News to New
by Michele Krauss

Hope Springs Eternal
Humor heightens feelings of hope, says a study conducted at Texas A&M University. The experience of humor can positively influence a person’s state of hopefulness. These findings are an important reminder that humor can be a great tool for relieving stress and increasing a person’s hope. Not only that, but the positive feelings that result from more hope may lead to better choices in dealing with difficulties. Everybody laughs, everybody wins.

Nap Your Way to Heart Health
Napping may be the most stress-free way to improve your heart health. A study done in the Archives of Internal Medicine reported a 37percent reduction in heart attacks for those who napped at least three times a week for at least thirty minutes. Simply relaxing didn’t do the trick, either. Subjects got the most out of an actual siesta, which lowered blood pressure.

Light Exercise Staves Off Metabolic Syndrome
Research from Duke University has shown that even a moderate amount of brisk walking can be enough to stave off metabolic syndrome, an increasingly frequent condition linked to heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Study doctors said that a regimen of walking 30 minutes a day for six days a week can bring benefits that will pay off in a patient’s future.

Thinner Thighs? Add Caffeine
A study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology recently reported on caffeine’s effect on thin thighs. Brazilian researchers studied 99 women who used a cream with 7 percent caffeine twice daily for thirty days. At the end of the study, more than 80 percent of the women experienced a reduction in the circumference of their upper and lower thighs, as well as their hips.