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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

Does technology cause infidelity? Does technology cause infidelity?  No, it doesn’t.  Technology makes it easier.  For those with wandering eyes who are already predisposed to cheat, the digital age gives them the means to do it faster and more conveniently.  For some who stray, the ease of moving from thinking to doing just may mean the difference between staying and going.  People in healthy, satisfying relationships aren’t going to use technology to see what else is on the menu.  Dissatisfaction in the relationship is the driving force behind the itch to wander.  Make sure that the two of you have a strong connection in the real world of real life.  Have an issue?  Sit down and talk openly and honestly about how both of you are feeling and resolve the situation.  Having that consistent problem-solving process is key to a long and fulfilling relationship. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

This is what happens when you overeat Eat a small bit of food every 3 hours to keep from getting fuzzy-headed and hangry.  But, there are times when you overeat.  What happens when you do?  You get that ugly food baby belly.  It’ll take a while for it to go down, so don’t even think about that bikini!  When you swallow food, you also swallow air.  You not only get full, but bloated.  Eat slowly.  When you take in more food than your metabolism can handle, your body tries to burn off those extra calories and you get hot.  Take a cool shower.  If you gorge, you throw off your sleep cycle due to changes in hormones.  Eating too much speeds up your digestive process and you’ll be in the bathroom a lot.  You’ll get nauseous, so drink ginger tea for relief.  And finally, you’ll be exhausted the next day because your body is working overtime.  Be smart.  Eat sensibly! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

What time should I do my best work? If you feel that your mind is at its sharpest in the morning, it’s due to the body’s natural clock where the “fear factor” chemical of cortisol starts up at 6, slows down by noon and ends at about 3 p.m.  You wondered why you needed a cup of coffee or a nap at about 3?  Mystery solved!  The cortisol activation response is a leftover from the ancient brain that gets turned on when light hits your eyes.  Your body feels its best and your brain operates at top performance during those 6 hours between 6 a.m. and 12 noon.  Keep this schedule and you’ll get into bed at a reasonable time, need between 7 and 10 minutes to fall asleep and then, be ready to hop out and take on the day at 6 in the morning.  The world’s most effective and successful people make it a habit to “rise and shine”.  Try it out!  Be a healthy role model for your children. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

Factors that help you to stay married Science tells us about common-sense factors that can help you stay married.  If each of you belongs to one or two social media sites instead of being active on many, you’ll stay married longer.  Being too active on social media undermines the bond you share as a couple.  If you smiled in photos of you as a kid, in high school and in college, you’re likely to be more emotionally stable and positive, a good sign for marriage.  If neither of you has lived with another partner, your chances of divorce increase by 209%.  It suggests a lack of commitment.  If you have sons, you’re 17% less likely to get divorced.  Men don’t want their sons being raised by a woman.  It’s the small and almost unnoticed factors in life that can make or break a relationship.  Staying married is tough, do what you can to increase the odds. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

I just can’t get it out of my head. You’re driving along, minding your own business when a truly great song from your teen years comes on.  You loved that song.  Six hours later, you can’t get rid of it.  You’re losing your mind.  That song is likely to have a greater “stick factor” because it’s upbeat, has a fast tempo and a generic and easy to remember melody.  It’s a unique song.  Most of us, 90%, get an “earworm” like your song, stuck in our heads at least once a week.  It happens when our brains aren’t doing much such as taking a shower or a walk or doing mindless chores.  The brain is always searching for something novel to focus on and a song is a great target.  What do you do to keep your sanity?  Embrace the song.  Listen to a lot of songs.  Don’t work hard to avoid it.  That’s not the way the brain works.  The more you try not to think about it, the more you’ll hear it.  It will fade on its own. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message

“Mean girls” start at age 4. Do the “mean girls” just sprout out of the ground as vicious middle schoolers and reach their peak of sadistic behavior in high school?  No!  They usually start at age 4.  Nobody reins them in and it gets worse.  Relational aggression, which is the harm to someone’s relationships or social status, starts in preschool.  Mostly girls do it.  Boys just beat each other up.  What does relational aggression look like?  It’s bullying the friends of enemies, putting rules on friendships and misinterpreting the behavior of other girls as hostile.  Girls who aren’t optimistic and are quick to frustrate resort to these behaviors.  They’re used to getting what they want.  They copy what they see.  Watch your daughters playing.  How do they relate to others?  Help them understand the behaviors that set them off.  Reinforce kindness.  You don’t want your mean girl turning on you. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/drclaudia/message