It’s already started. Someone came to Jazzercise with a noticeable tan after a weekend in Mexico. The instructor remarked how “healthy” she looked. We need to change our programming. Tans are not healthy. I know we’ve been trained to think so, but we’re capable of changing our thinking. When your skin changes color from the […]
Category: Nurturing Yourself – Wellness
The journey to looking, feeling, and being your very best isn’t necessarily long and hard. Small shifts in our behaviors and thoughts often bring profound results. Keep in mind that the path is not the same for each person. Your choices, your actions, and your lifestyle need to work for you. So let’s explore your options so that you start nurturing yourself.
Brain Fog
Have you found yourself feeling forgetful, unfocused, scattered, or confused, especially when making decisions? Often erroneously chalked up to old age and the onset of dementia, according to studies of older adults, forgetfulness, attention lapses, and diminished mental sharpness are more closely related to mood and general health than to age or the risk of […]
Make Friends with a Neti Pot
Decongestants are readily available over the counter, but they lose their effectiveness with repeated use and may not be recommended for people with high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes. For relief of sinus symptoms, I like to irrigate with a Neti Pot. Learn more at WebMD or watch this demonstration. Be sure to boil […]
Do You Feel Stressed?
If so, please listen up and lighten up! New studies show that people who scored high when asked about their level of stress or how frequently they felt stressed suffered negative cardiac effects. In fact, “high perceived stress is as bad for the heart as a 50-point increase in LDL (“bad”) cholesterol” (Wellness Letter April […]
Exercise – Good for Body and Mind
Finally a study with good news! The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease reports that older people who did tai chi three times a week for 40 weeks not only showed increases in brain volume, they also scored better on memory and learning tests than those who didn’t exercise. It’s exciting to think that gentle forms of […]
EnLIGHTening Findings
Ever wonder if the bags of greens in the front of the supermarket shelf that are exposed to the light are more nutrient-dense than the ones in the back in the dark? Me neither, but researcher Gene Lester did. He found that just 24 hours of light exposure enhanced the greens’ nutrients. He also discovered […]
Strategic Eating
Want to eat less without struggling? Make small changes such as using a smaller plate; drinking from tall, narrow glasses; choosing plates in a color that contrasts the food; and avoiding distractions (television, electronics) while eating. Pay attention to unconscious cues to overeat, such as buffet foods served in large bowls or dining with people […]
The Panacea of Probiotics
Are you considering using probiotics? The Berkeley Wellness Letter does not recommend widespread use for several reasons including the large variation in product composition, reported discrepancies between labeling and actual content found by Consumer Reports’ testing, and possible safety concerns for some folks. Probiotics may be beneficial for you, but consult your doctor first.
Brain Health
According to the August 2010 Wellness Letter, “there is no convincing evidence that any ‘brain formula,’ plant extract, or vitamin will preserve memory.” However, a deficiency in B12 can cause confusion and memory loss. See your doctor for testing and treatment, if needed. Another supplement to consider is fish oil, which has been linked to […]
Think Thin
The thoughts we hold directly impact our results. One of the key shifts I had when I successfully lost weight was to begin asking myself, “What would a thin person do in this situation?” Shifting my thoughts to those of a thin person led to changing my behaviors to those of a thin person, and […]