Tag: Mind & Body

Statistics: The Confounding Science

Medicine relies on statistics more than ever, but these numerical insights aren’t always useful to our health and well-being. Statistics can help us make healthy decisions but they should not be used as a day-to-day instruction manual. Statistics can be misleading. There is a 12.9 percent lifetime risk that a woman born in the United…


The Effects of Vitamin D and COVID-Related Outcomes

Do you know your vitamin D level? If not, getting your blood tested—and optimizing your levels—is one of the simplest and most straightforward steps you can take to improve your health, including in relation to COVID-19. Vitamin D, as an immunomodulator, is a perfect candidate for countering the immune dysregulation that’s common with COVID-19. As…


Health Benefits of Yerba Mate

Looking for a coffee alternative that packs the same energetic punch? Try yerba mate tea for a healthy way to boost your day. Herbal health trends come and go—and coffee and tea will remain perennial favorites—but what if you could enjoy a beverage that has the invigorating properties of coffee, the health benefits of tea, and…


11 Morning Routines to Save Your Day

The morning routines of nearly every person have been turned upside down over the past year. As a consequence of lockdowns, self-isolation, working from home, and other family responsibilities, creating productive morning routines can seem like a difficult task. And, now that things are somewhat returning to normal, routines are shifting yet again. However, instead…


Why So Many Homeless People Have Smartphones

There’s been no shortage of hand-wringing over the past 15 months as our nation grappled with COVID-19 and its ripple effects, many of which aren’t medical: the threat of a collapsed economy, government overreach, and increased seclusion along with its affiliated detriments have been concerns. At the epicenter of this worry have been concerns for…


The Delightful Overwhelm of a Pile of Undone Tasks

As I came back to work after a month off, I noticed myself feeling overwhelmed by the mountain of work in front of me. I felt a ton of resistance and stress about how much work had to be done. A perfect practice ground for me! In this article, I’m going to share how I’ve…


Good Storytellers Get Better Health Care—but Childhood Trauma Confuses the Narrative

When describing their symptoms, medical history, and health changes at a clinic or hospital, every patient is the storyteller of their own health. Good storytellers tend to get better health care, but a history of childhood trauma plays havoc with telling your own story. Consider Florence, as a (fictional) example: It is a hot July…


The Lasting Benefits of Getting Comfortable With Discomfort

I woke in a tent, a bit disoriented, and my attention immediately fixated on my feet. It was the morning of day two of what was to be a four-day, 43-mile hike through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Three friends and I had carefully planned the journey. We had enough food, clothing, tents, and supplies to…


Hospital Prices Are Supposed to Be Transparent Now

A colonoscopy might cost you or your insurer a few hundred dollars—or several thousand, depending on which hospital or insurer you use. Long hidden, such price variations are supposed to be available in stark black and white under a Trump administration price transparency rule that took effect at the start of this year. It requires…


Tips for Taking Care of Your Skin This Summer

Summers can have a downside for our skin. The hot and humid weather and the sun’s harsh rays can wreak havoc on your skin and increase the chances of you developing a plethora of issues. But the good news is that you can keep these issues at bay by switching up your skin care routine….