PGX Investigates: The Health Benefits of Pet Ownership

Can owning dog really make a difference to your health? Yes!

You may be surprised to learn that owning a pet is actually connected to better health! There are plenty of reasons why people have pets and now improved health can be one of them!

Studies have shown that people who own pets are less likely to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and feelings of loneliness. Depending on what kind of animal you keep, having pets can also increase your opportunity to get outdoors, exercise and socialize!

A study conducted in 2007 by Queen's University Belfast found that dog owners especially are more likely to live a longer life and experience healthy weight maintenance, improved cardiovascular fitness and superior self esteem, as well as reduced blood pressure adn cholesterol!

According to the British Journal of Health Psychology, daily walks with your dog (a great way to get out and exercise) are only part of the equation. Dogs can be great stress "buffers" and have been a great source of companionship to people with injuries or disabilities. Incredibly, dogs have also been able to detect an oncoming seizure!

So even though walking is only a part of the healthy equation of pet ownership, the next time your dog comes to you with the leash in his mouth, lace up those sneakers and go for a walk!

Want to read more about the health benefits of pets? Check out these great articles...

Health Benefits of Pets, CDC

Dog-owners 'lead healthier lives' BBC News

Live Like Royalty: The Many Health Benefits of Dogs, Man's Best Friends, The Atlantic

There's a new drink size at Starbucks: the Trenta!

But what does a bigger cup mean for your health?

With the rise of obesity and weight related problems, should drink sizes really be getting bigger? With a bigger cup all the numbers go up: the price, the ounces, the calories, the fats, and the caffeine. So how much coffee is too much?

If you were to order up from a venti to a trenta cafe latte, you'd be drinking up to 447 calories in one go! Fortunately, this is a fictional option, thanks to the limited drink selection available in this latest addition to the Starbucks cup lineup: two types of iced tea and plain iced coffee. The calories in these three drinks may be less than the milky latte but their sugar and caffeine numbers, naturally, are higher.

Read more about the trenta and get the numbers from the BBC Health News article, The Starbucks Trenta Question: How much coffee is OK?

Image source: beverageunderground.com and pulpconnection.net

With the change of the clocks, daylight fades earlier in the winter months. What does this mean for your children?

It is such a gorgeous sunny day outside as I write this, it's seems hard to believe that in just a few hours, the sun will have set! Now that the clocks have been put back, our evenings come much earlier. What does this mean for your kids?

A recent study from UK researchers suggests that not changing the clocks would keep your children active by allowing them more outdoor play. What do you think?

BBC Health News reports on this interesting idea.

Image sources: Cedar Grove Group Daycare and Playing is Educational

Q: What is the most important meal of the day? I'll give you a hint:

A: It's breakfast!

If you answered brunch, lunch, snack time, dinner, supper or anything other than breakfast, I have to burst your bubble just a bit. It's definitely breakfast and for good reason.

For starters, don't those breakfasts look incredibly delicious? Who wouldn't want to eat tasty meals like that to start off the day. Or how about an omelette? Waffles? Yogourt and granola? Eggs Benny? There are tons of options for you! And if you are in a rush in the morning, grab a more portable breakfast, like toast or a hearty smoothie.

Studies have shown that eating breakfast is one of the keys to staying healthy and that people who begin their days with this meal are less likely to become obese, have blood sugar problems and overeat the rest of the day. When you wake up, feeding your body will boost your energy levels and you'll be able to function much better for the rest of your day. Sounds pretty good doesn't it? And it is quite possibly a very simple solution to your health and weight loss efforts. Give yourself time in the morning for a healthy breakfast. Add some PGX and you're golden!

Read more about how important and awesome breakfast is in the BBC News.

Image sources: Southern Living, Just Chill Here, Seasonal Weeds and Food Pixels