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Archive for March, 2011
Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
A Busy Mind: A Prescription for Unhappiness?
I could be accused of this. And that’s not good. Near an entrance to a Washington, D.C. subway station world class violinist Joshua Bell played a selection of “what he considered the most beautiful pieces of music ever written.” He played for hours while the reactions of commuters were captured on video. While most adults didn’t notice him at all children could be seen tugging on their parents’ arms, trying to stop and listen while being dragged away. Pondering the response in her latest book Seeking Peace, Mary Phipher writes, “Of course, no one was expecting him [Joshua Bell] in a subway…Still, they missed an opportunity for transcendence. Since I read about this experiment, it has become a metaphor for me. I have asked myself, “Do... (read more...)
Tags: alternative medicine, auditory cortex, Beating Chronic Illness, cognitive behavioral mindfulness, Creativity, Happiness, Harvard study, healthy living, imagination, iphone app, Joshua Bell, Limbic system, Mary Pipher, meditation, mind-body connection, Mind-wandering, Multi-tasking, Prevention, relaxation, Science You Can Use, Seeking Peace, sensory cortex, stress management, Turning Stress Into Strength, visual cortex, Wellness
Posted in Beating Chronic Illness, Book: You Can Beat the Odds, Brain health, Happiness, Prevention, Science You Can Use, stress management, Turning Stress Into Strength, Wellness | No Comments »
Monday, March 21st, 2011
If you are old enough to remember the 1970s show “Hee Haw” you just might recall the two hill billies’ mournful lyrics, “If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all, gloom, despair and agony on me.” But today we know the way we respond to “bad luck” can be a make or break process when it comes to health. In “Heartbreak and Heart Disease,” my favorite cardiologist, Stephen Sinatra, links psyche and soma with irrefutable evidence. But now he has released his latest paradigm-buster, this time taking a hard look at staples of the profession such as statins.
While there are cases, of course, where statins are absolutely appropriate, more often than not they may be creating problems where you didn’t have any. In “(read more...)
Tags: alternative medicine, Beating Chronic Illness, Blood sugar, C-Reactive Protein, C-rp, Cardiology, Cholesterol Cancer, diet, Fish oil, healthy living, Heart Disease, Heartbreak, holistic health, inflammation, Insomnia, mind-body connection, optimum immunity, Statins, Stephen Sinatra, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Weight gain
Posted in Beating Cancer, Beating Chronic Illness, Brain health, Nutrition, Prevention, Science You Can Use, Wellness | No Comments »
Thursday, March 10th, 2011
My article, “The Healing Power of Laughter & Play,” was first published in Live Living. Enjoy–laugh loud and long!
For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.—Proverbs 15:15, The New Living Translation
Being fully engaged with life means packing in plenty of laughter and play. Humor not only feels good—activating regions of the brain associated with happiness and euphoria—but can give us a valuable edge when we want to boost, improve, or maintain our health. Tracking the effects of laughter, Dr. Lee Berk of the Loma Linda University Medical School in California, a pioneer in psychoneuroimmunology, verifies that hearty giggles and belly laughs enhance the immune system,... (read more...)
Tags: alternative medicine, Anxiety, Beating Chronic Illness, Creativity, free radicals, Happiness, healthy living, holistic health, Hope, Humor, Integrative Oncology, Interleukin-6, Laughter, Lee Berk, Loretta LaRoche, mind-body connection, optimum immunity, Pain, Prevention, relaxation, Rheumatoid Arthritis, stress management, Tension, William Fry
Posted in Beating Cancer, Beating Chronic Illness, Prevention, Science You Can Use, stress management, Wellness | 1 Comment »
Thursday, March 10th, 2011
Blueberries for Your Brain
A recent study found blueberry juice can improve learning, memory recall, decrease symptoms of depression and even lower blood sugar levels in as little as 12 weeks. Robert Krikorian, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Cognitive Disorders Center at the University of Cincinnati, documents positive effects even in participants with memory decline. While blueberries contain an abundance of plant compounds researchers have zeroed in on anthocyanins (meaning “blue pigment”) that have been associated with improved neuron communication, memory enhancement... (read more...)
Tags: alternative medicine, Alzheimer's Disease, Autism, Beating Chronic Illness, Blood sugar, blueberries, Brain health, Cochlear implant, Cognitive function, Dementia, Depression, diet, Education, healthy living, holistic health, Homocysteine, inflammation, Krikorian, Learning, Learning disabilities, Memory, Merzenich, mind-body connection, Nutrition, optimum immunity, Oxytocin, Plasticity, Prevention, Sinatra, stress management, Stroke
Posted in Beating Chronic Illness, Brain health, Nutrition, Prevention, Science You Can Use, Wellness | 2 Comments »
Thursday, March 10th, 2011
Growing New Nerve Tissue
Evidence pinpoints several substances that stimulate the growth of neurons, in particular the synaptic membranes and dendritic spines. Long term intake of 3 substances: DHA (from fish oil), Uridine (brewers yeast is one of the most concentrated forms), and Choline (the best source is phosphatidylcholine) have been shown to increase the production of PC which is involved in cell wall production and leads to the increase in dendritic spines and synapses mentioned above. While each of the above 3 substances alone can lead to an increase in PC, taking all 3 together increases the effect dramatically. — Alzheimer’s Disease. 2008 Jan; 4 (Supplement 1). Another substance has been shown to act just like Nerve Growth Factor in the brain: Acetyl-L-Carnitine Arginate. After just 5 days of use there was an increase of almost 20% in neural connections.
Tags: Adrenal Exhaustion, alternative medicine, Alzheimer's Disease, Beating Chronic Illness, Brain health, Dementia, diet, Exercise, Gaming, healthy living, holistic health, Homocysteine, inflammation, Interval Training, Lead, LIfe purpose, Meaning, Memory, mind-body connection, Neuroplasticity, Prevention, stress management
Posted in Beating Chronic Illness, Brain health, Nutrition, Prevention, Science You Can Use, stress management, Wellness | No Comments »
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"A prescription for maximizing one's health," and "The health book to read this year," --Harvard Scientists
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