Health Link

British scientists have correlation between the length of a mans index finger and his risk of prostate cancer.

Studies have found that men whose index finder is longer than their ring finger are one third less likely to develop prostate cancer - which is the second more common cancer in men.

 Lower levels of testosterone while a fetus is developing is linked to the length of fingers and lower risk of prostate cancer. 

There are suggestions that looking at the finger length could be used as a simple test for determining risk of prostate cancer in men under 60.

Read more at the Globe and Mail

Counting Calories?

When trying to keep track of how many calories you are getting it might seem helpful when restaurants provide calories counts on the menu -

but Boston researchers have found that restaurant meals contain on average 18% more calories than listed.
Frozen entrees contain on average 8% more. 

Trouble Sleeping?

There is one pretty simple way to reduce insomnia.
If you have trouble sleeping at night you might want to pay attention to what that is...

Exercise!

A study done by Northwest University asked people who claimed they had trouble sleeping if they exercised and all of them said no.
After they were put on a 16 week exercise program including biking, running and treadmill activity all of them reported an improvement in sleep!

read the article here

What you need to know

About sunscreen and sun bathing...

1. The SPF on the bottle is not a reliable number. The problem? Most people do not apply enough to get the amount of protection the sunscreen claims.  You should apply about 1 -2oz of sunscreen - (1oz = 1shot glass)

2. Environmental Working Group has come out with some new information suggesting that Vitamin A (or its derivatives ie. retinol) can actually promote burning. This is very preliminary information and the studies have only done on mice.

However, it is something to think about when buying sun screen

(read more here and here)

3. Even in the shade you can be reached by UV rays - so put sunscreen on either way. Same goes for sheer or thin clothing.

Now that its getting sunny and hot out we are spending more time outside. It is important to apply sunscreen before you go out, after swimming or sweating, and apply liberally. Most dermatologists (mine included)  suggest anything below SPF 15 is useless. Use broad-spectrum sunscreen so it blocks burning and cancer causing rays as well as those that cause tanning and wrinkling.

-remember to use enough of your spf containing makeup to be protected. - re-read this post

image from Bittersweet Life