Category: wellness

Finding Hidden Ingredients on Food Labels

Life has gotten so hectic we barely have time to run to the grocery store when we need to restock the pantry. So it’s a quick dash in, and a cursory look at what’s on the nutrition label to make sure it doesn’t contain too much sugar or preservatives and fits in with our new…


The Mist, How a Book’s Theme Can Mimic Society

In the Percy Jackson book series (by Rick Riordan and which I have been reading alongside my daughter) the mortals can’t see all the crazy that happens with the gods, demigods and monsters because of a hazy mist. The mist distorts their perception of events so that they can remain within their comfortable concept of…


Mindful Speech, Using Your Words to Help and Not Harm

When we want our kids to express themselves in ways other than tantrumming or throwing peas at the dog, we say “Use your words.” But I often wonder, do adults really know how to use our words skillfully, in ways that help and don’t harm? This morning I was on a train listening to a mother…


Recovering From Nature Deficit Disorder

I often speak to parent audiences in school settings about screen addiction warning signs and prevention. On the way to the auditorium for a recent parent talk, I found myself wandering through the K-2nd grade hall of a local public school. My youngest of four children is in high school now, so it has been…


The Energy of Meditation

Meditation has become a popular health practice and offers its practitioners a wide range of wellness benefits, including stress reduction, anxiety and depression relief, improved energy, and relief from chronic illnesses. There are numerous studies that have investigated the impact of meditation practice on human psychology and physiology. Here we will discuss how we understand…


Constipation 101

D.D. was a 49-year-old normally very pleasant woman who came to see me after four days of increasing pelvic, lower abdominal pain. She went to a local urgent care center where they told her she must have an ovarian cyst. Her ultrasound, however, was negative. It wasn’t rocket science to figure out what the problem…


Managing The Stresses And Anxieties Of Peer Pressure

It can be very difficult to be yourself while others get on your case.As a result, here are eight tips on how to manage the stresses and anxieties of dealing with peer pressure from others. 1. Know where you stand on a certain issue: Ask yourself if you are willing to do something that your friends…


Which Values Make You Happy? It Might Depend on Where You Live

When a new psychology study comes out, its findings, gratitude makes people happy! meditating can boost your mood! Are often taken as truth about humanity as a whole. But in recent years, researchers have pointed out that much of psychology research involves participants who are WEIRD: Western, Educated, and from Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic countries. A…


How Optimism May Keep You Alive Longer

You’ve probably heard a story or two about someone who lived past 100. Perhaps you have a wise-cracking great-grandfather. Or maybe you heard about that WWII veteran who ate ice cream and smoked cigars every day. According to a recent study, one secret to a long life might be wholly unrelated to what we eat or how much…


The Top Ten Benefits of Sleep

Getting enough sleep has a lot of proven health benefits. Over time, skimping on sleep can impact more than just your morning mood. Research shows getting quality sleep on a regular basis can help improve various problems, from your blood sugar to your workouts. Here’s why you should give your body the ZZZs it needs….