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…
Back pain is one of the most common medical problems worldwide, and is on the rise. According to Harvard Medical School, 80% of people will experience low back pain at some time in their lives. The good news: there are some simple treatments you can do at home to prevent and treat lower back pain. Cold, then heat treatments “It’s best to use cold compresses or an ice pack, not heat, immediately following a back injury, since this can alleviate…
I never thought of myself as having insomnia, but by definition …I do. Chances are, you do too, Adults need 7 to 9 hours of solid sleep each night. Less than that means that you have insomnia, and that should be addressed. Here are some tricks for treating insomnia and falling asleep, Do * go to bed and wake up at the same time every day * relax at least 1 hour before bed, for example, take a bath. read…
It’s normal to lose our curiosity …especially as we age. According to one expert: ‘‘Three-year-olds, on average, ask their parents about 100 questions a day, every day! However, by the time they are ten to 11 years of age they’ve pretty much stopped asking.” Yet curiosity is extremely important to our health and well-being. It triggers creativity, motivation, happiness, intelligence, reduces stress, and helps us to become successful in life. But before I can regain my curiosity, I need to…