healthy dips, yoghurt smoothies, fresh fruits, whole grain bread snacks etc. However, it is quite okay to binge moderately once in a way and the child should be educated about harm and ill effects of eating calorie rich sinful food on everyday basis. 

Never use food as a reward: As children are smart and very soon they will use it as a tool to even do their homework. The rewards can be a field trip, buying a sports equipment, water sports etc. Show support through positive enforcement of right health habits. Encouraging words would help and connecting the good food habits with their health and energy would further add to motivation levels. 

Fun exercises for children: The number one choice would be dance as its music based and children can relate to songs and further enjoy their workout. The other exercises would be family games using props like soft ball, ropes, deck of card and paper games. In the family games, the child should be made the leader, judge or decision maker to build qualities such as individuality, administration and leadership. Apart from this trekking, animal walking, wii fit games, relay etc would be the best way to squeeze in exercises. 

Don't always nag about unhealthy foods: Don't nag, just casually educate the child about the importance of eating right and the side effects of unhealthy food. Dramatize the key points of unhealthy lifestyle as it will register in the child's mind. And to support further, do not stock the house with unhealthy food. Peer pressure can havoc your kids training, so it's good to talk to their friends too.