We want studies, hard data, research.  Just the facts, ma'am.  We have access to so many "scientific" studies most of which contradicts earlier reporting.  You can find studies about the benefits of chocolate, the effects of violent video games on children and that eating fattening food makes you fat. Coffee is bad for you, oh no, now it's good for you, oh wait, now not good, but now ok (in moderation, of course).  Same for eggs and echinashea and palm oil. Find it in Science Daily and Berkeley Wellness* and beyond.

I love the Health and Science section of the Tuesday New York Times and often find something yummy to share with you.  If I don't make it to Copperfield's on Tuesday for the paper, I get the Health Update from the NYT in my inbox.  This week there are just too many articles to share, especially when one of them is about yoga that effects thousands in Kenya and one is about looking younger. So, I'm going to offer them up and let your finger(s) do the clicking:  

A Way to Prevent Aging Skin? Yes, It's Possible. 

As you can imagine this caught my attention.  It's about a new study that is the first to prove that people who use sunscreen daily can slow the development of wrinkles. Could it be?  [I do not wear sunscreen.  There, I've said it.] There's an article coming about this topic (again).  

Men's Use of Testosterone on the Rise

People think women are vain?   An increasing number of men are abusing the powerful hormone to boost their libidos and feel younger.  The article states:  "Men in their 40s represent the fastest-growing group of users. About half of men prescribed testosterone had a diagnosis of hypogonadism, and roughly 40 percent had erectile or sexual dysfunction. One third had a diagnosis of fatigue."  Sexual dysfunction and fatigue?  Do we really need a powerful hormone to regulate our multi-tasking, online poker-addicted, chronic sleep deprived society?  I guess so.   

Pressure Grows to Create Drugs for 'Superbugs'

Is the bacteria winning?  The overuse of antibiotics in people and animals, often for conditions for which the drugs are ineffective or not needed is causing antibiotic resistant bacteria. These organisms have evolved and developed resistance faster than we can development new drugs and get them to the marketplace. 

Yoga in Africa

An artist from Santa Monica traveled to Kenya to document the work of the Africa Yoga Project, a nonprofit organization that teaches and employs more than 70 local yoga teachers and conducts up to 300 free yoga classes for more than 5,000 people weekly in orphanages, prisons and other locales throughout the country.  It's an inspiring interview about the power of a practice that spans language and cultures from rich white New Yorkers to prisons in Kenya.   

Is It Better to Walk or Run?

I'm a big advocate of walking.  That's it, nothing fancy, just walking.  Here's a study that pits walking versus running for weight loss and the new studies found that if your goal is to lose weight, running wins. But in other measures of health, walking can be at least as valuable as running - and in some instances more so.  

There you have it.  You're on your own!