Chocolate lovers seems to have reason to celebrate. Not only that chocolate is a proven aphrodisiac, but it has certain medicinal properties. Paige Kollock reports. Substance named flavonoid is in many fruits, vegetables, tea and red wine. Its medicinal properties are long known to doctors, and now they found it in chocolate. Cornelia Crystal, who likes chocolate is delighted. – I eat chocolate almost every day. Others, such as John Sutcliffe are skeptical. – I can not imagine that further consuming chocolate improves health, but I believe that it is healthy in small quantities.

This research in Italy was overseen by one American doctor. He tested only twenty patients, too little to start prescribing chocolate. Patients who ate a rib of cooking chocolate every day during the two weeks had lower blood pressure and better circulation than those who ate white chocolate, with no flavonoid. In patients was also noted lower level of cholesterol in the blood, and proved that dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids. The owner of the company for the production of chocolates Schakolad Sam Aboulhosn said that he has already noticed the impact of this research on his business. – When report saw daylight last week, he started selling more dark chocolate. Especially strawberry meld with this type of chocolate. We offer them chocolate meld with milk, but people are more interested in chocolate with fruit.

However, do not overreact . Patients who participated in this study ate only one rib of chocolate a day, however, doctors also warn that, if you care about your weight and weight loss diet plan, chocolate, perhaps is not the best solution when it comes to consuming more flavonoids.

Today’s article comes from Glastonbury, Connecticut. Dr. Bellinger of CT Spine and Disc Center shares a story from Decembers monthly patient newsletter. New research is showing that Vitamin D may improve your mind and health in many wonderful ways. First, let’s talk about SLEEP… Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Maybe you’ve heard of that little kite flying incident. He is also famous for saying, “WASTE not life” and “There will be sleeping enough in the grave.” More than 200 years later, the attitude towards sleep in America has not changed. Many people are up at the crack of dawn or answering emails at 3 a.m. on their “crack-berry!” Franklin’s quote has even been modernized to read…

“I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead!”

“There is a cultural bias against sleep that sees it as akin to shutting down, or even to death,” explains Dr. Jeffrey Ellenbogen, a Neurologist at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Sleep Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital. Most people, Dr. Ellenbogen says, think of the sleeping brain as similar to a computer that has “gone to sleep” — it does nothing productive. Wrong. Sleep enhances performance, learning and memory. Most of all, sleep improves creative ability to generate aha! moments and to uncover novel connections among seemingly unrelated ideas. Dr. Ellenbogen’s research at Harvard indicates that after sleep, people are 33 percent more likely to infer connections among distantly related ideas, and yet, as he puts it, these performance enhancements exist “completely beneath the radar screen.” In other words, people are more creative after sleep, but they don’t know it.

Changing Attitudes

Business attitudes toward sleep may be starting to shift. Claire Stapleton, a spokeswoman for Google, says “grassroots” interest in sleep led to an on-campus talk by Sara C. Mednick, a napping expert. Google also installed EnergyPods, leather recliners with egg-like hoods that block noise and light, for employees to take naps at work. But there is something much more important than just a nap and the total number of hours slept. Even more important is the…

Circadian Rhythm

The circadian rhythm is an internal clock that guides our daily cycle from sleep to wakefulness – and back to sleep again. But now researchers at Stanford think it may be doing much more. Working with Siberian hamsters, biologist Norman Ruby has shown that having a functioning circadian system is critical to the hamsters’ ability to remember what they have learned. “Without it,” he said, “They can’t remember anything.” Like all other animals, Siberian hamsters normally develop what amounts to street smarts about their environment. But when Ruby interrupted their circadian system, the hamsters failed to demonstrate the same evidence of remembering their environment as hamsters with normally functioning circadian systems. Until now, it has never been shown that the circadian system is crucial to learning and memory. This finding has implications for diseases that include problems with learning or memory deficits, such as Down Syndrome or Alzheimer’s disease. The work is described in a paper published Oct. 1 online in the early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Ruby is lead author on the paper.

“Losing Their Rhythm Cost Them A Lot”

And here’s something very interesting: According to one of the researchers, “We thought it might be possible to wipe out circadian rhythms and eliminate the rhythm in learning, but that the animals could still learn something. But they don’t. That is what was so surprising. They actually can’t remember anything. Losing their rhythms costs them a lot.” And it is not about the overall number of hours slept. It is about WHEN: “What our data are showing is that these animals still performed terribly on a simple learning task, even though they’re getting loads of sleep. What this says is that the circadian system really is necessary for something that is deeply important: learning.” More and more research is showing how important not only the amount of sleep you get – but also when you get it. But first… onward to…

The Health Benefits Of Vitamin D!

Once linked to only bone diseases such as rickets and osteoporosis, Vitamin D is now recognized as a major player in contributing to overall human health, emphasizes UC Riverside’s Anthony Norman, an international expert on Vitamin D. In a paper published in the August issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Norman identifies Vitamin D’s potential for contributions to good health in the adaptive and innate immune systems, the secretion and regulation of insulin by the pancreas, the heart and blood pressure regulation, muscle strength and brain activity. In addition, access to adequate amounts of Vitamin D is believed to be beneficial towards reducing the risk of cancer. Norman also lists 36 organ tissues in the body whose cells respond biologically to Vitamin D. The list includes bone marrow, breast, colon, intestine, kidney, lung, prostate, retina, skin, stomach and the uterus. According to Norman, deficiency of Vitamin D can impact all 36 organs. Already, Vitamin D deficiency is associated with muscle strength decrease, high risk for falls, and increased risk for colorectal, prostate, breast and other major cancers. “It is becoming increasingly clear to researchers in the field that Vitamin D is strongly linked to several diseases,” said Norman, a distinguished professor emeritus of biochemistry and of biomedical sciences who has worked on Vitamin D for more than 45 years. “Its biological sphere of influence is much broader than we originally thought. The nutritional guidelines for Vitamin D intake must be carefully reevaluated to determine the adequate intake, balancing sunlight exposure with dietary intake, to achieve good health by involving all 36 target organs.”

How Much Vitamin D?

“To optimize good health, you must have enough Vitamin D,” Norman said. “Vitamin D deficiency is also especially of concern in third world countries that have poor nutritional practices and religious customs that require the body to be covered from head to toe. Ideally, to achieve the widest frequency of good health by population, we need to have 90 percent of the people with adequate amounts of Vitamin D.” The recommended daily intake of Vitamin D is 200 international units (IU) for people up to 50 years old. The recommended daily intake of Vitamin D is 400 IU for people 51 to 70 years old and 600 IU for people over 70 years old. Norman’s recommendation for all adults is to have an average daily intake of at least 2,000 IU. While deficiency of Vitamin D impacts health negatively, ingestion of extremely high doses of Vitamin D can cause hypercalcemia, a condition in which the blood’s calcium level is above normal. The highest daily “safe” dose

It seems that every other week, we are told another miracle that is carried out by vitamins. Vitamin C will stave off colds; vitamin E will help prevent Alzheimer’s, and Vitamin D will treat cancer. Exactly how much of this is true is unknown, as there is a lot of conflicting evidence from clinical research that is available. Each vitamin does have a specific purpose in our bodies. Some may even positively affect us in ways that are unknown. But before you pop those pills, take a look to see which vitamins you get enough of from your diet, which you may need to supplement, and some of the harmful effects caused by vitamin overindulgence.

1) Vitamin/Nutrient name: Biotin
Function: Coenzyme (helper to enzyme function) in the synthesis of fat, glycogen and amino acids
Recommended Daily Value: 20-30 micrograms/day
Contained in foods: Biotin is in liver and in other meats and fruits
Considerations: There is limited data on the effects of increased Biotin, so caution is advised if consuming more than the recommended daily value.
Summary: Considering that the daily value is small, if you eat meat and fruit, you will have plenty in your diet.

2) Vitamin/Nutrient name: Choline
Function: Precursor for acetylcholine, phospholipids and betaine
Recommended Daily Value: 375-425 milligrams/day
Average daily intake: 2000-3500 milligrams/day
Contained in foods: milk, liver, eggs, peanuts
Considerations: Intake over 3500 milligrams/day can cause fishy body odor, sweating, salivation, low blood pressure, liver toxicity. Persons with kidney or liver disease, depression and Parkinson’s disease may be at risk of negative effects from choline at upper levels of the average daily intake.
Summary: The average daily value of choline is well above the needed level, so supplementing this nutrient may cause more harm than good. Research is currently being done as to whether choline is actually a needed after fetal development or if the needed amount is synthesized in the body.

3) Vitamin/Nutrient name: Pantothenic Acid
Function: Coenzyme in fatty acid metabolism (breakdown)
Recommended Daily Value: 4-6 milligrams/day
Contained in foods: Chicken, beef, potatoes, oats, cereals, tomatoes, yeast, eggs, broccoli, whole grains
Considerations: There are no documented adverse effects caused by increased intake of panthothenic acid.
Summary: The daily recommended intake is fairly low, so a normal balanced diet is plenty for this nutrient.

4) Vitamin/Nutrient name: Vitamin A
Function: Vitamin A is required for normal vision function, gene expression, embryonic development and immune system function
Recommended Daily Value: 600-900 micrograms/day
Average Daily Intake: 1,700-3,000 micrograms/day
Contained in foods: liver, dairy products, fish, dark colored fruits, leafy vegetables
Considerations: Intake above the high amount of daily average can cause liver toxicity (preformed vitamin A, from supplements)
Summary: Persons with high alcohol consumption, liver disease, or protein malnutrition are susceptible to the liver toxicity effects of vitamin A and should not take pre-formed vitamin A supplements.

5) Vitamin/Nutrient name: Vitamin B₂ (aka Riboflavin)
Function: Coenzyme in various reactions in the body
Recommended Daily Value: 0.9-1.1 milligrams/day
Contained in foods: organ meats, milk, bread products and fortified cereals
Considerations: No documented adverse effects associated with the intake of riboflavin
Summary: A bowl of cereal with milk and you’re good to go.

6) Vitamin/Nutrient name: Vitamin B₁ (aka Thiamin)
Function: Coenzyme in the metabolism of carbohydrates and branched (complex) amino acids
Recommended Daily Value: 0.9-1.1 milligrams/day
Contained in foods: Enriched and/or fortified whole grain products, bread and bread products, grains, cereals
Considerations: No associated negative effects from thiamin
Summary: This vitamin is necessary for the breakdown of starches and proteins. However, it is also contained within those same foods, therefore if you consume them, you should also be able to metabolize them.

7) Vitamin/Nutrient name: Vitamin B₆
Function: Coenzyme in the metabolism of amino acids, glycogen and sphingoid bases
Recommended Daily Value: 1.0 -1.5 milligrams/day
Average daily intake: 60-100 milligrams/day
Contained in foods: fortified cereals, organ meats, soy-based meat substitutes
Considerations: Sensory neuropathy has been documented from a high intake of supplemental forms of vitamin B6
Summary: The average amount of vitamin B6 from food is sufficient for the actions without negative effects.

8)Vitamin/Nutrient name: Vitamin B₁₂ (aka Cobalamin)
Function: Coenzyme in nucleic acid metabolism, prevents megaloblastic anemia
Recommended Daily Value: 1.8-2.4 micrograms/day
Contained in foods: fortified cereals, meat, fish, poultry
Considerations: No adverse data associated with the intake of Vitamin B12
Summary: As the body ages, efficiency of vitamin B12 absorption is reduced, so it is recommended that older people eat foods fortified with B12 or take a supplement to get their recommended daily values.

9) Vitamin/Nutrient name: Vitamin C
Function: Cofactor for reactions requiring reduced copper or iron, also acts as an antioxidant
Recommended Daily Value: 45-75 milligrams/day
Average Daily Intake: 1,200-2,000
Contained in foods: citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, various other fruits and vegetables
Considerations: Too much vitamin C can cause gastrointestinal irritation and disturbances, formation of kidney stones and excess iron absorption
Summary: Smokers are advised to consume 35 mg/day more than the recommended daily values. Vitamin C is one of the vitamins with other clinical research documenting benefits, but care should be taken not to over-take supplements of vitamin C.

10) Vitamin/Nutrient name: Vitamin D
Function: Helps with the absorption of Calcium and phosphorus concentrations
Recommended Daily Value: 5-15 micrograms/day
Average Daily Intake: 50 micrograms/day
Contained in foods: Fish liver oils, fish, fortified milk and cereals
Considerations: The body is capable of making certain types of Vitamin D when skin is exposed to sunlight.
Summary: Deficiencies of Vitamin D are associated with severe illness. Adequate intake coupled with minimal sun exposure is advised.

11) Vitamin/Nutrient name: Vitamin E
Function: Mostly ambiguous, appears to have properties including non-specific antioxidant
Recommended Daily Value: 11-15 milligrams/day
Average daily Intake: 600-1,000 milligrams/day
Contained in foods: vegetable oils, cereals, grains, nuts, fruits, vegetables, meats
Considerations: Too much intake of vitamin E supplements has caused certain types of blood toxicities. Patients taking blood thinners should be monitored if taking vitamin E supplements. Vitamin E in foods has not caused any negative effects.
Summary: Care should be taken when taking supplements that are over the recommended daily intake.

12) Vitamin/Nutrient name: Vitamin K
Function: Coenzyme during the synthesis of proteins involved in blood clotting and bone metabolism
Recommended Daily Value: 60-120 micrograms/day Contained in foods: green vegetables, plant oils
Considerations: Patients taking blood thinners should be cautious of high vitamin K intake
Summary: Perhaps your parents were right about eating those vegetables.

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For many people, the cold clear days of winter bring more than just a rosy glow to the cheeks. They also bring uncomfortable dryness to the skin of the face, hands, and feet. For some people, the problem is worse than just a general tight, dry feeling: They get skin so dry it results in flaking, cracking, even eczema (in which the skin becomes inflamed). As soon as you turn the heat on indoors, the skin starts to dry out,” Bonnie LaPlante, an esthetician with the Canyon Ranch resort in Lenox, Mass., tells WebMD. “It doesn’t matter if you heat your home using oil, wood, or electricity. The skin gets dry.” Sound familiar? Read on to get WebMD’s top 10 tips for boosting your winter skin care regimen, so that your skin stays moist and healthy through the winter months.

1. Seek a Specialist – If you go to your local drugstore, you’ll be hard put to find a salesperson who can give you good advice. That’s why going to an esthetician or dermatologist even once is a good investment. Such a specialist can analyze your skin type, troubleshoot your current skin care regimen, and give you advice on the skin care products you should be using. But that doesn’t mean you’ll be stuck buying high-end products. “Inexpensive products work just as well as high-end ones,” says David Voron, MD, a dermatologist in Arcadia, Calif. “In fact, the extra price you pay for the expensive stuff is often just for packaging and marketing. What’s most important is how your skin responds to the product — and how you like its feel, not how much money you paid for it.”

2. Moisturize More – You may have found a moisturizer that works just fine in spring and summer. But as weather conditions change, so, too, should your skin care routine. Find an “ointment” moisturizer that’s oil-based, rather than water-based, as the oil will create a protective layer on the skin that retains more moisture than a cream or lotion. (Hint: Many lotions labeled as “night creams” are oil-based.). But choose your oils with care because not all oils are appropriate for the face. Instead, look for “nonclogging” oils, like avocado oil, mineral oil, primrose oil, or almond oil. Shea oil — or butter — is controversial, because it can clog facial pores. And vegetable shortening, LaPlante says, is a really bad idea. “It would just sit on the skin,” she says. “And it would be really greasy.”You can also look for lotions containing “humectants,” a class of substances (including glycerine, sorbitol, and alpha-hydroxy acids) that attract moisture to your skin.

3. Slather on the Sunscreen – No, sunscreen isn’t just for summertime. Winter sun — combined with snow glare — can still damage your skin. Try applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your face and your hands (if they’re exposed) about 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply frequently if you stay outside a long time.

4. Give Your Hands a Hand – The skin on your hands is thinner than on most parts of the body and has fewer oil glands. That means it’s harder to keep your hands moist, especially in cold, dry weather. This can lead to itchiness and cracking. Wear gloves when you go outside; if you need to wear wool to keep your hands warm, slip on a thin cotton glove first, to avoid any irritation the wool might cause.

5. Avoid Wet Gloves and Socks – Wet socks and gloves can irritate your skin and cause itching, cracking, sores, or even a flare-up of eczema.

6. Hook Up the Humidifier – Central heating systems (as well as space heaters) blast hot dry air throughout our homes and offices. Humidifiers get more moisture in the air, which helps prevent your skin from drying out. Place several small humidifiers throughout your home; they help disperse the moisture more evenly.

7. Hydrate for Your Health, Not for Your Skin – If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: Drinking water helps your skin stay young looking. In fact, it’s a myth. Water is good for your overall health and “the skin of someone who is severely dehydrated will benefit from fluids. But the average person’s skin does not reflect the amount of water being drunk,” Kenneth Bielinski, MD, a dermatologist in Oak Lawn, Ill., tells WebMD “It’s a very common misconception.” LaPlante agrees. “I see clients at the spa who drink their 10 to 12 glasses of water a day and still have superdry skin. It just doesn’t do that much.”

8. Grease Up Your Feet – Yes, those minty foot lotions are lovely in the hot summer months, but during the winter, your feet need stronger stuff. Try finding lotions that contain petroleum jelly or glycerine instead. And use exfoliants to get the dead skin off periodically; that helps any moisturizers you use to sink in faster and deeper.

9. Pace the Peels – If your facial skin is uncomfortably dry, avoid using harsh peels, masks, and alcohol-based toners or astringents, all of which can strip vital oil from your skin. Instead, find a cleansing milk or mild foaming cleanser, a toner with no alcohol, and masks that are “deeply hydrating,” rather than clay-based, which tends to draw moisture out of the face. And use them a little less often.

10. Ban Superhot Baths – Sure, soaking in a burning-hot bath feels great after frolicking out in the cold. But the intense heat of a hot shower or bath actually breaks down the lipid barriers in the skin, which can lead to a loss of moisture. “You’re better off with just warm water,” LaPlante advises, “and staying in the water a shorter amount of time.”

A lukewarm bath with oatmeal or baking soda, can help relieve skin that is so dry it has become itchy, Bielinski notes. So, too, can periodically reapplying your moisturizer. If those techniques don’t work, go see a dermatologist. “You may need a prescription lotion to combat the dry skin,” Bielinski says. “Or you may have a condition that isn’t simply dry skin and that requires different treatment.”

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Spanish researchers have established a link between marijuana use and the onset of psychosis at a younger age. The study looked at those who needed inpatient care for a first psychotic episode and found that the event came about 10 years earlier for marijuana users than it did for those who abstained from taking the drug. The association cannot be explained by chance, and is independent of gender or the use of any other drugs, according to the report.

“The clinical importance of the finding is quite high,” said Dr. Ana Gonzalez -Pinto, one of the study’s co-authors. Since Gonzalez-Pinto’s quote was either translated from Spanish or given in her second language, we’re going to assume she didn’t immediately follow her stoner pun with a goofy chuckle and then rehash, “Get it — quite high.” Of course, we’ve long been keeping track of the effects of marijuana, including psychosis and, everyone’s favorite, man-boobs.

The Washington Post reports that a new five-year study has found that more sleep can reduce calcium deposits in people’s arteries. Specifically, the study found that people getting one extra hour of sleep each night were less likely to have “artery-stiffening calcium deposits.” The researchers do not know why there is a link between more sleep reduced calcium deposits but they do have theories involving cortisol and reduced blood pressure.

After adjusting for lots of potential risk factors, such as sex, race, and smoking habits, the researchers found that one more hour of sleep a night decreased the risk of calcification by a third. That’s about as much as a 16.5-point reduction in blood pressure, the researchers said.

“Nothing came out of the study as appearing to explain the association,” Lauderdale said. But she believes that there are three possible explanations.

One is that another factor, such as socioeconomic status, was the connection here. A second is that a stress-related hormone, cortisol, which has been tied to decreased sleep and increased calcification, is the link.

“Finally, sleep is related to blood pressure, and that is a coronary artery disease risk factor,” Lauderdale said. “It’s possible that for people who were sleeping more, their 24-hour blood pressure was lower than their daytime blood pressure.”

It’s already been proven that being sleep deprived can be unhealthy so it is best to try to get a full night’s sleep. It’s disturbing news for those who are unable to get a full night’s sleep because of work or health issues. It’s also confusing because no one knows exactly what a full night’s sleep is and the hours of sleep people need varies in individuals. For more on how much sleep you really need read this article from Time that talks about a study that tried to answer this question.

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Sales of cosmetics, chocolate and (shudder) Spam are up, but Americans have reined in spending on nearly everything else from cars to clothes to restaurant meals. But as the stock and housing markets hit new lows and we resort to shopping in the back of our closets, we may find a glimmer of a silver lining: Recessions can make us a little leaner–and greener.

“The bottom line is, people get physically healthier when times are bad,” says Christopher Ruhm, a professor of economics at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro who has studied rates of illness and mortality during recessions. For example, when cash is scarce, we eat fewer fattening restaurant meals and by not going out as much, we’re also responsible for fewer global warming emissions from transportation. Caveat: Ruhm only said, “physical health improves.” Faced with job and savings loss, “people feel mentally worse,” he adds. No wonder we’re buying more chocolate and lipstick!

A little knowledge can also help us cope better. Here’s a look at how your health, and that of the environment, may be trending during this economic crunch.

1. You’ll eat more home cooked meals (and be trimmer, healthier and likely happier for it). Some 71 percent of Americans are cooking at home more and eating at restaurants less frequently, the Food Marketing Institute reports. “Home cooking has fewer calories and more nutritional value than foods purchased outside the home,” says Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition at NYU. “So eating at home is always good value, not least for encouraging family cooperation and interaction through meals,” Nestle says.

2. You may buy less fresh produce (but you may already be buying more). When cash is scarce, shoppers tend to buy foods containing less water, which are less perishable, along with cheap staples like beans and rice, the New York Times reported in October. And more beans and rice, more canned foods and more pasta results in less, well, regularity, because you’re getting less water in your diet. Thus far, though, the evidence countervenes the conventional wisdom: Also in October, Nielsen market polls showed an increase in unit sales of fresh produce versus last year.

3. You may also buy less red meat (a win for the environment and our health). The head of the International Panel on Climate Change (which shared the 2007 Nobel with Al Gore) urges people to cut back on meat in order to help stem the tide of methane, a potent greenhouse gas excreted by cows. People who eat foods high in saturated fats, such as red meat, are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association, as well as some cancers, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research. Animal fats, including dairy products, also have high levels of toxic dioxins.

4. You may continue to buy some organic food (reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated). While organic food sales have slowed, the organic marketplace is still growing, leading to continued benefits for our soil and water quality and those of us who prefer food without pesticide residues and added hormones and antibiotics, recession or not.

5. You may be buying more locally grown foods (if it’s not you, someone’s doing it!). The USDA announced a growth in farmers’ markets, whose number nationwide reached 4,685 in August 2008, a 6.8 percent gain from two years before. This news is better for the environment (fewer planes and trucks spewing pollutants and carbon) and for our health (fewer post-harvest preservatives and pesticides).

6. You may eat more Spam (and Bisphenol-A). Production of Spam, a staple from the Great Depression and World War II, is up a lot. It’s cheap, yes, but Spam comes in a can, and canned foods are the main source of hormone-disrupting Bisphenol-A in our diets. Plus, BPA leaches more readily into fatty foods (like you know what) or acidic ones (like tomatoes) so resist the temptation (if that’s a possible reaction to Spam!) and save pennies in other ways.

7. You’ll exercise more (and even if you hate it, it may cheer you up). Twenty-five percent of Americans said they’re coping with the recession stress by exercising more according to a recent health poll. “When people feel mentally worse, you wonder, what can you control? You can exercise more and eat healthier,” Ruhm says.

8. You’ll brew your own coffee (and/or tote a refillable mug). To save money, people are forgoing Starbucks in favor of brewing their coffee at home. In addition to saving money and thereby raising self-esteem (not to mention confidence in one’s ability to perform these basic tasks), home brewing will also help reduce the 28 billion disposable coffee cups we chuck a year, resulting in 100 million pounds of landfill trash.

9. You will probably buy less soda (yesss!). Unit sales of carbonated beverages are down more than 5 percent. Great for your health: Whether you were drinking sweet high-caloric drinks or artificially sweetened sodas, even diet sodas contribute to weight gain, according to a 2007 study. And, buying less soda is great news for the environment, given the growing waste and disappointing recycling rates associated with aluminum cans and plastic bottles (but switching from soda to bottled water is cheating!).

10. You’ll drive less, breathe cleaner air and have fewer accidents. Americans drove nearly 11 billion fewer miles from Sept 2007 to Sept 2008 than in the previous 12 months, the Department of Transportation announced in November. Despite the recent fall in gas prices, the trend continued into Thanksgiving when planned holiday car trips fell by 1.2 percent, the first decrease in years. “People go out less, drive less, so there are fewer traffic accidents and pollution levels fall, Ruhm says. This, along with the slowdown in industrial activity, means fewer greenhouse gas emissions and far less smog and particulate pollutants, which cause lung disease and lower birth weights.

11. Your recession baby may be more likely to be a girl (check back in a couple months). While most parents, of course, are equally delighted to be blessed with a child of either sex, this intriguing thesis reveals the possible physical outcomes of economic shocks. “After environmental shocks, sex ratio drops 3 to 4 months later. A recession is one kind of environmental shock. And dramatic downturns such as this one are so unusual–so dramatic and so fast,” says Ralph Catalano, a professor of public health at UC Berkeley who’s studying the affect of environmental stress on sex ratios, including a decline in male births in Germany during a past recession. Why? “There are two ways in which a depression or disorganized economy may affect sex ratios,” Catalano says. One, “You’re more likely to conceive females on more days of the month, a lot of evidence suggests, and stressed males have reduced libido and lower sperm counts, so where there’s less sexual activity it favors female babies,” Catalano says, adding that he doesn’t believe this argument. More compellingly, he says, “In animal research, females that are stressed tend to spontaneously abort offspring that are less likely to produce grandchildren, and so they’ll get rid of smaller males in utero.” When will we know if this is happening or not? “Given the current economy, we should see reductions in male to female sex rations by January or February of next year,” Catalano says.

12. You may splurge on a little makeup (count us in!). As is typical in recessions, cosmetic sales are going up and up (40 percent at last count)–a harmless indulgence, so long as you make sure your personal care products are free of the most toxic ingredients, such as phthalates in synthetic fragrances. “We are concerned about the effects these chemicals may have on many hormone-related processes such as sexual development in children,” says Luz Claudio, associate professor of community and preventive medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, who is conducting a long-term study of the relationship between girls’ development and the personal care products they use. In recent human studies, phthalates have been associated with feminizing traits in male infants. Happily, U.S. sales of natural personal care products are posting strong growth even in this weak economy, rising 12.5 percent in 2007, according to market researchers Mintel, who predict another increase from $465 to $513 million this year–better for your health, water quality and wildlife, all around.

All in all, we think you’ll have good green cause for optimism. Recent reports show that when Americans are buying anything, we’re looking for green options not only for the sake of our health, but also for the sake of the planet. We’re behaving greener and healthier, too, saving energy (which saves money), driving less and walking more, reusing and recycling. The environment remains American’s top social cause, a survey found in November, and nearly 7 out of 10 Americans say they’ll remain loyal to brands that support social causes, even in a recession.

Help is on the way! The new Administration is planning to invest in green energy, infrastructure and jobs to get us out of this recession. So, turn off the TV and socialize. That’s what the holidays are all about, being with family and friends. And, if you conserve energy by watching less TV, you may be less depressed and have more sex as a result. The sun still shineth, winds of change are afoot and like winter itself, this economic chill may precede green growth. As Granny always said, health is wealth!

Scientists are developing a new treatment for pain that is eight times the strength of morphine. Researchers at the University of North Carolina Medical School have pinpointed the identity of a particular protein — prostatic acid phosphatase or PAP — that can convert the chemical messages that cause pain into ones that suppress it. One injection of PAP is eight times stronger than a similar dose of morphine and lasts 14 times as long. So long, headache. See you in about two weeks.

Scientists think they may be able to convert PAP into an easy-to-use pill form, and believe it would have few side effects.

The question now is how long before a modified version of this new super painkiller shows up on the cover of Time Magazine as the latest scary illegal drug epidemic to sweep across the nation.