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Donald Trafton Posts

Is it OK to drink everyday?

When people learn how well I’m handling health and aging, they frequently ask about my views on alcohol consumption. In the past few years, we have seen so many new alcohol-based drinks introduced in the marketplace, it’s worth a look at the pros and cons: To start with, alcohol is a Neurotoxin. A neurotoxin negatively affects the nervous system and nerve cells, potentially causing long-term damage…not just to the brain, but to the immune system, the skeletal system, the reproductive…

No cure for cancer, but treatment is promising

We are losing the battle against cancer. “In the next few years, cancer will become the leading cause of death in the United States. Later in this century, it is likely to be the top cause of death worldwide. The shift marks a dramatic epidemiological transition: the first time in history that cancer will reign as humankind’s number-one killer.” This article from Harvard Public Health goes on to explain that while great strides have been made in curing infectious diseases…

Best way to start your engine in the morning

We’ve all got a morning routine. How we start our day, sets the tone for the whole day. We pretty much do and think the same things in the same way, everyday, from the time we wake up. Many of us start the day with a ringing alarm clock, a big cup of coffee and a quick check of our email. But if you analyze the morning habits of very successful people, that’s exactly what they don’t do. Most of…

Fun can be really good for you

Instinctively we know that having fun is good for our health and well-being. But, as it turns out, many of the activities we would label “fun” are not as beneficial as we would hope. Many of the things we do with our leisure time, like bingeing on television, scrolling the news, or posting photos to social media, do not produce the positive heath effects we crave. “People often use the word “fun” to describe anything they do with leisure time,…

The Deadly Dance of Free Radicals

Of course you’ve heard of free radicals, but you need to know more. I’m sure that my skin would look at least 10 years younger if only I’d paid more attention to free radicals in the past. Free radicals are highly reactive and unstable molecules. They are made by the body naturally as a byproduct of normal metabolism. But, the body will also generate free radicals in response to environmental attacks, such as tobacco smoke, ultraviolet rays, air pollution, and…

A Sweet and Deadly Trap

People who pay no attention to the amount of sugar they consume are at high risk of health problems such as weight gain and obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You just might be one of those people. Sweetened beverages are a big culprit. Americans consume an average of more than 17 teaspoons of sugar (about 290 calories) a day from added sugars. This is far more than recommended by…

Hot weather can be deadly …how to protect yourself.

Summers are getting hotter. Have you noticed? The worst that the World Health Organization predicted in 2018 is happening: “Global temperatures and the frequency and intensity of heatwaves will rise in the 21st century as a result of climate change. Extended periods of high day and nighttime temperatures create cumulative physiological stress on the human body which exacerbates the top causes of death globally, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and renal disease.” When you get hot, your heart…

Why we care about our teeth.

Our oral health (the health of teeth, gums, and the entire oral-facial system that allows us to smile, speak, and chew) is more closely connected and more important to our overall health than you may think. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, poor oral health has been linked to chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and dementia. Don’t think that because you don’t see or feel any problems in your mouth that you’re in the…

The Luckiest People in the World

“People who need people Are the luckiest people in the world. We’re children, needing other children And yet letting a grown-up pride Hide all the need inside. Acting more like children than children” Writer(s): Jule Styne, Bob Merrill musical “Funny Girl” I heard this song the other day and realized I’d never really heard the lyrics before. I was struck by the power and insights of this popular song. How could they have gotten it so right, especially in 1964? Here’s more: “Lovers… Are…

Help a loved one age gracefully

Chances are you are close to a person you love deeply . . .and that person appears to be aging faster than they should. What can you do? First, you must accept that their condition is controllable . . . by them!  Adults who develop positive attitudes about aging live more than seven years longer than peers who have negative attitudes. How can you help your loved one improve their attitude about their health? Point to the science. For at…