Thursday, October 16, 2008 Bookmark Now! | Email to a friend  

Is fish oil really good for you?

Yes, we became aware of this trend while examining the medicine cabinets of friends and neighbors. Right next to the antifungal cream, there's usually a bottle of fish oil capsules. So is it actually healthy, or is fish oil just another form of snake oil?

While there doesn't appear to be 100 percent absolute rock-solid proof that fish oil is good for you, there is plenty of supporting evidence. The Harvard Medical School writes, "Research continues to confirm that the omega-3 fatty acids found in oily, dark-fleshed fish offer genuine health benefits."

Many of those benefits appear to be related to the heart. The Minnesota Sea Grant explains that the biggest benefit is "the reduction of platelet activity (blood clotting) and plaque formation which in turn can prevent heart attacks." In other words, fish oil can help increase the flow of blood through the heart's arteries.

The American Heart Association states that the fatty acids found in fish oil are beneficial to both people with healthy hearts as well as those who have or at risk of cardiovascular disease." Still, as with all medical matters, be sure to check with your doctor first.

Source: ask.yahoo.com

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Saturday, October 11, 2008 Bookmark Now! | Email to a friend  

Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

Metaphorically speaking, an old dog is apparently incapable of learning new tricks. Just witness the thousands of lame sitcom jokes about hapless husbands forgetting to put the toilet seat down. In a literal sense, however, an elderly pooch is more than capable of mastering a new skill.

PetPlace.com writes that you can teach an old dog new tricks -- it just requires a little patience. Dogs develop their personality when they're puppies, and it rarely changes. For example, a fearful puppy will likely remain that way through its adult years. Still, owners can teach dogs of any age how to behave in certain situations.

First, try rewarding positive behavior rather than punishing negative behavior. "For example, give your dog a treat for sitting, lying down or stopping barking."

Second, use a "conditional stimulus" to command the desired behavior. Give these cues only once. If the dog follows your command immediately, give him or her a reward. If the dog doesn't act quickly, don't give a reward.

Oh, and perhaps most importantly, never call your dog over to receive punishment. This is confusing to the dog and sends the wrong message.

So don't let your dog's gray fur and creaky joints stop you from teaching him or her new tricks. Senior dogs are happy to learn, as long as they have a consistent teacher who hands out plenty of treats.

Source: ask.yahoo.com

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