Health Lessons Straight From the Lab

(Part I of III)

Julian Kesner

Your doctor no doubt has plenty of great tips and advice on living a healthier, happier, life, but much of his or her wisdom actually comes from the research results of veteran laboratory scientist and researchers.  So why not cut out the middleman (or woman)?  Here are some surprising lessons directly from the very experts who have performed cutting-edge studies.  Use their knowledge today to prevent illness, improve your sex life, sleep more soundly and much more.

Foot Lab

The Researcher: Charles Lundy, PhD, associate director of product development for foot care, Schering-Plough Healthcare Products

The Lessons:

  • High-heel insoles ease foot pain – just ask the guys:  “We found a way to design high-heel insoles so that they shifted the user’s weight back on the heels and off the forefoot – the root of foot pain for many high-heel wearers.  Our department at the time was all men, so for the initial tests we conducted; we had some of the male engineers walk around the office in high-heel shoes!  When we were fairly confident of the design, we did eventually test the insole (Dr. Scholl’s for Her High Heel Insole) with women in clinical studies and found that is made a real difference in making high heels more comfortable.”
  • Good insoles can help all your joints:  “We knew insoles and orthotics eased foot pain, but we also proved in clinical studies that they provide pain relief for osteoarthritis in the back, hips, and knees.  It was pretty unique to find that something under your foot can help the rest of your body too.”

Germ Lab

The Researcher:  Charles P. Gerba, PhD, professor and environmental microbiologist, University of Arizona

The Lesson:

  • Use hand sanitizer:   “The CDC still pushes hand washing, but in my research, alcohol-based hand sanitizers were actually more effective at reducing bacteria.  I personally prefer them to hand washing and usually carry a small bottle around with me.  I would do both whenever possible”.

Happiness Lab

The Researcher:  Sonja Lyubomirsky, PHD, professor and director, Positive Psychology Laboratory, University of California, Riverside

The Lesson:

  • Joy is in your hands:  “Nearly half of your happiness is determined by what you do and how you think.  That means there are many opportunities to change how you feel.  I had one student who was paralyzed in an accident and hospitalized for months, yet his first emotion was gratitude.  Why?  He had thought he was going to die, and despite the circumstances, he was grateful he didn’t”.

Scent Lab

The Researcher:  Alan Hirsch, MD, director, Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation

The Lesson:

  • Smelling popcorn can boost your sex life: “our studies found that men respond to just about any scent with increased penile blood flow.  Skip the pricey perfume – it upped blood flow by only 3%.  The smell of cheese pizza increased it by 5%; buttered popcorn, by 9%; and the combined scent of lavender and pumpkin pie, a whopping 40%.”

Prevention Magazine, November 2009