You may be working to lose weight or improve your health because you’ve faced a life threatening illness, quit drinking alcohol after years of struggling to be sober or find the romantic partner who you’ve dreamed about your entire life. You have made great strides in losing weight having lost 50 lbs. and regained your…
Optimal health is more than simply what you eat. While whole foods are a cornerstone to achieving long-term health, it is not enough to optimize your health if you do not include other important practices, like relaxation, relationships, meditation, or regular exercise. Exercise to move your body on a consistent basis is a key strategy…
If you are like many people, the shift in time and “springing our clocks forward” with the passing of day light savings time arrived with a loss of an hour of sleep, a decrease in energy, forgetting important meetings you had planned to attend and the inconvenience of having your day hit by an unexpected…
Several chronic diseases are mediated by your body’s inflammatory response. Conditions such as multiple sclerosis, depression, anxiety, arthritis, obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease and even obesity are mediated by chronic inflammation.1, 2,3 When you experience an acute infection or sustain an injury to your body, your immune system mobilizes an inflammatory response to neutralize the…
By GRETCHEN REYNOLDS March 16, 2016 Meditating before running could change the brain in ways that are more beneficial for mental health than practicing either of those activities alone, according to an interesting study of a new treatment program for people with depression. As many people know from experience, depression is characterized in part by…
With it being Valentine’ day today, you may have big plans with your partner (e.g., boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, husband, etc.) to celebrate the love that you both share. If you are single, you may experience the anticipation, excitement or nervousness of your first “big date” with someone you recently met or you may dread the…
If you’re like the average American, you are probably sleep deprived. Inadequate sleep reduces your concentration, alertness, creativity and performance at work.1,2 It also makes you more prone to make mistakes, feel tired, grouchy, and increases your cravings for sweet and fatty foods.3,4 As a nation, we value doing more and place little emphasis on…
Mindfulness is the practice of intentionally bringing your attention to your here and now experiences with an attitude of curiosity, openness and non-judgment. Many studies have shown that mindfulness practices can help you to reduce stress, worry, symptoms of binge eating, many anxiety disorders and ADHD.1, 2 Mindfulness practices, including yoga, yoga breathing exercises and qi…
If you experience bouts of anxiety, worry and depression or you obsess with unproductive and painful thoughts because you’ve experienced trauma (e.g., PTSD), you’ll likely benefit by learning to cultivate and externalize your awareness. You may believe that suppressing what your mind tells you or replacing your mind’s stories with better thoughts or self-affirmations will…
If you’re like most people, the holidays are loads of fun and may mean lots of time catching up with friends and family as well as a lot of good food. With all the holiday parties, sweet indulgences and merry “toasts” to celebrate the fast approaching New Year, it’s easy to get off track with…
