Came accross this topic so thought of sharing it with you all...

Drinking cranberry juice can lower your blood pressure, according to a new research.

The study conducted by Roger Corder, professor at Queen Mary University of London, has appeared January 28 in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry.

The Independent quoted Corder, the author of The Red Wine Diet, as saying, "...cranberry juice is a very promising alcohol-free alternative.

We have now identified oligomeric procyanidins as the specific compound in cranberries that can boost the health of blood vessels, helping to prevent blood vessel constriction - a leading cause of high blood pressure".

Chamomile’s power as a stress-buster has been around for years. And now, two researchers are trying to find how much truth is there behind the old wives' tale.

In an evaluation for Faculty of 1000, Michael Van Ameringen and Beth Patterson have discussed the first randomized controlled trial of chamomile for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology , the study reports that "chamomile extract therapy was found to be efficacious for mild-moderate GAD".

Patients with mild-moderate GAD were included in the study and received either chamomile or placebo. Those that received the chamomile treatment were found to have a significant change in the severity of their GAD.

Van Amerigen and Patterson comment on the results of the study, saying that they "suggest that chamomile may have modest [anti-panic] activity in patients with mild-moderate GAD and may potentially be used in those who are averse to traditional pharmacotherapy".

Boredom is the biggest evil when it comes to exercise. Those who have had enough of the treadmill running, cross training, rowing, tend to get away from exercise.

But some people have found respite in a new, more interesting form of workout. Says HR manager, Shruti Malhotra, “I was fed up of the same gymming routine and gradually I had stopped going to the gym. Then someone told me about spinning and today I am totally addicted to it. I have healthily lost 2 kilos in a month.”

What is spinning?
Spinning has got nothing to do with the usual spinning, instead it is a relatively new phenomenon, which is performed on a specialised cycling machine. The classes take place in a fitness studio with specialised lights and music that create an upbeat atmosphere. “It is basically a cardio workout, which seems like regular cycling, but works on all your body parts with various control resistant movements on the bike. An hour of workout burns a lot of calories and gives a nice shape, especially to your thighs,”

Have a full glass of water or iced tea or a beverage that’s not very sweet, before you order .
It’ll help digest your meal and also fill you up a bit, so you don’t feel as hungry.

Before your main course, order a soup, and try to have a salad for your main course.
When ordering soup, remember that a cream-based soup is more fattening than a clear soup. Ask for that instead. The same way, cream based-sauces, used in pasta or other dishes, are higher in calories than tomato-based ones.

Try to order before other people do, and if you’re not having a salad for your main course, try and split it with someone.

Have breadsticks instead of bread – they help you avoid oil and butter.

Have a big lunch.

A new research suggests that caffeine and alcohol taken together can have dangerous repercussions.

The growing popularity of mixed drinks like the "Jager Bomb" (Jagermeister and Red Bull) or "Vodka and Red Bull" can have implications on road safety, according to the study.

The field study of over 800 young drinkers by the University of Florida found that those who consumed caffeine-alcohol mixed drinks were often in a drunker state when they left the bar than those who consumed only alcohol-based drinks.

Those who had caffeine-alcohol mixed drinks were also much more likely to say they intended to drive home.

The problem arises from consuming a stimulant alongside an intoxicant, which, clinical studies show, can reduce the perception of being drunk but not the impairment.

For the study, researchers wandered on the streets outside bars and clubs, from 10pm to 3am, to quiz young drinkers on what they had been drinking and assess their sobriety, reports News.com.au.

Think you know what foods turn someone on? Do you keep a pantry full of love potions and shop from a list of foods for sex that are "guaranteed" to work?

Check out our list of alleged natural sex aphrodisiacs and see if you can tell the love potions from the love poisons.

Oysters
Oysters are a favourite among erotic foods and research now shows this shellfish to be a rich source of zinc – a mineral required for the production of testosterone. Not only the hormone behind the male sex drive, testosterone is believed to stimulate the female libido as well.

Chili peppers
A pepper's heat comes from "capsaicin," a chemical that stimulates our nerve endings, raising our pulse and making us sweat. Some researchers believe that eating hot foods also triggers the release of endorphins, body chemicals that gives us a natural high that is conducive to love-making.

Good article from psychologytoday.com

What does it take to be happy in a relationship? If you’re working to improve your marriage, here are a few habits of happy couples.

1. Go to bed at the same time
Remember the beginning of your relationship, when you couldn’t wait to go to bed with each other to make love? Happy couples resist the temptation to go to bed at different times. They go to bed at the same time, even if one partner wakes up later to do things while their partner sleeps.

2. Cultivate common interests