Striving for more memory
It’s a fact: Certain areas of our brain shrink as we age, causing slower thinking and some memory loss. But 3 hours of brisk walking a week might stop, and even

reverse it. They were put on either a walking or stretching-and-toning plan. After 6 months, MRI scans of these individuals revealed that their brain looked 2 to 3 years younger than those of others their age.
Question: I produce so much saliva, I spray when I speak. It’s embarrassing, what can I do about it?
Answer: Don’t worry. Every healthy adult produces nearly a liter of saliva every day.
Most of us swallow it without a second thought. If you tend to spray, it’s possible you have malocclusion (your upper teeth and lower teeth are not aligned). It can be

easily rectified at a young age, but is slightly difficult with grown-ups. See an orthodontist. It could also be caused by easily squeezed saliva glands. Some people can squirt saliva just by opening their mouth and lifting their tongue.
Or you may be experiencing a side effect from another condition. Regular heartburn or pregnancy-related ailments such as morning sickness and gastric reflux can cause hyper-salivation.
Sipping water and chewing sugarless gum may reduce spraying by encouraging you to swallow more often. If you’re a natural squirter, try not to open your mouth too wide when you speak. And because you make more saliva when you eat, don’t talk with food in your mouth. But you wouldn’t do that anyway, right?
THE EXPERT
BEAT HEAT BURN IN 3 EASY STEPS
Name the top three changes you can make to relieve recurring heartburn. Most effective remedies for chronic heartburn (gastro esophageal reflux disease) are losing weight, elevating your head at night and sleeping on your left side.
Dropping an average of 10 kg cut symptoms by 40% says one study— probably because weight loss eases pressure on the stomach, decreasing the output of acids. Sleeping with a “wedge’’ pillow also reduces episodes.
TRY THE QUIET DIET
Eating in front of the television may make you gain weight. A recent study done in

the UK revealed this. Researchers found that women who dined while distracted wanted to consume more once they were finished. Those who ate in silence, however, felt satisfied with their food.
DROP 1½ KG WITHOUT PAIN
Put that cola down! And head for a bottle of water instead: Dieters who swap sugary beverages for water lose a kilo a year, on an average, compared to those who continue to chug the sweet stuff. Cutting out fizzy drinks saves calories, but water helps step up your metabolism, because well-hydrated cells may process carbohydrates and fat more efficiently.
BREAKTHROUGH YOU CAN USE
NO-HUNGER DIABETES TEST
Doctors will soon be able to tell if you’re on the road to diabetes simply by shining a light on your forearm—a painless test that takes only 1 minute. Scout, a device manufactured by Vera Light (US), emits a beam that measures collagen changes and

the amount of blood sugar by-products hiding out in your skin. A high reading means your body is probably not processing glucose efficiently. The test could have big benefits and will make lives of diabetics easier. It increases the chance of catching the disease earlier, when it is more easily treated, which may help you avoid complications such as kidney problems.
STOP DOCTOR SHOPPING
The longer people stay with the same general physician, the lower their risk of hospitalization and the cheaper their health care. A doctor who knows your medical history can better coordinate your care, say researchers.
IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE?
Quick, which comes first: having sex or being in a good mood? This was something Arizona State university researchers wanted to find out they asked 58 middle - aged women to record, every day for 9 months, both their emotions and how often they “got busy” the results? Feeling happy may make you more inclined to have sex with your partner—but a romp under the sheets might also boost your mood, possibly making you want more affection the next day.