Donald Trafton shares better health tips for any age.
You might say that I’m a little obsessed with the notion of living a longer, healthier life. Yes, I would cop to that because I am absolutely convinced that we are blessed with the ability to orchestrate our own best health and well-being. Here’s the challenge: find the advice that works best for you. While an internet search will yield an enormous amount of health and well-being advice, some of it, even from experts, appears to reflect opposing views. It…
I think I’m having more than my fair share of disappointment these days. Maybe you are too. Maybe you’d like help in dealing with it. Here’s some good guidance from April Crowe, LCSW, licensed clinical social worker at Paramount Wellness Retreat. “Disappointment is common to all, whether personally, professionally, or in social circumstances, It is something most people have to live with despite its overwhelming and demotivating nature.” She goes on to say: “It’s not something that you should let…
Experts estimate that about 25% of the variation in human life span is determined by genetics. But the rest can be attributed in large part to how we take care of our bodies. There are simple things you can do to be your healthiest, most active, most productive self while living longer. The keys to perhaps living to 100 or more are a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and good lifestyle choices. Worry is a very important lifestyle choice. Yes,…
We tend to think that the person we are today is the person we will always be. But the truth is, we are always changing. Our future self is always in the making. Our personality, skills, likes, and dislikes change over time — whether we’re intentional about that change or not. A recently published study that spanned more than 60 years found that the personalities of nearly all participants were completely different than they had been 60 years prior. Change…
Older adults (65+) do not sleep as well as younger adults. And it’s not that older adults need less sleep, rather they are unable to generate the sleep that they still need. Can the practice of afternoon naps make up for this lose of sleep at night? An observational study published online Jan. 25, 2021, by General Psychiatry looked at 2,214 healthy people ages 60 and older in China, where afternoon naps are common. The participants were asked about whether…
When I think of stress I automatically think: “not good; unhealthy”. But not all stress is bad according to medical experts: “ Healthy stress levels help build resilience”, says Dr. Safia Debar, a stress management expert at Mayo Clinic in London. In this expert alert, Dr. Debar explains the difference between good and bad stress and how to tell when you are in danger of overload. While stress is part of life, too much negative stress is not good for…
Sugar isn’t inherently bad. Actually, it’s necessary. Our bodies run on sugar (as a carbohydrate). It’s not healthy to remove natural sources of sugar and other carbohydrates from your diet. But, you can make healthier choices about where sweetness in your foods is coming from. Much of our food today contains added sugar and/ or artificial sweeteners. Too much added sugar can lead to health problems including high blood sugar, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, dental issues such as cavities, increased…
“In a survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults, 21% said pizza was their favorite food. Pizza is certainly one of the most popular foods in the world, and the survey proved that Americans love it the most. The most popular toppings on pizza in the U.S. are pepperoni, extra cheese, mushroom, and onions.” Sep 7, 2023 But pizza falls short as a nutritious contributor to our diet. It typically is made with a very high-in-gluten flour, and is too…
Most advice about healthy eating is about healthier food choices. You are, indeed, what you eat. Google healthy food choices and you’ll identify several lists compiled by food experts. We need to have a good handle on food choices for our best health. But that’s not enough. We also need to establish healthy eating habits, and that’s where most of us could use some help. Think your eating habits are pretty good? Do you do any of these: * Eating…
Global happiness has increased for the second year in a row. It is six points higher than a year ago and 10 points higher than it was in August 2020, just months after COVID disrupted people’s lives around the world. But what do you believe? Many point to the lingering pandemic concerns, the “abnormal” hurricanes, tornados, typhoons, cyclones and wildfires wreaking their destruction on all continents, the increased social and political unrest and two active military conflicts….as conclusive evidence that…