It’s obvious when talking to someone who’s an elite athlete as compared to someone who can barely run a mile, that there’s a difference in mindset and basic pain threshold. Up until recently, most people assumed this was a genetic trait; and it may still be in slight. But scientists now believe there might be something more revealing about the athlete’s ability to cope with pain.
In a recent study published in the journal Pain, scientists found that most athletes’ high pain tolerance while exercising may also help them deal with pain when they’re not exercising.
The study, which took place at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, found that athletes can tolerate more pain than their non-athletic friends. And this is because regular physical activity can alter the way a person – marathoner and couch potato alike – can perceive and tolerate pain.
To conduct the study, researchers analyzed 15 separate studies which compared the pain thresholds of very active and non-active individuals. What they found was athletes – especially elite level, endurance athletes – consistently seemed more capable of dealing with pain as compared to non-athletes. Read Full Post >
The idea that all weight lifters are meat heads, is a lie – at least according to a new study that linked exercise with bulked up brain power.
The study, conducted by the Laboratory of Neuroscience at the National Institute on Aging, was seeking to examine whether changes in muscles induced by exercise may affect and/or improve the brain’s ability to think. And furthermore, whether this reaction starts in the muscles rather than the brain. What they found caused them to think this hypothesis may be correct.
The premise of the study, which was published in the journal Learning and Memory, was that muscles are greatly affected by exercise, as they respond by producing a variety of substances that grow muscles stronger and bigger. But lead scientist Henriette van Praag – lead investigator at the National Institute on Aging – thinks some of these compounds might be entering the bloodstream and making their way to the brain. Read Full Post >
The idea of working out while driving is pretty ridiculous, but you have to hand it to the folks at Becker Automotive Designs in Oxnard, California, for engineering a Cadillac that allows you to do just that.
The company – which has been serving the luxury automotive market in Los Angeles, for more than 25 years – is best known for their expertise in installing high quality music systems, security systems, and telecommunications in high-end cars like the Cadillac and Mercedes Benz.
Becker has previously created such one-of-a-kind luxury vehicles as the Mercedes Benz Sprinter JetVan, which houses fully reclining sleeper seats, a 40-inch high definition LCD flatscreen TV, a surround-sound system, an on-board computer with wireless internet, and more. And one of their other popular models has been the Becker/STRUT Escalade ESV which comes with an onboard computer system, full printer and scanner system, mobile office, diamond-mesh front grill, floor-to-ceiling leather interiors, and an Apple iPod ready audio-video system. Read Full Post >
We all know smoking is terrible for our health, yet so many of us still decide to light up despite the many risks it involves, including heart disease and lung cancer. But for those who are addicted to smoking, there’s hope, and it comes in the form of exercise.
A new study based in Taiwan has shown that exercise can help make quitting smoking easier, and even sliding back into the habit far less likely.
The study monitored the health status and daily habits of 434,190 people in Taiwan between 1996 and 2008, and found that smokers who exercised even 15 minutes a day were 55 percent more likely to quit smoking than people who weren’t active in the slightest. And that for those were were able to quit, researchers found that they were 43 percent less likely to take smoking back up in the future. Read Full Post >
Yesterday we came across this awesome video from Nike made by a young film producer who took the company’s ‘Life is a Sport Make it Count’ motto to a whole new level. Producer Casey Neistat documented his experience as he traveled the world in 10 days while wearing Nike’s New FuelBand.
We love the feel of the video. Its carefree, adventurous spirit made us instantly want to get out and travel, run, eat delicious food, and live life to the fullest. And we loved the inspiring quotes it shared like “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all” (Helen Keller), and “Do one thing every day that scares you” (Eleanor Roosevelt).
Ultimately, it made us think, this is worth sharing.
