Your race, age, and where you live may play a big role in determining what you eat, finds a new survey of more than 21,000 adults aged 45 and older. Most American diets fall into one of five patterns:
Southern: Fried, processed meats, and sugar-sweetened beveragesTraditional: Chinese and Mexican food, pasta dishes, pizza, soup, and other mixed dishes Healthy: Mostly fruits, vegetables, and grainsSweets: Large amounts of sweet snacks and dessertsAlcohol: Proteins, alcohol, and salads
Researchers found each of the five diet types is strongly influenced by age, race, region, gender, education, and income. For example, middle-age adults between 45 and 54 tended to follow a traditional diet. Older adults, women, and those with a college education were more likely to follow a healthy diet. New Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines [CNN] The US Preventive Services Task Force is releasing new guidelines on cervical cancer screenings that advise women to reduce the number of tests they receive over their lifetime. Among the recommendations: All women should start screenings at age 21 instead of the former recommendation that screening should start three years after becoming sexually active; and screening is not recommended for women 65 or older who have had three or more normal Pap tests in a row and no abnormal Pap test results in the past 10 years. Where Have Our Manners Gone? [NPR] Listen to the conversations around you. Notice anything missing? According to a new NPR article, the traditional magic words “please” and “thank you” that many people learn as children appear to be disappearing, along with other polite phrases like “You’re welcome.” In its place, phrases like “got it” instead of “thank you;” “I’m good” instead of “no thank you,” and “sure” instead of “you’re welcome.” Experts say the more casual replacements don’t carry the same sentiment or convey the same conviction as when we’re sincerely expressing our gratitude or thanks. And the numbers back it up: A 2011 survey found that 76 percent of people belive Americans are becoming more rude and less civil. Do E-Books Make It Harder To Learn? [Time] E-books seem like better alternatives to textbooks in a lot of ways: They can be easily updated, many formats allow readers to interact with the material more, and they’re a whole lot lighter to lug around. But when it comes to remembering what you just read, some studies suggest going old school is better. How come? Seemingly irrelevant factors, like remembering whether you read something at the top or the bottom of page, can help cement material in the mind. More Women Having Kids Before Marriage [Portland Tribune] The number of unmarried women choosing to have children has reached an all-time high, finds a recent report from the nonprofit Child Trends. And the change isn’t just among younger women: In 1970, only 7 percent of the women who had non-marital births were older than 30, but in 2009, that number had jumped to 17 percent. What’s behind the trend? Sociologists say it may not have to do so much with motherhood as with women’s changing attitudes toward men and marriage. The Truth About Depression [The Guardian] It’s an illness that can affect anyone, not just people with dark, mysterious pasts or chaotic lives. And the number of people with depression is soaring—the World Health Organization warns that mental illness will be second only to HIV/AIDS in the burden it places on the world by the end of this decade. But despite how common it is, it’s still badly misunderstood. The reason, say some, is because most people have been a bit low at one time in their life, and therefore can’t see what all the fuss is about. But it’s more than just feeling blue on Monday mornings, which is why one writer asked six people to speak candidly about their depression and how it changed their lives. Check out their stories. A Workout Trend You Haven’t Heard Of [FabFitFun] Sometimes you and your man can get into a rut of doing the same old, same old. A new workout aims to shake you out of it—with a drum. Taiko, Japanese drum performance, combines elements of martial arts and music performance into a fluid dance. Five to 20 players gather to play taiko with sticks and stationary drums of varying sizes. Someone sets the pace, and during the high-energy performances, each player jumps from drum to drum in a rhythmic way. The benefits: A core workout, a stress reliever, and enhanced teamwork skills—i.e., having to work with your mate to march to the same beat. So That’s Why Your Bra Never Fits! [Daily Mail] Pinched flesh, unsightly bulges, backache—the wrong bra can be misery. And according to a new report from the University of Portsmouth, eight out of 10 of us are wearing badly fitting bras. Why? Because the traditional method of measuring bust size is outdated (it’s from the 1930s) and just doesn’t work, say researchers. To prove the point, the Daily Mail sent one woman to six different stores and found she needed a different bra size at nearly every store. Discover the five tips for getting a bra that fits at any store—without making yourself crazy.
