Laugh Yourself Silly ... and Healthy

We all love movies such as Old School and The 40-Year Old Virgin. While these classic comedies make most of us laugh out loud, a new study shows they could be making us healthier at the same time.

How can this incredible combination be valid? Laughter boosts the flow of blood, according to recent research from the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. Moreover, enjoying a good comedy has the same effect on the heart as aerobic exercise or starting a course of heart treatment drugs called statins, states Reuters and the BBC News.

Here are the details of the study:

Twenty healthy young adults were recruited to watch 15- to 30-minute clips of funny and sad films that were shown 48 hours apart. Using several noninvasive techniques, the researchers measured the participants' blood flow in the brachial artery of their arms before and after they watched clips from the humorous Something About Mary and the distressing Saving Private Ryan.

The volunteers did not drink alcohol, take vitamins or engage in aerobic exercise the night before the experiment because these activities can impact blood flow.

Here are the results of the study:

On average, blood vessel dilation was more than 50 percent better after watching a comedy, compared with watching a depressing film.

"The extent of the impact of watching a sad film was of the same magnitude as remembering episodes of anger and doing mental arithmetic, while the impact of watching a funny film was equivalent to a bout of aerobic exercise or starting on statin treatment," lead study author Dr. Michael Miller told the BBC News.

Here are the reasons behind the study's conclusions:

The researchers say it's not clear, but it's possible that laughing counters the effects that stress hormones can have on the blood vessel function. Laughing seems to widen the arteries, making it easier for blood to flow through them. Also, laugher may cause the body to boost the production of nitric oxide, a chemical that helps to dilate the blood vessels.

Nevertheless, it's probably not a great idea to replace exercise with The Naked Gun. However, imagine the health benefits of watching a comedic film while on the treadmill ... and then heading home to eat a low carb meal!

-- Matthew Richenthal

Babysteps to Health

Slow and steady wins the race. When you slowly take off the pounds and stick to an exercise program, you are more likely to keep those pounds from coming back. Look at every pound lost as a small victory in the road to health.
Don't set yourself up for failure; set goals that are attainable. Lofty goals are hard to meet and only leave you frustrated.
Make it easier on yourself--use half the cream and sugar in your coffee. Make small changes that add up to a big defecit but don't leave you feeling like your giving up everything you love.
Reward your success--the right way. We'd all like to celebrate that 5 pound milestone with a hunk of chocolate cake, but consider treating yourself in a different way. Why take five steps forward and then two back?
Keep it interesting. Variety is the spice of life; try new things and new foods. If you eat yourself into boredom, you won't be able to stick to a diet or workout routine.
Small changes for big results. Love eggs? Ditch the yolks. Chicken? Lose the skin and try baking or grilling instead of frying. It all adds up over time.
Keep track of activity. Keeping a log or journal of your workouts not only keeps you honest, it allows you to take a look back and see just how far you've come.
If you must eat sweets, eat dark chocolate because it has many health benefits
Stay away from the scale. When your clothes get looser and your measuments shrink should be proof enough that you are on the right track. Numbers on a scale are just overrated.

When is a Fad Diet a Bad Diet?

Time for a reality check: there is no magic bullet, instant cure, or easy way out. Losing weight is not easy, and many fad diets fall easily into the bad diet category. Be wary of any diet or weight-loss program that:

Promises rapid weight loss. Any weight loss of more than 2 pounds per week is too rapid, unsafe, and is unlikely to stay off.
Promises easy weight loss without exercise or that weight loss can be maintained without lifestyle changes.
Uses miracle or magical foods. No food can melt away fat or undo years of overeating and lack of exercise.
It's basis lies in consuming only one (or a limited number) of foods, encourages consuming certain foods in mass quantities, or calls for specific food combinations.
Relies on undocumented case histories. Testimonials and anecdotes mean nothing if there is no scientific data to back up claims.
Promotes unproven or inauthentic weightloss aids such as herbs, supplements, body wraps, pills, cellulite creams, etc.
Sound too good to be true. Most of the time it's because they are.

Splurge vs. Smart: Dining Out Without Breaking Your Diet

High-calorie, fat-laden, large portioned restaurant meals don't have to be a diet breaker. With some careful reading, you too can enjoy a night out without the guilt of a caloric splurge.

When dining American, be wary of words like buttery, fried, pan-fried, crispy, au gratin, creamed, sauteed, and hollandaise. Look for items that are described as steamed, broiled, grilled, roasted and poached to help cut back on calories and fat.

In the mood for a little Italiano? Sauces created from cream or cheese, such as Alfredo sauce, quickly pack in the fat. Go for sauces that are tomato based, and take half home with you--almost all pasta dishes weigh it at well over a serving or two.

Craving some late-night Chinese? Stay clear of batter-coated, breaded, or deep-fried foods and go for the stir-fry. Plain rice is better than fried, and go easy on the sauces; soy sauce and other Asian sauces tend to have high sodium content.