Tag: Health

Ahealthy meal plan that helps weight loss is incomplete without chickpeas and their healthy weight loss benefits. Add them to salads, curries, vegetables, just about anything can use these wonderful energy powerhouses.

Read on to understand just why chickpeas are good for weight loss. The nutlike taste and buttery texture of chickpeas is not the only reason to eye this humble pea; its amazing weight loss capabilities makes it a dieters favourite. In 2010, a study was conducted to test the ability of chickpea to lower food consumption in 42 participants over a 12 week study.

The same people were later asked to follow their regular diet for weeks. Results showed that people claimed that the level of satiation after eating chickpea was higher. Due to their high fiber content, chickpeas make a great weight loss food by making one feel fuller for longer.The fibre content also takes care of digestive disorders. Studies have revealed that chickpeas being lower in fat levels can lower bad cholesterol and overall cholesterol levels.

Chickpeas for diabetics: Chickpeas provide carbohydrates for people sensitive to insulin and those suffering from diabetes. Interesting fact: Chickpeas equal milk or yogurt in calcium level. Chickpeas contain high quality protein and are a good source of folic acid, manganese, iron, copper, magnesium and molybdenum.

Did you know there are foods for a longer erection? Dr Vijay Singhal, Sexologist with Delhi based Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute lists out different foods that you can eat for a longer erection. Watermelons, papayas and bananas (rich in potassium) increase blood flow by dilating arterioles (small blood vessels) and thus help in improving an erection. Nuts, milk and cheese contain zinc, which is good for the male sex hormone testosterone, which in turn is required for an erection.

Also, garlic and onion contain allicin, which helps increase blood flow. Similarly, dark chocolates contain flavanoids which increase blood flow. Cherries have been found effective in promoting health by scavenging action against free radicals. Walnuts which are rich in omega 6 fatty acids and arginine help in the production of nitric oxide, thus causing relaxation of arterioles and increasing the blood flow. One must note that in some cases, diabetes leads to erectile dysfunction. Therefore, for diabetics, it is important to have control over sugar levels and maintain a healthy diet. Also, patients who suffer from hypertension face erection problems and should try a low salt diet.

It’s said to be the colour of passion, romance, excitement and danger. Red, more importantly, is one of the few colours that can dramatically brighten up the mood of the entire room. The colour is a bright spark that can liven up any interior.

However, if it’s overdone, the room will definitely look garish. Hence, red, in any shade, is best used sparingly. How much of the house or the room one decides to paint in the colour reflects the personality of the home owner. Unfortunately, not too many people are comfortable using this colour excessively. The reason? Red is also famed as a dangerous colour, one that can make people irritable and invoke feelings of rage and hostility.

Hence, one option is to use it on a single wall and then accessorise (upholstery and decor) using the colour or to go in for a dual tone painting style using two complementing shades of the colour. So, if you’ve been debating about getting your bedroom or living room painted in this awesome colour, here’s what you need to keep in mind.

Choose the right shade

Like most colours, red comes in a number of shades ranging from a light blushing red to deep crimson, from a rustic village red to dark burgundy and from a tomato red to a cherry red among others. It’s most important to choose the right shade.While at this task, apart from your personal favourite, keep in mind the furniture and other fixtures that are already in the room or the kind of decor you intend for the room.

Colour experts suggest that one should choose the shade depending on the mood one wants to build in the room. Red is an ideal colour for the interiors as it reacts beautifully with yellow or white light. Another plus point of this colour is that it’s one of those rich colours that don’t tend to fade out very fast. When using it in a room, painting one wall red will give the room a chic feel while if it’s drama and fun you’re looking for, paint the whole room in the colour.

Sample it

These days, most paint brands offer sample packs that one can take home and try out on a wall. A tip here: sample the colour in both, a bright and a dark part of the room. This way you’ll know exactly how the colour looks at all times of the day and in both, natural and artificial light. Remember, how a colour looks in the morning and in bright sunlight is not what it will look in the dark and with the effect of artificial light.

Keep the samples on for a few days and observe the colour under different settings. The shade you fell in love with at the showroom may in fact, look quite disastrous on your wall and you may need to go in for a lighter or darker one.

Prepare the room

Before painting a wall, you need to use a base primer. Going in for a white primer is not always a good idea. Instead, as experts suggest, use the primer as advised by the paint brand that you are using to get the desired effect of the shade.

Also, while painting, colour is bound to splash on the floor. And it being red, the stains will be difficult to clean or hide. Hence, carefully cover the edge of the floor using sheets of newspaper, old linen, sackcloth or even masking tape. Remember to cover a good portion of the edge to avoid post-painting hassles.

Paint it up

Now that you’ve started the painting process, remember you’ll need to give the walls at least two coats of the colour. In some cases, you may even need a third coat to get the desired shade of the colour, be prepared for this. It’s also important to allow the paint to dry between coats to ensure a smooth finish.

Use it as a Foundation Primer

All you make up addicts will agree that a perfect make up is never complete without a primer. Did you know coconut oil works as the perfect primer for a foundation? Simply dab some on your face, let it soak in and then apply your tinted moisturizer or foundation. You will notice how much smoother and longer your makeup stays on. You can also dab some coconut oil on your cheekbone to highlight them and you are sure to sparkle!

Lovely locks that you can flaunt

Using coconut oil regularly not only enhances the beauty of your hair, but also keeps them ultra- soft & smooth. It also constantly repairs damage and protects them from the polluted environment. The magical Laurites gives your hair everything it needs. It binds the hair proteins and holds them giving you stronger, shinier and healthier hair. It also helps reduce frizz and repairs split ends faster and works wonders for your hair. Your skin will love it too If you love your skin, then you know that moisturizing is the key. Coconut Oil is a natural moisturizer which keeps your skin hydrated and protects from pollution and the changing weather. Use of coconut cleanses and neutralizes the toxins, which not only detoxifies but also builds the skin’s natural immune system. Even Gwyneth Paltrow claims to regularly use coconut oil to moisturize her skin after a shower.

Oil Pulling for that clear and luminous skin

Swishing coconut oil around in your mouth for 20 minutes a day will help to detoxify your body, cure headaches, avoid acidity and whiten the teeth. ‘Oil pulling is an age-old tradition in India that cleanses your system from within. Hollywood diva, Angelina Jolie has been known to start her day with little more than a spoonful of coconut oil and a handful of cereal to keep that glowing and younger looking skin. Now you know why she still looks so fabulous with every passing year.

Apply for a Silky Smooth Shaving Cream

Who said shaving cream has to lather? Use coconut oil as a base to get a closer shave that leaves your skin smooth and supple instead of leaving your skin dry, patchy and a lot of times with bruises too.

Follow these easy-to-do tips and get rid of your tummy in 10 days… Courtesy our partyhopping and binge-eating sprees in the last couple of months, thanks to the festive season, almost all of us are battling that unwanted bulge. In fact, fitting into our old dresses and slim-fit jeans is almost like a challenge. But worry not. Here are some simple tips, which, if followed properly, could help you get rid of your paunch in flat 10 days.

Drink lots of water

Water is essential for our system, as around 70% of our body constitutes water. However, too much of anything does not work. So, have around 2.5 to 3.5 litres of water every day. And make sure you avoid drinking cold water. Normal or lukewarm water will help you stay slimmer. Water flushes out toxins and hydrates the system. If you don’t like water, sip on herbal and green tea. Deepshikha Agarwal, sports nutritionist, advocates going the antioxidant way with this. “This is a delicious way to include anti-oxidants in your diet. It can work wonders for your immune and digestive system.”

Cut down on carbs

Many believe that going on a zerocarbs diet will help in a miraculous way. While one should cut down on it for quick results, the no-carbs way is a strict no-no. Pooja Makhija, clinical nutritionist, explains, “Carbs are our energy givers and should contribute 65-70% of the total calorie intake in a day. One can only improve stamina if one includes carbs in every meal, every day! Weight loss will also follow suit when the body is fuelled optimally to be able to burn fat.”

Increase protein intake

Have baked chicken or fish with steamed vegetables for lunch and dinner. Skimmed milk and milk products work too. Having a proteinrich diet makes you feel full for longer. Make sure you include egg whites in your breakfast. Have small portions and ensure that you have at least five to six meals.

Stay away from fad diets

Crash diets can be extremely harmful, so stay away from them completely. Dr Smita Naram, Ayurvedic physician, says, “A diet with a combination of 30% protein, 60% vegetables and 10% carbohydrates is most beneficial for reducing weight.” Eating regular food every two-three hours (don’t go for snacking in between) is great when it comes to losing weight.

Eat slowly

Eat slowly and stop eating when you are about 70 to 80% full. Do not overeat. Eating fast and gulping down food results eating much more than our body needs.

Walk, and then walk some more

Go for a 45-minute brisk walk in the morning or evening. Wear clothes that are not too tight and comfortable shoes that are meant for walking. Start with a 30-minute walk and extend it to 45 minutes or one hour. Do this for 10 days without fail.

Crunches can save your day

Don’t have time for the gym? Just do some warm-up exercises and then target your paunch — do crunches (See box). Do this everyday — twice a day if possible. (After all, you want to lose that paunch in 10 days, don’t you?) Throughout the day, whether you are sitting or walking around, make sure that you pull in your stomach and keep your back straight.

Take up a de-stressing activity

Stress and depression can lead to a lot of unwarranted emotional eating. So, de-stress. Take up a favourite activity — do some meditation, read a book, watch some romantic comedies, play with your dog or take up a yoga or dance class.

Stay away from temptation

Every time you almost give up and reach for a chocolate bar, remind yourself what you really want — looking hot in a sexy LBD or being flabby and fat and hiding inside a loose ill-fitted outfit. And behave accordingly.

Basic crunches

Lie down on your exercise mat. Bend your knees and keep it parallel to the floor. Now put your hands behind your head and exhale and lift up your shoulder blades off the floor while you contract your stomach and reach for your knees.

Get more out of crunches

Do bicycle crunches. Paddle each of your legs in the air while you do the crunches.
Ban the following completely for the next 10 days:
– Red meat
– Sweets
– Canned foods
– Junk foods like burger, pizza, pasta etc
– Cold aerated drinks
– Canned juices (even the ones that say ‘healthy’ on the pack)
– All kinds of outside food
– Avoid over-eating

Interactive and persuasive text messages received on your phone can motivate you to kick the butt, says a new study which found that more than 11 percent of smokers who used a text-messaging programme to help them quit did so.

The subjects remained smoke-free at the end of a sixmonth study as compared to just five percent of controls, according to researchers at George Washington University. “Text messages seem to give smokers the constant reminders they need to stay focused on quitting,” said Lorien C. Abroms, lead author of the study.

Text-messaging programmes, like “Text2Quit” work by sending advice, reminders and tips that help smokers resist the craving for a cigarette and stick to a quit date. More than 75,000 people in the United States have enrolled in the “Text2Quit” programme and enrollment is on the rise.

Abroms and her colleagues recruited 503 smokers on the internet and randomised them to receive either a text-messaging programme called “Text2Quit” or selfhelp material aimed at getting smokers to quit. The text messages in the “Text2Quit” programme are interactive and give smokers advice but they also allow participants to ask for more help or to reset a quit date if they need more time.

Smokers who have trouble fighting off an urge can text in and get a tip or a game that might help distract them until the craving goes away, Abroms said. At the end of six months, the researchers found that people using the text-messaging programme had a much higher likelihood of quitting compared to the control group. The text-messaging programmes can provide an important boost for people struggling with a tobacco habit, the study concluded.

Calcium is definitely essential for the healthy development of your toddler’s muscles, bones and teeth. While milk is the main source of this mineral, here are some other calcium-rich foods that you can include in your kid’s diet.

ORANGES

These citrus fruits are not only rich in calcium but also in vitamin D, that helps absorb the mineral in the body. Ensure that you remove the seeds from this fruit before feeding it to your toddler. Or opt for some fresh orange juice.

YOGURT

Yogurt is recommended for those kids who turn their faces away at the sight of milk. Serve it as a dip with sliced fruit or go for the flavoured ones. Other dairy products, including cheese, are also a good source of calcium.

LEAFY VEGGIES

Green, leafy vegetables, such as broccoli, peas and spinach, contain good amounts of calcium too. Give your kid some spinach soup regularly.

You must have heard a zillion times that anti-ageing solutions are mostly for women in their 40s and 50s. But how often have you walked in to a beauty store and been prodded to start applying antiageing creams and lotions in your 20s? Sure, it can get confusing at times with the wide range of anti-ageing solutions available for women in the market, but understanding your skin’s needs is crucial.

It is also not about your age alone, but also the kind of lifestyle that you lead, the work that you do and how much of physical activity do you have in your everyday life. Apart from your everyday beauty regime, you also have to start eating healthy to ensure that your skin retains its glow and youth. More often than not, it is because of the kind of food that you eat, that your skin starts losing its elasticity and radiance. Including lots of fresh and seasonal fruits and green vegetables in your diet will ensure that your skin stays soft and supple. Drinking lots of water will help the toxins flush out of your system, thereby making your skin smooth.

For women in their 20s

Night creams and serums are heavy on the young skin. So, women in their 20s should ideally not apply these if they have a problem-free skin. Says beautician Shahnaz Husain, “If you have sensitive skin, it’s best to stay away from serums because they might make your skin oily and prone to breakouts. However, for others, there are various brands that offer anti-ageing creams which can be easily applied during the day.” Your skin is at its best during this phase because your skin is healthy and the production of collagen is great and your skin is supple.

For women in their 30s and 40s

In your early thirties, you shall notice a few fine lines in and around the corner of your eyes and lips. But there’s nothing to panic about. This is the phase in your life where the signs of ageing begin to appear. A proper skincare routine along with a healthy diet will ensure that the lines reduce, but don’t expect it to diminish all at once. Says Puja Taluja, beauty and make-up professional, “An anti-ageing night cream is essential, even if you do not wish to apply a serum at bedtime.

But make sure that you apply this on an everyday basis so that the skin stays healthy and nourished.” While for those in their forties, you will realise that the production of collagen and the elasticity in your skin has visibly reduced, thus, apart from using a cream and serum, you will also have to start applying a cleanser and a daytime moisturiser which provides anti-ageing solutions. An occasional anti-ageing facial, like a de-tanning or a one that helps bring back the elasticity in your skin is essential.

For women in their 50s and above

Surely, by now you must have noticed the loss of elasticity in your skin. But one of the major concerns for women in their 50s and beyond is pigmentation marks that are left because of exposure to the harmful UV rays of the sun and discoloration of the skin. Further, menopause can also cause skin problems at this age. It is advised that you visit a dermatologist at least once a month to get your skin tested so that you can keep it healthy. Further, facials and firming treatments are advised during this phase to help tighten the pores of your skin. Though when you are going in for any sort of facial treatment, always opt for one that aims at tightening the pores of your skin.

Invest in this dual-purpose product to save time, space and money. If you’re among those who love light, subtly scented skin, body mist is your go-to product. Body mists are light, airy and have a fresh appeal about them. Most mists contain a low concentration of essential oils or are not concentrated at all and have a higher percentage of alcohol and water.

This is why the scent is mild Flora and usually evaporates Mist, an hour after applying. Thus, frequent applications are necessary, which is why a bottle of body mist will not last you as long as a perfume. But many women love their body mists regardless of this. Moreover, these are quite reasonably priced as compared to perfumes. Prepare to ap ply the body mist immediately after towel drying, post a shower.

When you apply the mist at this time, your pores are open and they will retain the scent for a longer duration. Slather either an unscented lotion or a lotion with the same scent as your mist liberally over your body, especially where you t will apply the body spray. Pay special attention to pulse points . (throat, wrists, inside the elbows and behind s your knees).

Allow the body mist to dry completely before you dress up. Spray the body mist lightly on a hairbrush and run it through your hair to infuse a light fragrance to your , mane. How to make your own body mist: What you need: A cup of water, 4 drops of any essential oil (lavender, ylang ylang etc.) and a mister spray bottle Method: Just fill the bottle with 4 drops of the essential oil. Add a cup of water. Shake well before use.

Most people struggle with weight. You may eat healthy and exercise regularly but there may be another problem. For too long, people have lived under a ‘clean your plate’ mentality. From a young age, people are trained to eat everything before them, whether they fill up or not. Overeating is a serious problem, but you can put an end to it with ease. Along with avoiding uttering the phrase ‘super-size’, there are measures you can take to stop yourself from eating too much. It may seem difficult, but with a few simple tips you can trick your brain into stopping yourself. You may think this will prevent you from feeling full, but it is quite the opposite. The mind is a powerful tool, and your grumbling stomach doesn’t stand a chance.

Small sips

When drinking anything other than water, sip slowly, and sip small. When drinking large amounts of liquid at once, people don’t realise how much they are drinking. Sure it’s a liquid, but they have calories too. Some of the biggest offenders are orange juice, beer, soda, and those ‘healthy’ drinks like vitamin water.

Savour the ‘odours’

Now, don’t rummage through the garbage for food. Find something with a powerful fragrance. The olfactory glands play a big part in your appetite as well as how your brain reacts to things. In a study, people sat in rooms with varying intensities of vanilla smell. Then they were offered vanilla custard to eat. The ones who smelled it the most already, stopped sooner. The point is when your nose gets a mouthful before you do, you will feel fuller, sooner. Try this with odorous cheeses, vegetables, and seasonings.

Contrast your colours

Mashed potatoes are delicious and you will want seconds. But that may be because you ate off a white plate, and couldn’t tell how much you ate. If you eat food off a plate that is very different in colour, you notice yourself clearing space. Your brain takes this as a sign of how much you really ate. It will alert the stomach sooner that you are full, before you gorge.

Use a smaller plate

A large plate will appear to fox you of how much food you got. A small plate with the same portion will naturally seem like much more; in some cases, too much more. It’s simple as that.

Dim the lights, turn down the tunes

Studies have shown that restaurant atmospheres actually stop people from eating too much. This is to produce a turnover of customers. If it works there, why not try it at home?

Hogging on desserts negatively impacts your health due to their richness in added sugars and solid fats, such as butter and margarine.

Your craving for a slice of store-bought chocolate cake may contain 235 calories and that of a slice of cheesecake can have more than 1,000 calories! There is no substitute for this hunger, but you can choose healthier alternatives and tweak your age old dessert recipes that can lower the amount of empty calories you consume.

We unveil some healthy desserts with less than 160 calories, provided you eat them within responsible portions!

In a new hope for couples affected by infertility, researchers have come up with a method for treating male infertility using a synthetic version of the spermoriginated protein known as PAWP. This protein is sufficient and required to initiate the fertilization process, showed the finding that promises to diagnose and treat cases of male factor infertility where a patient’s sperm is unable to initiate or induce activation of the egg to form an early embryo.

“PAWP is able to induce embryo development in human eggs in a fashion similar to the natural triggering of embryo development by the sperm cell during fertilization,” said Richard Oko from Queen’s University in Canada. “Based on our findings, we envision that physicians will be able to improve their diagnosis and treatment of infertility, a problem that affects 10-15 percent of couples worldwide,” Oko added. The results of this study highlight the potential clinical applications of sperm PAWP as a predictor of infertility treatment.

Since most human infertility treatments are now done by injecting a single sperm directly into an egg, supplementation of human sperm with PAWP protein may potentially be used to improve the success rate of infertility treatments in the future. “The results of our study set the stage for further investigation of PAWP protein as a molecular marker for diagnosis and as a factor for improvement of infertility treatments,” Oko added.

Have you ever had to give away your favourite pair of jeans even though you didn’t want to? Now, you can reuse them instead of bearing the pain of parting with them. If your denims are old, torn or simply don’t fit you, here are some creative alternative uses for them.


Lampshade


If you’re bored of your lampshade, just cut your denim into small pieces and stick them on the lampshade top. This way, you have a new lampshade in no time. Also, you could always make your own lampshade from scratch and use the denim patches for a cover.


Cushion covers


Cut the fabric into small squares and stitch them together to form two big squares, enough to contain a cushion. Then, place the two big squares, one on top of the other, and stitch three sides. Attach a zipper on the unstitched side. You now have a funky patchwork denim cushion cover.


Multi-purpose holder


If you have a lot of jeans that aren’t being used, this is probably the best thing to make. Snip the pockets off all the jeans and keep them aside. Cover a thick board with a fabric of your choice and stick the pockets on to the board with fabric glue. You could use this board as a pen holder in your room or put it up in the kitchen to hold your cutlery. Use it any way you like.


Coasters


This is probably the simplest to make. Cut an art board into squares. Now, cut denim into squares that are slightly bigger than your art board pieces. Stick the fabric on to the cardboard with fabric glue and wrap the edges over the sides of the squares. Your denim coasters are ready.

Look after sensitive facial skin with these easy methods. Sometimes we could get something as simple as face washing, wrong. Read on how.

1. Facial wipes – They are good and useful too, but too much facial wiping can ruin the delicate layer of the skin leaving your raw skin exposed to harsh pollution and sun. Experts suggest you don’t use facial wipes more than twice a day and if need be, wash your face with water and a good face wash.

2. Get the right temperature – Extremely hot water can damage the facial skin while extremely cold water isn’t good either. Lukewarm water is the best to get the grub off your face without any skin damage.

3. Don’t overdo – Some people feel that excessive rubbing and cleansing helps get the dirt off – but they are wrong. It in facts does more harm than good and works at disintegrating the delicate skin layer leaving you with dry rough skin. Cleanse well, just not too much.

4. Exfoliation – Here’s another thing most people don’t pay attention to. Either they exfoliate too much and irritate the facial skin or do not exfoliate at all which gives rise to blackheads and acne.

5. Makeup removal is a must – This has been said time and again and its one thing people pay no heed to, removal of makeup is not a choice – it’s a necessity. Think of it this way – you have to let your skin breathe and it simply can’t under that clump of makeup. You’re suffocating your skin! So use this easy techniques to ensure dewy fresh, smooth and clear skin.

Muscle building and ways to gain muscle mass are crucial for bodybuilding. Here are 15 ways to gain muscle mass, which is a combination of diet and workouts.

Calorie intake

For muscle building it is important to increase calorie intake as energy is needed for intense weight training. But there are chances that you may pile on excess body fat with a high calorie diet. Consult a reputed fitness consultant to avoid eating excess fats.

Compound exercise

Exercises that utilises more than one muscle group and more than one joint, are known as compound exercises. Compound exercises are perfect for muscle building. These exercises use weights and cables to increase muscle mass.

Train in the morning

Training in the morning is a great muscle building tip. When you workout in the morning on an empty stomach, it increases muscle mass by stimulating the muscles.

Digestive enzymes

When you’re goal is to build muscle, your intake of food increases to supply energy for training and for muscle growth. Hence, your body needs additional help to digest the food, especially to absorb the nutrients.

Stay hydrated

Fluids and drinking plenty of water through the day is important for bodybuilding and muscle building. Drink plenty of water throughout the day as you build up to the workout to keep you satiated. Drink water every 10-20 minutes during your workout too, as dehydration affects your body.

Squats

Squats are essential for muscle building, but doing half squats or doing it incorrectly can cause knee problems.

Deadlifts

Deadlifts are another way to gain muscle mass. Include lifting weights in your bodybuilding routine.Weight training is important for muscle building.

Protein

When you are exercising, especially weight training, and putting your body under a lot of pressure your body requires a set amount of protein for it to develop and maintain muscle and cope with wear and tear. Once consumed, protein is broken down into amino acids in the body, which can easily get burned by the body during an exercise routine. This helps in repairing our body faster and much more efficiently.

Proper form

For muscle building, weight training is important, but more importantly practice the exercise using the right form and method.

Eat after training

A combination of carbs and protein is a good way to build muscle mass after a workout. Carbs increase insulin, due to amino acids, which enhances muscle growth.

Sleep

Get sufficient amounts of sleep for your body to rejuvenate and build mass. Your body needs to rest for at least eight hours.

Foods for muscle building

Red meat is a rich source of iron, which is important for muscle building. Eggs are also important for bodybuilding. Have different protein sources to supply you with different nutrients.

Do not avoid healthy fats

Include healthy fats such as nuts and fish, to supply you with energy. Fats are needed by your body to function properly.

Cardio is needed

Also, include cardio in your workout routine as it doesn’t prevent you from gaining muscle mass.

Bodybuilding takes time

Bodybuilding cannot be rushed; training tips for a beginner are different compared to seasoned bodybuilder. If you’re a beginner learn the basics thoroughly to be a successful bodybuilder.

Anew study has revealed that hypertension during the age of 48 to 67 years may pose as a greater threat of cognitive decline and dementia as compared with individuals who had normal blood pressure. The decline in global cognitive scores for participants with hypertension was 6.5 percent greater than for individuals with normal blood pressure.

An average ARIC participant with normal blood pressure at baseline had a decline of 0.840 global cognitive z score points during the 20- year period compared with 0.880 points for participants with prehypertension and 0.896 points for patients with hypertension.

Individuals with high blood pressure who used medication had less cognitive decline during the 20 period than participants with high blood pressure who were untreated. A greater decline in global cognition scores also was associated with higher midlife blood pressure in white participants than in African Americans. Although it was noted that a relatively modest additional (cognitive) decline associated with hypertension, lower cognitive performance increases the risk for future dementia, and a shift in the distribution of cognitive scores, even to this degree, was enough to increase the public health burden of hypertension and prehypertension significantly.

Initiating treatment in late life might be too late to prevent this important shift. Epidemiological data, including their own study, supported midlife BP as a more important predictor of and possibly target for prevention of late-life cognitive function than was later-life BP.