In the olden days, grocery stores could only sell what was fresh and local. Now, with globalization and super efficient distribution systems, you can be eating a product of Guatemala just a few days after it was harvested from the ground. While this is a tremendously beneficial thing in most ways, it does provide some interesting problems. Understanding how the modern grocery store operates can help you in a variety of ways.

There is No Longer a “Fresh” Day

Just a few years ago, most grocery stores were getting food deliveries once or twice a week (sometimes even less frequently). This meant that the difference in the freshness of your food between a Monday and a Wednesday could be tremendous. Now, however, grocery stores generally receive deliveries on a daily basis. It is nearly impossible to time your visit so that you are buying the freshest produce, but there is good news. The food you purchase regularly is likely far fresher than it would have been before improvements in the distribution systems.

Less Quantity is a Bad Sign

If your local grocery store is sporting a small fruit or vegetable section, you may be inclined to call it “quaint”. In reality, however, less quantity usually means that the store does not expect to go through very many items and as such the produce is more prone to sit there and spoil. Grocery stores with massive fruit displays, on the other hand, usually have extremely fresh produce because they tend to cycle through their stock rapidly. Such stores are also the only places where you should contemplate purchasing exotic spoilable items, as they are more likely to have sat there for quite some time than bananas or apples.

Look at Price Per Unit

When you’re shopping, you tend to automatically think that buying in bulk will save you money. In reality, however, the only way to tell how much you’re spending is to look at the “Price Per Unit”. Often times, with items such as toilet paper, the middle size will actually save you the most money. Other times, the price differences will be quite negligible. Also, don’t be fooled by grand displays. They’re rarely there because there is a deal on the items.

Be Careful with Meat and Fish

Often times, large grocery stores will have elaborate butcher and seafood sections. You may be tempted to buy a whole fish, but be wary! Most of these items are from far away countries and have likely spent some considerable time on ice. If the sign says “previously frozen”, you may be better off just purchasing it from the frozen foods section. You’ll be getting essentially the same thing and saving around 40% in the process. Talk to the people working the counter and inquire as to the history of your food next time.

The brain is perhaps the most complex organ in the human body, and as such it has taken decades of elaborate scientific research to even begin to understand how it functions. In the process, some incomplete or even false assumptions have been made and disseminated amongst the general public. While most of these myths are hardly harmful or capable of affecting your daily life, some are capable of costing you time, effort, or both. Understanding your brain is also an integral part of maintaining it and preventing neurological decay. Discussed below are some of the more common and stubborn brain myths and the science debunking them.

You Are Either Left Brained and Logical or Right Brained and Creative

This myth has managed to stick around because people generally wish to believe that their talents and inclinations are determined on a biological basis at birth. It is also a convenient way for individuals to blame their strengths and weaknesses on something entirely beyond their control. This myth has even been cited as a valid explanation for homosexuality in left handed people, dyslexia in the general population, and a litany of other conditions. In reality, however, this myth began in the 1800′s when doctors began to notice that injury to one side of the brain tended to cause a loss in specific abilities or functions. Recent research, utilizing far more complex technology, has actually revealed that the two sides of the brain are far more connected than was originally believed. Being creative does not mean that you can’t be logical and vice-versa.

Alcohol Kills Brain Cells

This myth is still quite pervasive, and can be heard everywhere from middle school classrooms to adult substance abuse meetings. While alcohol does indeed have a tremendous effect on the body and brain, it does not actually permanently kill off any brain cells. If it did, you would feel noticeably different after every drinking session. In fact, for alcohol to permanently kill off brain cells you would literally have to drink yourself into a coma. Studies of the brains of alcoholics and tee-totalers showed no difference in brain cell density. Rather, alcohol simply inhibits the function of brain cells while you are under the influence.

Television, Video Games, and Computers make you Dumber

This myth has been cited by countless parents and educators, yet is by definition far too broad to be scientifically valid. Even when analyzed on a more concrete, specific basis, it has been shown that such media only changes how your brain functions rather than outright making you less intelligent. Rather than remembering countless formulas and facts, you learn how to rapidly search for the answers on the internet. You are still capable of learning and remembering these things, but you simply choose to use your brain in a different manner. Even if you spend a dozen weeks playing video games, your brain is still capable of rebounding and tackling complex tasks whenever you choose.

Navigating the sea of medical and nutritional knowledge is often a difficult task. If you open a book from just a few decades ago, chances are it’ll be filled with a lot of misleading information. If you open one from a century ago, you may end up attempting to treat your case of Bronchitis with a leach. Luckily, we have managed to compile some of the most common health and diet myths along with the science to debunk them once and for all.

1 Eating Eggs is bad for your Cholesterol

As science has recently concluded, dietary cholesterol has a far less significant impact on your blood cholesterol than previously thought. In fact, unless you already have cholesterol problems, consuming dietary cholesterol is pretty much no big deal. Unfortunately, this knowledge has not yet made its way to the general public, and as such, eggs are still being avoided for fear that they may clog your arteries. In reality, saturated fat plays a far more significant role in your cholesterol levels, and eggs are far from the worst offenders. So next time you make an omelet, don’t feel guilty. Eggs are packed with plenty of the vitamins, nutrients, and protein that your body needs.

2 You can Treat Depression on your Own

This myth is actually quite dangerous, as it can lead to a distinct worsening of symptoms. Many individuals who suffer from depression are either told to “tough it out” or simply believe that they can get better on their own. Unfortunately, attempting an “attitude change” won’t work. Depression is a clinically diagnosable disease that has a distinct physiological cause. Trying to get better on your own can lead to a deeper depression when you fail. Instead, you should seek the help of a physician or psychiatrist immediately.

3 Ice vs. Heat for Pain

Some people believe that ice should be used to treat pain, while others believe that heat works better, whilst others will simply tell you to alternate the two. In reality, heat and cold do distinctly different things. Heat can relieve tension, increase blood flow, and relax your muscles – but they can also increase inflammation. On the other hand, cold decreases inflammation and numbs the affected area but can also cause vasoconstriction. Initially, cold should be used to decrease swelling and inflammation. After a few days, heat should be used to relax the area. Do not use heat on open wounds, as it can increase the level of bleeding. Likewise, avoid using cold on the extremities of your bodies if you have poor circulation, as it can completely cut off blood flow to the affected areas.

If you have a chronic injury or condition, think of what has helped you the most in the past. Every injury is different. Tension headaches react to heat whilst sometimes an area simply needs to be numbed so that it ceases to hurt. Generally, it is best to consult with your doctor in these scenarios.

Beating the cold and flu has now become a multibillion dollar a year industry. Yet research has shown that most medications can actually increase the duration of the symptoms, even if they do manage to suppress some of them. That’s not a very good tradeoff if you think about it, especially when you consider that you can likely avoid the worst of the cold and flu with some simple items from your very own household. Rather than rushing to the drugstore at the first sign of cold or flu symptoms, try the following; you’ll likely save time, money, and hours (or days) of symptoms.

1 Ingest Vitamin D

Individuals with high levels of Vitamin D in their system are significantly less likely to develop respiratory infections than those who do not. Often times, you get more than enough Vitamin D just from sun exposure. This isn’t possible during the winter months (unless you live very close to the equator), hence the prevalence of respiratory problems. Supplementing with Vitamin D can be an excellent way to bridge the gap. Fortified milk and dairy are excellent sources, as are dietary supplements. Look for Vitamin D3. It is more biologically functional than D2. Fish such as salmon are also high in Vitamin D.

2 Get some Light Exercise

Exercising regularly does more than help you lose weight and sculpt your body. It actually strengthens your immune system. A study performed by Appalachian State University found that individuals who took half-hour walks five times a week were only half as likely to develop a cold or viral infection as non-walkers. That’s an incredible decline in incidence, and it doesn’t just have to be a walk. Play basketball, soccer, or go hiking. Any form of exercise should do the trick. Be careful, however, not to overdo it if you’re already feeling quite sick, as prolonged exercise can worsen existing symptoms.

3 Get a Swedish Massage

For some reason, it seems that laying on your stomach and having your back massaged can prevent a cold. The Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that after experiencing a 45-minute Swedish massage, individuals experienced a pronounced increase in Lymphocytes, the white blood cells that are so integral to your body’s immune system. So next time you’re feeling under the weather, treat yourself to a massage.

4 Eat Some Chili

If made properly, chili can be an extremely powerful immunity booster. The beans themselves contain isoflavones that help your immune function. The hot sauce will clear your sinuses and speed up your metabolism. The various array of vegetables contain powerful antioxidants and phytonutrients that have proven virus-fighting capabilities. Yet it may be the tomatoes that take home the grand prize. They have lycopene (an extremely powerful phytonutrient), Vitamins A and C, and Potassium. Plus, few foods can warm you up after a cold day as well as chili.

Sleeping is often taken for granted. To some, it is a chore. To others, it is a necessary evil that allows them to remain functional during their time awake. Yet without sleep, we wouldn’t just be zombie-like! We wouldn’t be able to fight disease, store memories into our long-term databases, or physically grow. Yet there are countless myths about sleep that people continue to believe. Counting sheep, for example, has been proven to be a counterproductive method of falling asleep .Other surprising facts about sleep are listed below.

1 Beauty Rest is Real

This one goes far beyond the “you look as good as you feel” mantra. In fact, when Swedish researchers asked observers to rate the attractiveness of participants after they got a full night’s rest versus after they had spent over 24 hours awake, the pictures of the rested individuals where rated higher without fail. Additionally, the observers rated the photos of the sleep-deprived participants as less healthy looking.

2 Watching TV or Reading a book won’t Put you to Sleep

A startling number of people claim that watching late night television or reading a novel will put them right out. In reality, however, science has shown that the light associated with both of these activities (directly from your television or from the bedside lamp necessary to read a book) directly suppresses the production of melatonin, a hormone that is necessary for the proper regulation of the sleep-awake cycle in humans. There is a caveat, however. If you haven’t read books in a while and suddenly find yourself reading again, your untrained brain will suddenly find itself quite exhausted in short time.

3 You Need the same Amount of Sleep Regardless of Age

For whatever reason, some people believe that as they get older they need less sleep. In reality, all humans require seven to nine hours of rest a night. Elderly people simply go to bed earlier and wake up more frequently than their younger counterparts.

4 Alcohol does not Help you Go to Sleep

It’s not uncommon for some individuals to take a “nightcap” in the form of a beer or glass of wine before they go to bed. While alcohol is indeed a depressant and will help you fall asleep, it can also backfire horribly. Alcohol disrupts REM sleep, which is the most relaxing and important stage of the sleep cycle. Also, when your body processes the alcohol mid-sleep and the depressant effect wears off, you may suddenly rebound and wake up unable to fall back asleep.

5 Sleeping Pills are not Highly Addictive

Believe it or not, today’s sleeping pills are far safer and subtler than their previous incarnations. If used as directed (and you don’t have a previous history of addiction or substance abuse), sleeping pills can be a valuable way to treat insomnia without presenting overly harmful side effects.

The common cold and flu are two of the most stubborn illnesses in modern history. They have proven virtually impossible to eradicate, instead constantly evolving to sabotage any immunity that humanity may have developed over time. Even worse, they are not particularly dangerous. Compared to diseases such as polio and smallpox, the cold and flu are almost harmless. Yet that doesn’t stop them from robbing humanity of billions of hours of productivity and functionality every winter. Most of the commonly prescribed solutions for avoiding these viruses essentially boil down to the placebo effect. Luckily, there are some simple things you can do that are definitively capable of protecting you from the cold and flu this year.

Eat Breakfast

If you wake up feeling ill, chances are you want nothing more than to stay in bed all day. Instead, however, you should go straight to your kitchen and make yourself the biggest breakfast you’ve eaten in months. Researchers in the Netherlands found that consuming a breakfast of over 1,000 calories increased levels of gamma interferon (a potent antiviral agent) in the blood by almost fivefold. Don’t just start stuffing your face with Twinkies. Eat a balanced meal of complex carbohydrates, protein, and healthy unsaturated fats.

Stress Yourself Out

Over the long term, stress can take a tremendous toll on your immune system. In the short term, however, it can actually supercharge it. Going through a period of acute stress signals your body to prepare for conflict and mobilizes immune system resources. If you’re feeling sick, take on an extra project at work or find some way to make life a little more difficult for the next few hours. It may save you a week’s worth of stress in the end.

Drink Green Tea

Coffee has plenty of benefits. It wakes you up in the morning and the caffeine content may boost both your immune system and metabolism for a short period of time. Yet when it comes to fighting the cold and flu, Green Tea reigns supreme. Recently, Canadian researchers added Green Tea to live samples of the Adenovirus (one of the main culprits in the common cold) and found that the virus suddenly could not replicate. This was due primarily to ECGC, a compound found in various kinds of teas (and most highly in Green Tea). Let the tea bag steep for at least 8 minutes. It will maximize the concentration of ECGC.

Sleep More

One of the most interesting cycles in human health occurs when people get sick. They sleep less because their productivity level declines, yet their workload remains the same, and suddenly they cannot get healthy. The culprit is simple… when you find yourself sleeping 40% less, your immune function only works half as well. Ideally, you need seven to nine hours of sleep a night for proper immune function. You should never, however, let yourself get less than six hours of sleep for a prolonged period of time.

When it comes to seeking medical help, there are all kinds of people. Some are hypochondriacs who will rush to the emergency room if they have the hiccups whilst others are too proud to look for medical attention even with a bone sticking out of their arms. Finding a good balance is difficult, and if you’re not a doctor yourself, it is tough to know what symptoms warrant treatment. If, however, you find yourself experiencing the following types of pain, you should likely visit your physician as soon as possible.

Severe Head Pain

If you are experiencing the worst head pain of your life (i.e. it makes the morning after that one night in Vegas feel like a trip to the spa) then chances are it’s just a migraine. If, however, the pain is not accompanied by other migraine like symptoms such as nausea or sensitivity to light and sound, then it could be an aneurysm. Aneurysms, which can occur in about 1 in 20 people, are capable of cutting off oxygen to your brain and consequently death. They also tend to cause permanent brain damage within minutes, so getting to the hospital fast is critical.

Extremely Painful Tooth

If eating anything cold is suddenly the most painful experience of your life, it may mean that the underlying nerve in one of your teeth has been damaged or compromised. Often times this happens because the tooth is cracked, which means that bacteria can infect the cavity and spread throughout the rest of your body. This can usually be fixed with a filling, but depending on the extent of the damage, it may require a root canal. Whilst that may sound painful, the alternative is significantly worse.

Intensifying Pain in your Side

You may initially mistake it for a cramp or bloating, but if the pain is extreme and only getting worse then it may be appendicitis. Generally, appendicitis is accompanied by a fever and nausea. If that sounds about right, emergency surgery is required before the appendix bursts. Get to your doctor right away. They will be able to tell whether your appendix is inflamed or you just have the worst gas of your life.

Chest Pain

This symptom is perhaps the trickiest, because it tends to come and go randomly. It may feel like indigestion or heartburn, but if it repeatedly presents itself with no discernable trigger, then you may be suffering from a heart attack. The symptoms are often more mild in women than in men, which means that women are far more likely to mistake it for something else. If you’re concerned, rush to the hospital for an EKG. You’ll learn if your heart has been damaged, and the extent of any such damage. From there, you’ll have a variety of options that your physician will be able to advise you on.

Your health is a complicated issue, and keeping it at its peak is quite the difficult endeavor. Luckily, there is a wide variety of medical knowledge out there that is available to anyone with some spare time and the willingness to learn. If you do not wish to spend a decade sifting through this metaphorical library of wisdom, we have compiled some interesting facts on a variety of health topics that are interesting and relevant to just about anyone.

1 You can Control your Migraines

Most pharmaceutical companies would like you to believe that if you suffer migraines, your only hope for relief is through painkillers or other medications. Many people indeed believe that they are doomed to experience recurrent, crippling headaches for the rest of their lives. The reality, however, is quite different. Many (if not most) migraine sufferers actually have triggers that cause their episodes. The trick is to learn what your triggers are, and avoid them in the future. These triggers can be smells, specific foods, or even stress. Some common food triggers include caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, or preservatives such as MSG. Keep a “migraine diary” and record what you have done and eaten in the 24 hours before your episode. Eventually, you may find a theme that lets you isolate and eliminate your trigger.

2 Tell your Doctor Everything

It is actually remarkable how many people lie to their doctors on a daily basis. A lot of this is simple, like saying that you’re “great” when you’re actually stressed from work. Other times it can be a little more harmful, like claiming you don’t smoke because you only smoke once a week or month. Your doctor is not a psychic and can only work with what you give them. All information is relevant; if you knew what mattered and what didn’t, chances are you would not need to see a physician in the first place. Be completely upfront and candid with your doctor. At worst, you won’t get in any trouble, and at best it may save your life down the road.

3 Snoring Can be a Red Flag

Believe it or not, snoring is not actually normal. In fact, it can be a sign of other potentially more serious problems. If you snore regularly and are tired all the time (or at least unusually lethargic), you may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. Diagnosing this condition in time could one day save your life.

4 Allergic Reactions can Develop Spontaneously

You are not necessarily born with allergies. In fact, they can develop at any point in your life. Some can be as simple as a mild pollen allergy in your 30’s. Others can be an allergic reaction to medications such as antibiotics. If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek help immediately; hives, trouble breathing and swallowing, dizziness and chest pain.

These days, almost anyone on the street possesses at least basic health and medical knowledge. Unfortunately, however, recent research has indicated that much of this knowledge is predicated on a series of fallacies that can either cost you time, money, or both. In fact, there are so many medical myths that are bandied about on a regular basis that disproving all of them is actually quite troublesome. Discussed below are some of the most common medical myths and why the science behind them falls short of the truth.

Muscle Weighs More than Fat

This one is actually akin to the “What weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of bricks?” question; a pound of muscle simply weighs the same as a pound of fat. A more accurate distinction would be that fat takes up significantly more volume. A pound of fat, in fact, takes up as much as two to three times the space of a pound of muscle. Thus, fat does indeed make you look bulky. Another distinction is that a pound of muscle burns more calories than a pound of fat; about 50 more a day. So muscle can actually help keep the fat off, even when all you are doing is sitting around.

Carbohydrates Are the Enemy

The recent decade has effectively made carbohydrates dietary public enemy number one. This is a shame, because carbohydrates are an integral part of any healthy and balanced diet. In fact, you should probably be consuming far more than you currently are. The distinction, of course, is between simple and complex carbs. The former at best does you minimal good whilst at worst spikes your blood sugar and causes you to store fat. The latter, on the other hand, helps keep your blood sugar stable, regulates your digestive system, and even helps keep you full for significantly longer periods of time. Just minimize your simple carb intake (without eliminating it entirely) while increasing your dietary fiber intake, and you will find yourself healthier and fitter within a month or two.

Carbs in general are your primary source of energy. Eliminating them entirely is about as wise as giving up protein.

Eating at Night Makes you Fat

The popular narrative here is that eating at night will cause you to gain weight, and it is only technically correct. If you backload most of your calories towards the end of the day, you are more likely to put on weight. In reality, however, it is more about how much you eat throughout the day. Consuming 2,000 calories in excess will make you put on pounds regardless of when you eat them. Your metabolism does slow down at the end of the day, and you will have less time to digest the food and burn off the calories, but it won’t be the sole reason that you find yourself overweight. Focus more on what you eat every single meal rather than when you eat.

We’re generally told that if we eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and avoid dangerous substances and situations, we can expect to live a long and healthy life. In reality, recent research seems to indicate that other things have a say in your health. These are factors that nobody initially thought had anything to do with your chances of contracting disease. Discussed below are some surprising factors that may affect your chances of morbidity or mortality.

Finger Length

In a study of over 5,000 men, researchers found that those with an index finger that is longer than their ring finger had a 33 percent reduced risk of developing prostate cancer. The study did not factor in family history or other risk categories; the only factor studied was finger length. Men under 40 with long index fingers were the least likely to have prostate cancer.

Birth Order

This one is particularly surprising as it has nothing to do with you (technically). For various reasons, it seems that the first born child is at higher risk for diseases such as leukemia and testicular cancer. The reason for the leukemia isn’t as well documented, but researchers theorize that higher levels of estrogen may factor into the testicular cancer. Another reason is that siblings aren’t around to expose the child to various viruses and bacteria, thus helping them develop immunities early.

Grip Strength

In various studies conducted over several decades, the strength of an individual’s grip served as an excellent predictor of physical disability later in life. Individuals with good or superb grip strength were less than half as likely to suffer disability as they aged. Whether the grip strength itself was the cause or some underlying variable was responsible is not yet known.

Hair Loss

According to a study by Harvard Medical School, hair loss is correlated with heart disease. Specifically, hair loss at the crown seems to mean that you are at increased risk for cardiovascular problems. Pattern baldness in general increased an individual’s risk, but those that were completely bald near the crown had an almost 40% increased chance of developing heart problems.

How Religious You Are

It seems that individuals who consider themselves very religious live as much as ten years longer than those who do not. There are various reasons for this, and it doesn’t seem to be divine intervention. Rather, people who are extremely religious often avoid things such as drugs and alcohol, as well as various situations that could potentially put them in harm’s way. Another reason is that religion gives people faith in a higher power and comforts them when things do not go their way. This reduces their overall stress levels and triggers a sort of placebo effect when these people are struck with illness. Highly religious vegetarians had the longest life expectancy. By some estimates, they can expect to live approximately 90 years.