Allostatic load—the sum total of all sources of stress in our lives and their impact on the brain and body—takes a profound toll on our overall health and well-being. Stress sets off a biochemical shift in the body that gears it to fight or flight at the expense of rest, digestion, and restoration. Fortunately, there…
Kids Are Getting Wired for Stress By Screens
Mindfulness and meditation may be growing in popularity, but so is their opposite: digital distraction. Our kids often spend more time on screens than sleeping. This lack of sleep along with the risks of online predators and pornography are obvious problems with today’s teen screen culture. But another big problem often gets overlooked: chronic stress….
Tips for Starting Your First Organic Vegetable Garden
The basics for success in any garden are sun, soil, and water. Most vegetables and fruit thrive with 6-8 hours of direct sun each day. Since sunlight is required for photosynthesis—the way plants make food–make sure the plants are exposed to as much as possible. Soil that drains quickly and is nutrient rich is critical,…
Overwhelm: The Survival Guide
Feeling overwhelmed with work and personal tasks is one of the biggest problems that the people I work with are facing. It turns out our lives can be pretty overwhelming. There’s so much to do, never enough time to do it, and who knows what we should be focusing on? We’re always behind, barely treading…
Can You Get a Blue Zone Gut?
Blue zone guts are pretty impressive. I’m not talking about the bellies in the Labatt section of the stadium. I mean the global blue zones: places around the world where inhabitants regularly live in good health to more than 100 years old. Gut health is dominating conversations about health and longevity. And why shouldn’t it?…
Delving Into Devices, Setting Time Limits on Device ‘Screen Time’ With Your Children
“Screen time” used to mean sitting around and watching TV. For kids, too much time in front of the TV is linked to obesity, as well as trouble in school. But screen time doesn’t refer just to television anymore. Smartphones, tablets, and other handheld devices are now everywhere. These new screens pose new challenges for…
How to Manage the Anxieties of Dealing With Your Finances
Many people get stressed out in managing their finances and investments. In addition, there are times that it can be difficult to pay your bills and save money at the same time. Here Are Eight Tips on How to Manage the Stresses and Anxieties in Taking Care of Your Finances. Get sound advice from a…
The Sounds of Healing
I love music, especially some good old-fashioned jazz, such as that performed by Herbie Hancock or Harvey Mason. In fact, those two helped me get through all-night study periods preparing for my exams during medical school. I was even able to thank them in person many years later. Music has a power over us that…
Athletes Use Stress to Boost Their Well-Being—and You Can Too
Almost everyone wants to know how to reduce stress. After all, stress can have many negative effects on both our physical and mental health. An increasing body of evidence shows that changing the way we think about stress might actually better help us manage it. Not only can this improve our well-being, including our mental…
Reclaiming the Lost Art of the Stroll
Not long before the pandemic hit, someone reported me to the police. I wasn’t selling drugs or stealing a car or making too much noise in the middle of the night. I wasn’t even breaking the law. My only crime was to stroll through an American neighborhood where walking is not the done thing. “People…
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