Beware the Full Moon?

One study indicates the full moon may have an effect on
our sleep cycles.
Image: Shutterstock

Are you someone who believes in the power of the moon? Can it transform werewolves? Does it mean “big changes” are coming in life? Will it make people act strangely?

Even if those things seem a bit silly to you, there’s one thing that could still be affected by the full moon—whether you believe it or not. Scientists studying the effect of the full moon on our sleep cycles have found evidence that we have a harder time sleeping when the moon is at its brightest.

The researchers studied 33 participants, who slept in a darkened room where the moon was not visible. On the nights when the moon was full, the participants took longer to fall asleep and slept, on average, 20 minutes less than during a new moon.

When there was a full moon, there were lower levels of the Dracula of Hormones, melatonin. As I’ve talked about in previous blog posts, melatonin affects our body’s natural clock and is produced in larger amounts when it is dark. During the full moons of the study, researchers reported lower levels of melatonin in the subjects—despite the fact that the moon wasn’t visible to participants.

Participants had more trouble falling asleep and
staying asleep during the full moon.
Image: Shutterstock

As always, studies should be taken with a grain of salt. This one had a very small test group, and at this point the findings are interesting but inconclusive. Does the moon really mess with our sleep cycles? It’s possible, but more research will need to be done with larger test groups and more targeted testing.

“There is such a strong cultural story around the full moo n that it would not be surprising if it has an effect,” said one expert, according to USA Today. “It’s one of these folk things that you would suspect has a germ of truth.”

What do you think?

Three Reasons You Should Never Give Up

NEVER give up!
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Last week, a Facebook status update from one of my friends from junior high and high school alerted me to the fact that she has lost 200 pounds in the past two years. My jaw dropped. For as long as I have known her, she has been obese. I knew she had been trying to lose weight, but I haven’t actually seen her since we graduated high school several years ago. I had no idea she had started such a completely inspiring journey.

Her profile picture showed her face only, which definitely looked thinner. But it wasn’t until I flipped through the full size images of her recently that I realized how far she’s come. I have never seen her look so healthy, confident, or happy.

Another friend has been actively trying to lose weight since this fall. We participated in a 5K together in March, and she has started using any down time at the clinic she works at to walk or jog on the treadmill there. She has a pedometer to track how far she goes each day. Most days, it’s somewhere between 3 and 5 miles.

When I saw her a few months ago, she was down probably twenty pounds. When I saw her again last night, she was down a total of forty. Every time I see her, she looks even healthier. And I can tell she’s so proud of herself, too.

Then this morning, when I was perusing the news to see what’s up in the health world, I found another inspiring story. It was about a man named Ryan “Mac” McDonald. Three years ago, Mac was 35 years old and topping out at a weight of 530 lbs.

Ten years previously, he had gone to the gym after some friends bought him a gym membership for his birthday. He was so heavy that the treadmills began to smoke under his weight. He avoided treadmills and gyms altogether for a long time after that.

But eventually, Mac realized he had to do something before he killed himself with fast food, sodas, and the myriad health problems that come with severe obesity. He began slowly, starting with occasional visits to the gym. When that was successful, he decided to give up fast food and all-you-can-eat buffets. Next came sodas. Finally, he began buying healthy food at the store.

The slow start and gradual progression allowed Mac to start tackling what had previously been an overwhelming goal. He wanted to make a change, and he wanted to maintain it—something that becomes more difficult the stricter the rules are. To maintain, it had to be a gradual change in lifestyle.

That gradual change has led to a total weight loss—so far—of 300 pounds. Today, Mac weighs in around 230 pounds and is accomplishing things he never could do before—like running in half marathons and racing motorcycles. If that’s not inspiring, I don’t know what is.

So start this week off with those three stories and know that if you’re one of the many people out there trying to lose weight, you’re not alone. And even if you have three hundred pounds to go, it’s not impossible. Rather, it’s completely possible—just as long as you never give up.

Meat-Eater Corner: How to Choose Meat More Safely

Try these suggestion for choosing meat wisely.
Image: Shutterstock

There’s been a lot in the news lately about how germy and bad some meat can be for us. Some might even find themselves wondering whether or not they even want to continue being meat-eaters. I know I’ve pondered the possibility of going vegetarian myself, but I haven’t yet walked down that road.

I don’t know if I will ever commit to a meat-free lifestyle, so knowing how to choose the healthiest and safest meat is a top priority. Sure, it all looks the same when you’re browsing the meat aisle—but that assumption could get you into trouble.

I’m certainly no “germaphobe,” but I like to know that what I’m putting in my body the majority of the time is good for it. If you’re a concerned citizen like me, consider following some of these tips for making wiser decisions about meat.

Oh, the Irony: Toxins That Heal

When you hear the word “toxin,” you probably think of something that’s bad. Something that, depending on the type, could make someone very sick or even die. And that’s true—to an extent. Toxins found in the natural world have long informed modern medicine, helping heal humanity when harnessed correctly.

For example, did you know that snake venom extractions can be used to help thin blood? We’ve made incredible progress over the years—but there’s still much more we have to learn and tap into. Check out some toxins that we haven’t yet fully taken advantage of, but that could change the face of medicine forever.

1. Tetrodoxotin, AKA pufferfish toxin, can be used like morphine—but with about 3,000 times more kick. Oh, and you know the potential addiction that comes from morphine use? That’s not an issue with tetrodoxotin. According to TIME, testing has already begun on chemotherapy patients with chronic pain.
2. Shark skin may look smooth, but it’s actually covered in tiny ridges that make it inhospitable to bacteria. Researchers are currently testing its use in urinary catheters, which if successful would help prevent the growth of harmful bacteria like MRSA.
3. King cobra venom is, like tetrodoxotin, being tested as a potential alternative to morphine. Scientists say it’s 20-200 times more effective than morphine and isn’t addictive. Manjunatha Kini, who is studying the venom at the National University of Singapore, hopes to begin testing on patients within the next year.
4. Tick saliva could potentially be used as a blood-thinning agent. About 70 times more effective than our bodies’ natural blood thinners, the saliva could prove to be an incredibly valuable agent in preventing and clearing blood clots.
5. Sea anemone toxin is being studied as a potential treatment for autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis. Researchers believe that when applied correctly, the toxin could paralyze harmful antibodies and help retrain immune cells. 

To read more about these toxins and more being put to good, check out this article on Yahoo!

The “Exercise Pill” May Be Coming

An "exercise" pill could be on the horizon.
Image: Shutterstock

I read an article today that I really wanted to share with you all, because I think it’s a topic that really needs to be discussed. The topic: the fact that an “exercise pill” may be on our horizon.

Not a diet pill. An exercise pill. To me, those words do not belong together, but it seems that some would disagree. You see, scientists have been working on creating a pill that would enable humans to get some critical benefits of exercise—while maintaining a fatty diet and being completely complacent.

4 Easy Ways to Stave Off Dementia

Keeping your brain sharp with activities like crosswords
could help prevent Alzheimer's.
Image: Shutterstock

Alzheimer’s is a nasty disease. For those of us who have seen it at its worst, we know it’s something we never want to experience for ourselves. Watching a loved one struggle with dementia is more painful than I would have ever imagined. It’s terrifying as well; what may have started off as repeating simple questions or telling the same story a few times in one setting very quickly becomes forgetting who your children are and how to get home.

There’s still a lot we don’t know about Alzheimer’s, but one thing researchers do believe is that there are a few simple things you can do to help stave off dementia. And you know me; I’m all about prevention. Check out these 4 tips from the Alzheimer’s Association.

Not All Stress Is Created Equal

All of us know what it’s like to be stressed. Some of us might be blessed with just a smattering of it here and there, while others may not even remember what it’s like to not be stressed. Some show their stress, while others hide it. And though many can keep it under control, not everyone can.

Not all stress is created equal, and while some stress might not do much harm, too much definitely will.

Understanding stress is a big part of keeping it under control.
Image: Shutterstock

It seems intuitive to just assume that any stress is bad—but that’s not true. Stress is what allows us to deal with intense situations, like avoiding a car collision or meeting a tough deadline. It helps us focus in on a goal without letting chaos get in the way.

Our bodies tense up in these moments; our heart rates rise, our blood vessels constrict, and our bodies move into a heightened state of awareness. That moment is supposed to pass fairly quickly, allowing our bodies to return to normal. The problem comes in when it doesn’t pass, and when we don’t give our bodies and brains a chance to rest.