Baroque Music Can Help You Learn

By Bonnie Caton

"Le chat est sur la table."

If you're like most people, impractical phrases like the above are about all that's left of your high school French. But studies by Bulgarian psychologist Georgi Lozanov showed that if you'd been listening to Baroque music while you hit the books, you could now remember a whole lot more.

Dr. Lozanov called it Superlearning. In the 1960s, he found that learning and memorization techniques - particularly concerning language - were 50 percent more effective when paired with calming Baroque music. By 1966, students in his classes could learn - and retain - 1,800 words per day. And they left the classroom invigorated, alert, and stress-free.

If you'd like to try it for yourself, pick up some Baroque music - music from the 16th to 18th centuries. Try composers like Bach, Vivaldi, and Handel.

[Ed. Note: Bonnie Caton is a staff writer for the AWAI Travel Division.]

Another Reason to Lower Your Glycemic Load

By Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., CNS

Instead of worrying so much about the amount of fat you're eating, start keeping track of your diet's glycemic load. Doing so will not only keep you trim, it may help prevent diabetes.

A new study has found that high-glycemic-load diets are strongly associated with an increased risk for diabetes. This comes on the heels of previous research showing that high-glycemic-load diets increase the risk for cardiovascular disease.

The glycemic load is simply a measure of the impact food has on your blood sugar. It's a better measure than the better-known glycemic index, which doesn't take portion size into account.

Carrots have a high glycemic index. But because the amount of carbs in a carrot is so small - typically three to four grams - the effect on blood sugar is negligible. Pasta, on the other hand, has a moderate glycemic index. But the amount of carbs in a typical portion - at least 50 to 100 grams - means its glycemic load is off the charts... and so is its effect on your blood sugar.

This study once again shows the dangers of a high-glycemic-load diet. High-carbohydrate diets typically have high glycemic loads, which may be why the study found that lower-carb diets reduced the risk for diabetes.

So stop worrying about the total amount of fat in your diet. Instead, keep an eye on the amount of sugar (or foods that convert quickly to sugar in your system) that you're eating.

An easy way to lower glycemic load in your diet is simply to cut out all the white stuff. That includes cereals (except the really high-fiber kind), pasta, rice, potatoes, and anything obviously loaded with sugar. You can find a complete listing of glycemic loads at mendosa.com/gilists.htm.

[Ed. Note: Dr. Jonny Bowden is a nationally known expert on weight loss, nutrition, and health.]

It's Fun to Know: Stripes

Tigers have striped skin under their fur. Zebras don't.

(Source: That's a Fact Jack!)

Word to the Wise: Misanthropy

"Misanthropy" (mis-AN-thruh-pee) is the dislike or distrust of people in general. The word is derived from the Greek for "hating mankind."

Example (as used by Josh Tyrangiel in a Time.com article): "No one would choose pain, misanthropy, and terrible luck as the recurring themes of a life, but [Stephin] Merritt has at least put his misery to excellent use."

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2294, 03-04-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.