Mindfully Healing

Some foods have an negative effect on cognitive function and, potentially, eating habits. Diets high in saturated fats can slow brain function, new research finds. Saturated fats have a direct effect on the hypothalamus, an area of the brain which is critical for regulating hunger. Eating saturated fats could, therefore, make it difficult to control your eating habits. They can make it difficult to control how much you eat, the types of foods you choose to consume and when to stop eating. Saturated fats are typically found in: lard, butter,

Now we know why some men undo more shirt buttons than they should. A hairy chest signals higher intelligence in a man, research finds. Dr Aikarakudy Alias, a psychiatrist, has found that hairy chests are more frequent among men who are highly educated, such as doctors. Dr Alias surveyed male trainee doctors in the US and found that 45% of them were ‘very hairy’. This is in comparison to the 10% of men in the general population who are very hairy. The same was also true when Dr Alias looked

The smouldering regret that is most widespread won’t surprise you. Romantic regrets are the most common type, research finds. Among women, regrets about romance were twice as common as among men. For men, work regrets were most widespread. Other common areas of regret included financial decisions, parenting mistakes, missed educational opportunities and family arguments. Professor Neal Roese, an author of this study, said: “We found that one’s life circumstances, such as accomplishments or shortcomings, inject considerable fuel into the fires of regret. Although regret is painful, it is an essential

Here are two trainable personal qualities which predict success four times more than intelligence. Being open to experience and conscientious is four times more important than intelligence in predicting academic success, a new research review finds. People who are open to experience are more likely to be imaginative, sensitive to their feelings, intellectually curious and seekers of variety. Conscientious people, meanwhile, are disciplined, dutiful and good at planning ahead. Dr Arthur Poropat, the study’s author and an expert on personality and performance, thinks the current emphasis on intelligence is misplaced:

Antidepressants may give the brain a chance to recover from depression, but more is needed. It is well-known that common antidepressants have little to no effect for up to 50% of people. Ms Silvia Poggini, author of a new study on the subject, said: “There is no doubt that antidepressants work for many people, but for between 30 percent and 50 percent of depressed people, antidepressants don’t work. No one knows why. This work may explain part of the reason. The new research suggests it is at least partly down

What it means to have a schizoid, paranoid or borderline personality disorder. There are three main types of personality disorder. Each of the three types — or ‘clusters’ in psychiatric speech — has various different disorders within it. As you read through, you’ll see the connection among the types or clusters. Type A: Eccentric or odd 1. Schizoid personality disorder A person with a total lack of interest in social relationships. They live alone or have a very lonely lifestyle. They are typically cold, apathetic and secretive. It is very

People in the study listened to and then played a Tibetan singing bowl. Playing a musical instrument can help protect against cognitive decline. The reason is that learning to play changes the brain’s ‘wiring’, new research finds. The neuroscientists found that the brain can compensate for disease or injuries. Dr Bernhard Ross, study’s first author, said: “Music has been known to have beneficial effects on the brain, but there has been limited understanding into what about music makes a difference. This is the first study demonstrating that learning the fine

This component of the Mediterranean diet protects memory. Extra-virgin olive oil helps to protect the brain from cognitive decline, new research finds. The oil reduces the formation of protein in the brain that is linked to Alzheimer’s. The conclusions come from a study of mice, some of whom were fed a diet enriched with extra-virgin olive oil. Professor Domenico Praticò, who led the study, said: “We found that olive oil reduces brain inflammation but most importantly activates a process known as autophagy. Brain cells from mice fed diets enriched with

The procedure doesn’t require anaesthesia or sedation, taking around 40 minutes per session. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an effective long-term treatment for depression, research finds. TMS involves stimulating the brain using magnetic fields. Magnetic pulses are directed towards the left prefrontal cortex, to stimulate areas of the brain linked to depression. The pulses help to excite neurons at the site of stimulation and in other connected areas of the brain. The magnetic pulses are similar to those used for MRI brain scans. TMS has been cleared by the US

This personality trait is on the rise among the younger generation. The personality trait of entitlement can lead to chronic disappointment, psychologists have concluded. Entitlement is believing you are better than others and deserve more than them. Unfortunately people who feel entitled often enter a spiral of habitual behaviour that is toxic. From anger they tend to lash out at others, blaming them. At the same time they continue to tell themselves that they are special. Dr Joshua Grubbs, the study’s first author, said: “At extreme levels, entitlement is a