The Battle Of The Instant Oatmeals: McCann's VS Nature's Path

What issue could be so important as to have me post on this blog after 3 years???

INSTANT OATMEAL!

Yes, I know making oats from scratch is the most ideal way to go. But given my busy schedule, I more often than not have time for instant oatmeal, or nothing (or spending $5-8 at the deli for something breakfast-like).

Many moons ago I posted a comparison of Quaker's Organic Instant Oatmeal with Nature Path's Organic Instant Hot Oatmeal. The two were kind of at a "draw"—with Quaker's (a big corporate brand) surprisingly healthy in comparison to Nature's Path (a "health food" brand).

Extended Sitting In Office Unhealthy Even For Healthy People

Image by sunshinecity on Flickr

Common wisdom is that sitting for extended periods of time in your office isn't the greatest thing to do to your body -- though the temptation is there to do so, in order to get work assignments done (or out of sheer boredom, or some combo of both). Another bit of common wisdom has been: well, if you go to the gym every day and stay physically active in your non-work hours, it will all balance out.

WRONG.

According to new medical research, long-term sitting at your 9 to 5 damages your health regardless of what physical exercise you fit in during the rest of the day. If you're a gym rat but are still putting in hours sitting at your desk, you are still unhealthy. As reported in The New York Times:

Review: LaxaTea Keeps You From Being Tardy

Warning: this is a post ultimately about a laxative, and stuff related to laxatives. If this sort of subject matter is not what you want to read while eating your cranberry muffin, please turn back now.

Okay, now to the review.

Grapefruit May Turn Your Medications Deadly, Study Finds

Image by dullhunk on Flickr

The amount of common medications that interact poorly with grapefruit juice is steadily increasing, says Canadian researchers -- and the results can be deadly.

“When I say sudden death, I’m not being sensational,” said Dr. David Bailey, a clinical pharmacologist who is the head author of the study linking grapefruits to health risks for those on meds.

Wil Wheaton Opens Up On Depression

Wil Wheaton image from Wikipedia

"I haven’t ever talked about this in public, but today’s a good day to start."

Inspired by a post on suicide by Jenny Lawson,  actor and blogger Wil Wheaton opened up on his own thoughts about -- and experiences with -- depression. What followed was a frank and inspirational snapshot of his own struggles and triumphs:

Your Facebook Friends Might Be Stressing You Out

image by laffy4k on Flickr

We think of the time we spend on social media sites like Facebook as being something relaxing -- a rare treat in a day full of work and stress. But what if Facebook itself is adding to our stress?

That's the subject of this article from the Atlantic, that cites an University of Edinburgh Business School study's surprising findings: the more friends you have on Facebook, the more stressed out you are about maintaining them.

"Ideal Weight" For Americans Increasing, Study Shows

Image by Alan Cleaver on Flickr

The "ideal weight" Americans feel they should strive for has increased in the last two decades, a recent Gallup poll has shown -- with the average "ideal" cited as 165 pounds.

According to the poll, U.S. men claimed their ideal weight to 185 pounds, their actual weight being on average 196 pounds. This ideal weight goal is 14 pounds heavier than the "ideal" 20 years ago.