MASSAGE – GETTING YOUR MONEY’S WORTH

After a hard day's work or a long mentally draining day, (the kind of demanding day a plastic surgeon goes through, LOL), there is nothing like a good, firm, relaxing massage.

A new research study has revealed there is more to a massage than meets the eye. It seems a massage can affect our genes that lead to healing of our muscles.

Scientists took eleven volunteers and placed them on a stationary bike and had them ride until they were totally exhausted. They then massaged one of each volunteers thighs for 10 minutes.

The results? The thigh that was massaged found that the genes associated with inflammatory/soreness were three times less active. The massage also increased, by 30%, the gene that creates mitochondria which increase energy/healing.

So maybe the next time your get a massage, the $50 or $60 you "lay out" maybe money well spent.

SUPER BOWL FOODS

The recent Super Bowl was exciting. It sure had a big audience – in fact, the biggest.

One of the corporate sponsors was Marriott and they did a survey of “fans” to determine their favorite foods for Super Bowl – good information to have to prepare for next year.

Number one was chips/dips (61%), pizza (55%), nachos (41%), subs/sandwiches (38%), BBQ (37%), fried finger foods (35%) – all the way down to vegetables (28%). As a Fort Myers plastic surgeon who deals with weight control patients, I have to ask, "Do you think this may help explain our 'obesity' syndrome? "

But I questioned this survey's validity – where are the wings? I always thought they were popular. Oh well – guess we will have to wait until next year.