Memory Boosting Rosemary

Memory Boosting Rosemary

New research indicates that Shakespeare may have been on to something when he had Ophelia say; “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance: pray you, love, remember”, in Hamlet. Researchers from the University of Northumbria have recently revealed that smelling the scent of Rosemary could improve memory.

The notion isn’t a new one as the ancient Greeks also thought that rosemary could assist with memory. However, this study is the first to be conducted into the herb’s actual affect on this brain function.

It’s More Than a Seasoning

Dr Mark Moss and his colleagues presented their research at the British Psychological Society’s annual meeting in Harrogate earlier this month. Sixty-six people participated in the study during which they were tested on certain memory functions.

Half of the test subjects were placed in a rosemary-scented room whilst the other half were taken to an unscented room. Both groups were then asked to perform various tasks; like finding hidden objects and to pass objects on to researchers at specific times. Essentially the researchers were testing the respondent’s performance when it came to prospective memory; meaning how well they could remember to do certain tasks that would be taking place in the future.

Those subjects in the scented room performed better at both tasks and were also found to have higher concentrations of m8-cineole, a compound found in rosemary oil, in their blood. This compound has previously been shown to act on the biochemical systems which work with memory.

The study could open the door for further research as: “Remembering when and where to go and for what reasons underpins everything we do, and we all suffer minor failings that can be frustrating and sometimes dangerous,” as co-author, Jemma McCready, explained.

Smells That Enhance

Writing for Psychology Today, Linda Andrews mentions that a number of other scents can also have a positive effect on the mind.

She quotes Bryan Raudenbush, a psychologist at Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia, who has found that smelling peppermint activates that part of the brain that wakes us up in the morning.

Other research indicates that the scent of jasmine increases the brain waves associated with deep sleep, whereas lavender can decrease a person’s heart rate.

Rachel Herz, author of The Scent of Desire, mentions that smelling vanilla might help to curb the desire to eat dessert after dinner. The sweet scent won’t help on an empty stomach though as its likely to just increase hunger.

Author Bio

London-based blogger, Pippa Green, is desperately looking for memory improving tips; locking the keys in the car is no longer funny.

How to Travel Healthier

When travelling abroad there is always a risk of getting sick. From tropical bugs to exotic food, jet lag to questionable water, there are a number of potential problems we all face when going away on vacation.

As seniors, we have an increased risk of contracting an illness when we travel, but this shouldn’t stop us! There are plenty of things we can do to try and ensure we remain fit and healthy wherever we go, so follow these tips to reduce your chances of getting sick when travelling.

Keeping Healthy Around Chocolate Treats at Easter

I’m sure that I’m not the only one who is still counting calories and trying to exercise following Christmas. Unlike when you are a child, as a working adult, the weeks seem to fly by at a rate of knots and Easter is especially early this year, which means it seems like we have had hardly any time for our healthy regime to have kicked in! Also unlike when were children, many of us have sedentary days at office jobs instead of active fun, running around the playground. For these reasons, it makes sense to be aware of the pitfalls to avoid at Easter.

The obvious thing to be aware of is all the chocolatey goodies which have been on the shelves for a few months now. Of course, I don’t think you need to be a killjoy at the kids Easter egg hunt or deny yourself everything you enjoy. If you like the taste of chocolate, do allow yourself a treat. But just be aware of the extra calories you are taking on board.

Here’s a quick survey of the calorie content in the nation’s favourite Easter treats:

New Beginnings in the New Year

January is traditionally a time of renewal and re-balancing, often spurred on by the decision to lose weight after overindulging at Christmas, but not always.  When one year closes and another one begins, it’s impossible not to be drawn in by the promise of starting anew and leaving any problems from the previous year behind. I’m sure that I’m not the only one who has a childlike sense of enjoyment when writing the new year date for the first time – especially when you are still getting used to it and have to correct yourself. It’s not 2012 anymore!

I don’t really believe in making overt “New Year’s Resolutions” though, because I feel like they are normally used to set too-rigid rules for yourself, which are unnatural and bound to make you feel bad if you don’t succeed. The temptation is to pick a goal which is too difficult and then if you don’t meet the standard you’ve set it could add to the depression that is rife at this time of year. The weather is freezing and dull, you have to return to work after relaxing at Christmas, it seems ages to pay day and the daylight is short.

Far better than choosing a big goal, which requires a lot of sacrifice at a time of year when it would be better to be easy on yourself, is to look at small areas where you can improve and work on those instead. Achieving smaller goals which you can build on later in the year is much better for your self confidence. Here are my suggestions for the most popular New Year’s Resolutions.

Quit Smoking

This is a goal for many people, but if you are stressed at the return to work, money worries or just the winter blues in general, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Aim to cut down and reduce the amount that you smoke to nothing by the end of the year! Cold turkey is only good on sandwiches. There are new electronic ciggerates available for people, which remove many of the harmful chemicals whilst keeping the nicotine and the feel of a ciggerate – you could try cutting down to these before anything else.

Lose Weight

When we have just left a season where it’s normal to have more than one mince pie a day and dinner comes with a minimum of four side dishes and two sauces, it’s a bit extreme to start only eating salad leaves in January. Switch the sweets for fruit, snack on vegetables and generally be healthy, but don’t suddenly cut the calories, or you’ll be more likely to quit your diet early!

Try New Things

I love to try all kinds of new things, but when energy is naturally low in the winter months, you might want to resist the temptation to sign up to every new class that takes your attention. Think about what you have been planning to do longest and pursue that one interest – taking a new exercise class or learning a new language for instance. Devoting your time to one new area means you are more likely to have a new talent to talk about this time next year!

Well, I hope my thoughts on New Year’s resolutions don’t come across as lazy! But be kind to yourself and make sure that you take some time to enjoy this fresh start, whatever you do.