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Do different occupations drive differently? Have you ever looked at people driving cars and wonder what they do for a living?  Think their occupations have anything to do with their driving style?  It does.  Makes sense, right?  Let’s take the medical profession.  Does a dermatologist drive differently than a surgeon?  A study that focused on fast driving, luxury car owners and their medical specialty gave us the answers.  All of this information was learned during speeding traffic stops.  As it turns out, orthopedists are the fastest drivers.  Psychiatrists are next, followed by general surgeons, who are being tailgated by cardiologists, who, incidentally, drive the most expensive cars.  It makes sense that personality is a major factor in choosing professions, and those personality factors influence driving styles.  Hmmm…I wonder if NASCAR drivers speed on the interstate? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

Your childhood lunchbox Remember that lunchbox you carried to school?  Or, did you have a brown paper bag like me?  The one that was reused until it became too tired to safely carry my sandwich anymore.  Maybe you had one of those cool domed Disney School Bus domed metal boxes.  Wow!  Six million were sold from the early 1960’s.  Lunchboxes designed for kids hit the market in 1902.  They were shaped like a picnic basket and had pictures of kids playing on it.  Designer lunchboxes hit the market big time in 1950 when the tv cowboy Hopalong Cassidy was featured.  Dr. Seuss was one of the few celebrities allowed to design his own.  So fun!  But, the party was over when, in 1987, parents’ groups started complaining that metal lunchboxes could be used as weapons.  It’s always something, isn’t it? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

Teens share too much online Think your teen isn’t sharing private information online?  Think again.  Just because your little darling is very smart and seems mature for her age, don’t think she has the wisdom and judgment she needs to protect herself.  But, it’s not just her.  About 75% of teens, ages 13 to 17, report that they’ve given their full birth date, address and importantly, the school they attend.  They’re so accustomed to sharing everything with their friends that their awareness isn’t as sharp as it might otherwise be.  While they think they don’t share too much, most of them think their friends share way too much personal info.  Sit them down once a month and talk about what they can share safely and the data they cannot share.  Make sure they understand that their personal information is also the family’s personal information and careless sharing could endanger the family. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

A messy kitchen can make you fat Is your kitchen a disorganized mess?  If so, it might be adding to your waistline.  People with chaotic kitchens frequently have out-of-control feelings of stress that make them hungry.  Their thoughts go something like this...”Life is hard.  I’m really stressed.  I deserve a treat”.  Oh yeah, and what happens next?  They get really stressed again and they go looking for food in their totally messed up kitchens.  We get good at what we practice and when we practice feeling sorry for ourselves, we might just dive into that carton of ice cream.  Then, we feel terrible and the kitchen doesn’t get cleaned up and neither does the rest of the house.  We feel out of control and the kitchen is screaming at you saying, “You’re out of control.  Just look at me!”  Women who feel stressed eat twice as many snacks in a chaotic kitchen as those in a quiet, organized space.  Clean up your kitchen.  Quiet your mind and lose weight. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

Marijuana in dispensaries is stronger Got a prescription for pot?  If you get that filled at a medical marijuana dispensary, you’re likely to get a stronger dose than the doctor prescribed.  A lot stronger.  Doctors typically prescribe 5% THC and a survey of products at dispensaries revealed that the THC level is at 10%.  Side effects such as anxiety and paranoia, plus the tendency to develop a tolerance, increases with dosage.  Don’t think you can inhale a little less to offset the increase in THC, because a single puff of a potent cannabis product could put you over the edge.  You got the pot because you’re anxious and yikes, your anxiety has skyrocketed and now, you’re a little paranoid.  You’re miserable.  If this happens, call your doctor.  Perhaps your dispensary can make changes so that the THC is closer to 5% so you can benefit from it. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

Are middle names necessary? How many people know your middle name?  Are you ashamed of it, delighted by it?  Middle names are phasing out.  125 years ago, most Congressmen used their middle initial and now, most don’t.  But that’s Congress.  In ancient Roman times, only the elite had middle names.  The first name was for the individual and the last was for the family.  The middle name was a nickname of sorts.  Come the 1200’s in Italy, only the upper class had middle names, but that didn’t last long.  Two hundred years later, middle names became popular among all people.  The middle name offers an advantage to help us stand out amongst others with whom we share our first and last names.  In our current society, we’ve become numbers and that’s how the system tells the difference.  If you’ve given your child a name that they don’t love, they can always use their middle name.  Just a thought. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

Women with thinning hair Disney princesses.  Hollywood celebrities.  Yep, they’ve set us up to believe that all women should have full, lush hair.  The way it works is that when we reach 30, about a third of us will have noticeably thinning hair.  It’s normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs every day, but if you start losing upwards of 150 hairs, you’ll notice.  The condition also includes hair miniaturization which means that your hairs will have a smaller diameter.  At that point, you’re well into the female pattern of hair loss.  You can’t avoid it.  It’s inherited from your Mom or Dad.  The good news is that you won’t go bald and your hairline won’t recede.  But, hair loss starts at the crown and you’ll see a widening of the part.  Early treatment gives the best results.  See your doctor right now to get Rogaine.  You’ll be using it the rest of your life or the loss will continue. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

They apologized, but I’m still really mad Your feelings are really hurt.  They apologized, but you’re still angry.  Was the apology all it should’ve been?  There are 5 critical elements of a “healing apology” that ease the hurt and repair the relationship.  One, the offender must acknowledge the reasons for your pain and own their actions.  Two, they must accept blame instead of putting it on you with that, “Gee, I’m sorry your feelings are hurt” stuff.  Three, they don’t take an accusatory stance.  Four, the apology isn’t conditional.  There are no strings attached.  And five, the entire apology effort doesn’t leave you feeling worse about yourself.  If you’re still angry, then there are issues that need to be addressed.  Does this person treat you poorly way too much?  Is the relationship unhealthy?  If you’re still angry, accept that it’s valid and take action.  Apologizing fully and sincerely is an art.  Teach your children well. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

The most unusual jobs in America There’s a job for everyone, I guess.  Some “unusual jobs” are more unusual than others.  Would you like to be a professional snuggler?  They make upwards of $80 for a 90-minute snuggle.  How about a golf ball diver or a pet food taster?  Would you prefer to test beds or sniff paper towels to see if they have just the right scent for your kitchen?  Hate to wait in line?  You can pay someone to do that for you.  If you’re a kid at heart, you can test water slides.  Love skin care products?  Companies always need people to feel customers’ faces to see if there’s any improvement.  If you have beautiful hands or a perfect body, you can be a body part model.  Even if you have ugly hands or feet, you’re hired!  And finally, if you’re really brave, you can be an armpit sniffer for deodorant manufacturers.  There is truly a job for everyone! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

Sitting up straight and crossing your arms works wonders Science proved it.  When you’re faced with a challenging task, people who sat up straight and crossed their arms stayed with it for nearly twice as long as those who didn’t assume such a determined stance.  When you change body postures, breathing patterns, muscle tension, facial expressions, gestures, movements, words and even vocal tones, there’s a surge of chemicals that change our internal state.  The same thing happens when you smile.  Smiling can trick your mind into feeling happy, simply by moving your facial muscles.  Smiling activates a positive series of reactions in the brain.  When your muscles say you’re happy, you’re more likely to have positive experiences with others.  Facial expressions contribute to how you feel, they don’t cause feelings.  So, control the controllable and “assume the position” of happiness or confidence when you’re faced with difficult situations. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

Will bank buildings become obsolete? Most Americans think bank buildings will become a thing of the past in the near future.  Why?  The digital age has revolutionized the banking industry.  About 27% of Millennials, ages 23 to 38, have never been in a bank and make all of their transactions electronically.  Not only can business be conducted fast and easy, but all of the records are online.  No more paper chase.  It’s not just the Millennials that think banks are quickly becoming a thing of the past.  Nearly 70% of Baby Boomers believe that brick-and-mortar facilities are outdated.  We’re quickly becoming comfortable about not having a physical building in our neighborhood.  Banks and tellers may not disappear for a while yet, so enjoy while you can.  And, start educating yourselves about the values and risks of online transactions.  Don’t wait ‘til your local bank is a pile of rubble. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

What is the happiest time in a marriage? Every marriage has its own season.  It can’t be all rainbows and champagne every day, but, many marriages enjoy specific periods of time that seem to bring the greatest satisfaction.  The happiest time in a marriage is said to be 11 months and 8 days after the wedding.  All of life is fresh, new and exciting.  About 2 years and 4 months in, couples enjoy the height of intimacy.  At about 2½ years, wives are satisfied with the attention they’ve received in terms of compliments, gifts and flowers.  Men helping with household chores peaks just before the 3rd anniversary and after that, something special happens.  Couples feel completely comfortable with each other and have a clear path for their future.  It takes work.  Make sure, as you start your marriage, you’ve got an agreed-upon plan for resolving conflicts.  Now, you can sit back and enjoy your happily ever after. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

That diet lasts only a year Don’t you feel like the science people keep upping the ante when it comes to keeping our weight under control?  Yep, the latest bad news is that most diets stop working after a year.  You thought you had it made when you got to the one-year mark, but that’s not the case.  Sure, you enjoyed lower blood pressure with that weight loss and your doctor has stopped nagging you.  Yes, you benefited emotionally from those workouts.  You’re not as anxious as you once were, and you’ve managed to stave off that growing depression that really scared you.  But, the reality is you’re not home free.  You need to maintain your healthy diet and the exercise plan in order to continue to benefit from your efforts.  For how long?  Probably for the rest of your life.  As you age, your body will change.  Not only will you have to maintain your regimen, you’ll have to tailor it as you go along.  You probably remember your parents saying, “Anything worth having is worth working for”.  Stick with it. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

Oh no, say it ain’t so, Dr. Claudia!  Waddya mean that doing housework can make me happier?  People who clean their own homes are 25% happier than those who don’t.  And, what’s worse is that for every extra hour of cleaning a week, the happier you are by a whopping 53%.  What’s going on here?  If you have a tidy home, you’re likely to be more relaxed, have increased focus, greater productivity and you’ll sleep better.  If your environment is a mess, you feel out of control.  You can’t find anything and that ancient brain of yours, well, if you’re female, your ancient brain is on edge.  Because we’re not as strong as men, we need to be very aware of our environment so that we can protect ourselves.  What’s that in the corner?  A saber-tooth cat?  Nah, just a backpack.  The best part of all of this is that if your home is clean, your kids’ behavior will improve. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

Social anxiety might be genetic Ten percent of people will experience social anxiety in their lifetimes.  Social anxiety is that distressing feeling you get when you worry about being judged by others.  You avoid any social situation where people will think poorly of you.  And, in your mind, they can only be critical of you.  If you prefer to interact online rather than in person, you just might have social anxiety.  Physically, it causes you to have a rapid heartbeat and feel out of breath.  You get shaky and your palms sweat.  Science is now telling us that there’s a genetic factor to this painful condition.  The gene that’s supposed to get serotonin, the body’s antidepressant, to the brain, doesn’t get the job done.  We used to think that learning to expect social failure was responsible for this distress, but not anymore.  OK, so maybe it’s not your fault that you inherited social anxiety, but it is your responsibility to treat it. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

Delivered, take-out food can make you fat Too busy to cook?  What to eat tonight?  Grab the stack of take-out menus and get something delivered.  It’s another night in front of the tv watching the latest popular series eating out of cartons.  Too busy to worry about what it’s doing to you.  You’re young and healthy.  You’ll worry about it later.  At some point, you’ll catch a peek at yourself in a window and say, “OK, NOW I’ve gotta do something!  Here’s the plan.  Get low-fat, high protein meals delivered from well-known restaurants and when you get it, put it on a plate.  Eat at your table and don’t watch tv.  Why?  Because when you watch and eat, you’ll get distracted and gulp down about 400 more calories than you need.  Learn to make the basics and make your own dinners 2 times a week.  Order the groceries online and wean yourself off the fat trap.  Your bank account will grow, and your waistline will shrink. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

Feeling full and getting depressed People who regularly eat fast food over a period of 6 years are 41% more likely to become depressed than those who avoided the fat crud.  Scientists looking at this connection decided that it’s the high level of artificial trans fats that’s interfering with the brain’s ability to produce certain mood stabilizing neurotransmitters.  Neurotransmitters are chemicals responsible for sending messages throughout the body.  Kind of important, right?  Despite the 2018 ban on artificial trans fats because of their destructive properties, they’re still here.  The main culprits are vegetable shortening, some microwave popcorns, some vegetable oils, fried fast foods, bakery products and non-dairy coffee creamers.  Check the ingredients on packaged foods you buy.  Don’t eat this stuff without knowing it.  Don’t let your potato chips make you depressed. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

Left brain, right brain.  It’s a no-brainer. Not too long ago, we still thought that people who are left-brained are more logical, analytical and math oriented while right-brained folks are more emotional, intuitive, artistic and free spirited.  We don’t believe this anymore because science has learned the truth.  Even common sense tells us that both sides of the brain should be working together.  Most behaviors and abilities require that both sides of the brain cross the aisle to process information and solve problems.  If you’re right-handed or left, you need your whole brain to achieve your goals.  You have talents, quirks, characteristics, strengths and weaknesses, but they have nothing to do with which side of your brain you use more.  Every time you learn something, say or do something, you need both sides of your brain to get it done.  It takes two, baby, just like the song says. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

So, what is this new umami taste anyway? You keep hearing about it.  Suddenly, out of the blue, there’s a new flavor.  It’s umami, a Japanese word that means a “pleasant, savory taste”.  Foods with an umami flavor have a brothy or meaty essence that’s long-lasting, mouth-watering and leaves a coating sensation over the tongue.  The source of the taste is a high level of glutamate, an amino acid.  Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and have critical roles in your health.  The umami taste is found in meats, dairy, fish, mushrooms, miso and vegetables.  Ketchup is an umami flavor.  Since umami is readily sensed in foods with high levels of protein, detecting it is critical for survival.  Umami-rich foods are more filling and curb your appetite.  Move over sweet, salty, bitter and sour, there’s a new taste in town. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

Can your friends make you fat? Do your friends influence your weight?  Yes, they do, and it makes sense, doesn’t it?  Our friends influence our fashion, our way of speaking and gesturing, the movies we see, the books we read and our love interests.  A study from Harvard Medical School cautions us about the powerful influence of our friend’s weight on our eating habits.  If they’re thin, you’re likely to mind your calories.  If they’re overweight, your scale is likely to move in that direction.  As friends, you may end up eating out more than you’d like, and you may adopt some of their food preferences.  Snacking accounts for more than half of our daily eating events.  We’re eating and drinking 14 different kinds of food and beverages daily.  Overall, we’re eating just too much.  Host social events that don’t involve eating a lot of food or consuming sugary drinks.  Focus on the friends and not the food. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message