October 4th, 2011 — 10:30am
For some children, the thought of a kid's meal from a fast food restaurant seems like a reward. For parents, it's an easy and inexpensive way to make sure the youngsters are fed.
Unfortunately, consuming this unhealthy, low-quality food is not helping the child's health or well-being in the long run. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, recently compiled the nutritional data of these "mini" meals.
Apparently, fast food targeted toward kids can account for between 36 and 51 percent of a child's daily caloric intake. Moreover, those seemingly small portions of french fries and hamburgers can make up nearly 40 percent of their allotted calories from fat and half of their daily recommended value of sodium.
"Considering the high prevalence of fast food consumption by adults as well as kids, it's important to recognize the impact of fast food on the current obesity epidemic in the U.S.," said researcher Kerri N. Boutelle, Ph.D.
Staying healthy with good nutrition entails eating plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains. Parents should communicate these inspirational tips to their children as often as possible.
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September 29th, 2011 — 7:38am
Excessive consumption of alcohol is known to damage the liver and brain, as well as cause a host of relationship and professional problems for people. As a result, researchers are continually looking into the ways in which alcohol dependence is formed in the mind and how the vicious cycle can be stopped.
A team of scientists at Australia’s University of Adelaide discovered that alcohol may act on an immune system in the brain, triggering rapid changes that lead to risky or harmful behavior when a person is intoxicated.
"It's amazing to think that despite 10,000 years of using alcohol, and several decades of investigation into the way that alcohol affects the nerve cells in our brain, we are still trying to figure out exactly how it works," said lead researcher Mark Hutchinson.
In a mouse study, the team of scientists observed that after blocking a certain receptor in the brain – a known element of the mind’s immune system – alcohol’s effect on behavior was dampened. Authors of the trial said their findings may lead to treatments for individuals who struggle with alcohol addiction and also help identify which people may be at a greater risk of brain injury when they drink.
Results of this study suggest that mind-body-spirit fitness may be helped along by avoiding alcohol. Author and trailblazer Ilchi Lee believes that the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of a person's well-being are all interconnected, and that doing harm to one’s body may lead to decreased brain function.
Staying healthy with the seasons is simply a matter of eating well, exercising and keeping a clean, pure mind using techniques like meditation, yoga and tai chi.
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September 20th, 2011 — 9:47am
As is true with most illnesses, cognitive decline and dementia are more easily treated when diagnosed early on. While many individuals experience memory problems as normal signs of aging, specific issues have been linked to the development of more serious brain conditions.
In a study, researchers from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital examined data taken from more than 16,900 women, whose average age was 74.
They found that while short-term memory issues may be typical symptoms of aging, having trouble remembering things that were previously commonplace – like familiar roads – could be a red flag for the onset of dementia.
"These findings suggest that clinicians may need to differentiate between the types of memory complaints their patients have, as some are likely due to normal aging whereas others are worrisome for possible cognitive decline," said study author Rebecca Amariglio, MD.
Authors of the study noted that their discovery may have major implications for the aging baby boomer generation, which will eventually double the population of people older than 65.
Author and trailblazer Ilchi Lee has some tips for staying healthy. They include many non-medicinal brain-strengthening practices like yoga, meditation and tai chi. Additionally, the philosopher says that consuming a balanced diet and getting plenty of physical activity are key to healthy aging.
These inspirational tips for living may seem like common sense, but in today's world of quick fixes, such basic lifestyle tenets may be lost on some. As a result, it's important to continually remind oneself of the activities and habits that are tried-and-true methods to promote overall wellness.
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September 8th, 2011 — 9:14am
Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee recommends an array of physical activities in order to keep the body healthy, thereby nourishing the mind-body-spirit connection. Now, researchers believe that aerobic activity may be especially important to keeping these three aspects aligned.
In a review of more than 1,600 papers and studies on the connection between exercise and cognition, researchers at the Mayo Clinic found significant evidence that aerobic activity induces physiological effects, like stimulated blood flow, that help preserve brain function.
"We concluded that you can make a very compelling argument for exercise as a disease-modifying strategy to prevent dementia and mild cognitive impairment, and for favorably modifying these processes once they have developed," said J. Eric Ahlskog, MD, PhD, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic.
Authors of the study noted that brain images of individuals after engaging in aerobic exercise supported the idea that physical activity improves cognition, and may even prevent or help treat dementia. In animal models, scientists have observed an increased generation of trophic factors that are known to strengthen brain function.
These findings suggest that staying healthy with the seasons involves keeping active. Additionally, the results point to a non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical way that individuals can keep their minds strong and possibly avoid the life-altering condition known as dementia.
Ilchi Lee cannot stress enough the importance of the mind-body-spirit connection. This study adds further weight to Lee's ideas that a person's mental and physical aspects are inextricably linked, and that health or illness in one can influence another. Considering this, people should keep in mind that strengthening their brain function may also lead to a stronger body and a more balanced spiritual self.
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September 7th, 2011 — 5:10am
It's well known that daily exercise can keep body weight down, prevent illness and promote high levels of energy throughout the day. Now, researchers have uncovered a mechanism by which exercise promotes strong bones.
A team of scientists at McMaster University's Department of Kinesiology conducted a study revealing that exercise encourages naturally occurring mesenchymal stem cells in bone marrow to become bone, rather than fat.
The cells are influenced by factors like physical activity, turning into either bone mass or fat, depending on their environment.
Authors of the study said that the more marrow, the more blood stem cells are produced by the body, which promotes the production of healthy blood to boost the immune system. When an individual lacks exercise, bone marrow fills with fat and can potentially cause anemia due to a lack of fresh blood.
"The interesting thing was that a modest exercise program was able to significantly increase blood cells in the marrow and in circulation," said lead researcher Gianni Parise. "What we're suggesting is that exercise is a potent stimulus – enough of a stimulus to actually trigger a switch in these mesenchymal stem cells."
Staying healthy with the seasons can be a difficult endeavor. However, these findings suggest that simple exercise can promote wellness in multiple parts of the body and mind. Choose a form of physical activity that is enjoyable to you, like bike-riding, swimming, yoga, running or even nature walks.
Mind-body-spirit fitness is also important to keep in mind. Addressing all three aspects of your being will lead you to become a well-rounded individual who can reach goals, achieve success and live a fulfilled, happy life.
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August 15th, 2011 — 9:58am
It's well known that exercise can help people shed weight and feel healthier overall, but new research conducted at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences reveals that physical activity may help stave off cognitive decline or Alzheimer's disease.
In a mouse model, a team of scientists observed that exercising rodents had a higher level of an immune messenger known as interleukin-6 in their brains. The protein protected the mice's brains from a chemical meant to induce inflammation and damage in the rodents' brain regions that control learning and memory.
Authors of the study said their findings may lead to important developments in the prevention of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.
"The study on the role of exercise as a therapeutic intervention will undoubtedly get a workout in the years to come. Perhaps the greatest challenge with this line of research will not be more discoveries of compelling evidence of the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of exercise, but instead, getting humans to exercise voluntarily and regularly," said researcher Ruth Barrientos.
Author, philosopher and trailblazer Ilchi Lee believes that staying healthy with the seasons involves addressing three aspects of a being: the mental, physical and spiritual. Results of this study suggest that the mind and body are inextricably linked, and that poor health in one may result in a decline in the other.
Mind body spirit fitness entails taking care of the whole self. It means eating a balanced diet, getting plenty of exercise, engaging in meditation, reading, studying and keeping in touch with the Earth. Additionally, people should attempt to eliminate negative thoughts in their minds in favor of more positive ideas in an effort to become enlightened.
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August 12th, 2011 — 10:09am
Many individuals add cinnamon, herbs and pepper to their meals in order to make them taste better, but new research indicates that the contents of your spice cupboard may also be heart healthy.
In a study, a team of scientists at Penn State found that adding certain antioxidant-rich herbs and spices to a meal may reduce the negative effects of fat in the body.
"Normally, when you eat a high-fat meal, you end up with high levels of triglycerides, a type of fat, in your blood," said lead author Sheila West. "If this happens too frequently, or if triglyceride levels are raised too much, your risk of heart disease is increased. We found that adding spices to a high-fat meal reduced triglyceride response by about 30 percent, compared to a similar meal with no spices added."
In order to test the effects that the flavorings had on blood fat levels, researchers fed one group of volunteers a meal of chicken curry, herb bread and a cinnamon biscuit. Another subset of participants was given similar food, but without spices. Researchers used rosemary, oregano, cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper, cloves, garlic powder and paprika in the spiced meals.
Aside from the healthy effects that the flavorful additions had on triglyceride levels, they also appeared to cause a 13 percent increase in antioxidant activity in the blood and a 20 percent decrease in insulin response.
Results of this study suggest that staying healthy with nutrition may be as easy as adding a dash of spice to your food. Such inspirational tips for living can make a big difference in a person's efforts toward fulfillment, especially dieting success.
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August 9th, 2011 — 11:15am
Psychiatry professor Aaron Beck has a rather uplifting view on life, and has taken his positivity to new lengths by studying the effects of cognitive therapy on individuals with serious mental disorders, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
By the way, Beck is 90 and he told the news source that he has no immediate plans for slowing down.
Beck said that staying healthy at work is a matter of doing what you love. For him, it's psychiatry and helping individuals achieve mental well-being in a non-pharmaceutical way. His current project involves testing the effects of cognitive therapy on schizophrenics.
Cognitive therapy is based on the idea that how we feel is inextricably linked to our outlook on life. The news source noted that individuals who are depressed often look at themselves, the world and the future in a negative light.
Beck was inspired to perform the research based on his own sunny disposition.
"I'm very fortunate. I was born with happy genes. I go under the assumption that every day the sun will come out and life will go on. One of the reasons I don't struggle is that I try to keep things in perspective. I don't get as ruffled as I might because I ask myself: Is it fatal? Is it the end of the world? Will I be permanently disabled?" Beck said, quoted by the news source.
The National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists has reported that cognitive therapy is an ongoing treatment that requires the patient to take personal responsibility for their care. The group said that achieving mind body spirit fitness may require an individual to do some homework, using the positive techniques they learned during therapy and practicing them at home.
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August 4th, 2011 — 9:41am
Many Americans have jobs where they sit at a desk for eight to 10 hours daily, only to spend 30 minutes at the gym before heading home to spend the rest of the evening in front of the television. These people might think they are meeting their daily exercise requirements, but they would be wrong.
University of Missouri researchers recently found that 25 percent of U.S. residents are sedentary, and three-quarters are exercising, but not enough to prevent chronic disease.
"If people can add some regular movement into their routines throughout the day, they will feel better and be less susceptible to health problems. In the long term, they may not see big changes in the mirror, but they will prevent further weight gain," said researcher John Thyfault.
The authors of the study said that it is recommended that individuals take 10,000 steps each day. If that seems overwhelming, think of it as taking 500 to 1,000 steps each hour. This may be attained by taking short breaks at work to walk around the block or opting for the stairs instead of the elevator.
Other tips for staying healthy include avoiding excess fat, sugar, salt and substances like alcohol and tobacco. Enhancing your mind body spirit alignment can also be achieved by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Author, philosopher and flutist Ilchi Lee says that optimal health is the key to success in life. Additionally, mental, physical and spiritual wellness are all interconnected, meaning that a deficit in one can lead to an imbalance in the other.
In addition to staying active and limiting the intake of harmful substances, individuals may want to consider techniques like meditation and yoga to help strengthen their minds.
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August 2nd, 2011 — 9:10am
In a study involving patients with serious heart conditions, University of Michigan Medical School researchers found that just four days at a retreat wherein they were taught inspirational tips for living resulted in a 50 percent reduction in anxiety.
At the spiritual retreat, visitors engaged in meditation, guided imagery, therapeutic music-playing, journal writing and outdoor activities.
"These types of interventions may be of particular interest to patients who do not want to take antidepressants for the depression symptoms that often accompany coronary heart disease and heart attack," said lead author Sara Warber, M.D.
Individuals in the study were diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome, which results in chest pain and heart attack. Often, this can lead these patients with feelings of hopelessness, but the researchers found that a spiritual retreat helped them to regain happiness and feelings of well-being.
The retreat focused on teachings that love, beauty, harmony, unity and peace are attainable through a connection with nature and positive interactions with fellow human beings. Additionally, the attendees were taught nutrition, physical exercise and stress management.
Not only did the four-day intervention have positive results, but authors said that they lasted for several months afterward.
Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee believes that enhancing your mind body spirit connection is key in achieving a good sense of well-being. Additionally, the trailblazer recommends retreats to Sedona, Arizona, a place where the spiritually gifted and enlightened gather to spread their teachings and goals toward a better society.
Results of this study suggest that happiness and wellness could be a matter of making the trip to spend some time in nature, where humanity all began.
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