Diabetes is a growing world-wide epidemic, but there’s good news. Research shows choosing healthy habits makes a positive difference.
RESEARCH SHOWS CHOOSING HEALTHY HABITS MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
CLEVELAND CLINIC’S DOCTOR MARY KELLIS DID NOT TAKE PART IN THE STUDY, BUT SAYS MAKING HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES CAN SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER RISK FOR TYPE-TWO DIABETES.
CG: Dr. Mary Kellis/Cleveland Clinic
“What they found was that people who had the healthiest lifestyle, had a seventy-five percent reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those who had the least healthiest lifestyle.”
[00:09]
RESEARCHERS ANALYZED DATA FROM STUDIES WHICH INCLUDED ABOUT ONE MILLION PEOPLE.THEY FOUND THOSE WHO DID NOT SMOKE, DID NOT DRINK ALCOHOL, EXERCISED, HAD A HEALTHY DIET AND WERE NOT OVERWEIGHT, HAD THE BEST CHANCES OF AVOIDING TYPE TWO DIABETES.
DOCTOR KELLIS SAYS WHEN IT COMES TO DIABETES RISK, IT’S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT DIET. SHE SAYS EATING A DIET HIGH IN WHOLE GRAINS AND FIBER, AND LOW IN REFINED SUGARS IS KEY.
CONSUMING TOO MANY REFINED SUGARS,SUCH AS WHITE BREADS, PASTAS, RICE AND SWEET DRINKS, CAN CAUSE INSULIN LEVELS TO SPIKE VERY QUICKLY AND RESULT IN CHANGES IN BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS.DOCTOR KELLIS SAYS IF YOU’VE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH PRE-DIABETES, IT DOESN’T ALWAYS MEAN YOU’LL GET DIABETES –BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE LIFESTYLE CHANGES TO TURN THINGS AROUND.
CG: Dr. MaryKellis/Cleveland Clinic
“You can definitely prevent progression to diabetes. Importantly, we found that even losing five to seven percent of your weight can substantially reduce your risk to develop diabetes.”
DOCTOR KELLIS ADMITS IT CAN FEEL OVERWHELMING TO KNOW YOU HAVE TO MAKE MULTIPLE LIFESTYLE CHANGES TO ACHIEVE YOUR HEALTH GOALS.
SHE RECOMMENDS TAKING BABY STEPS AND TACKLING ONE NEW HEALTHY HABIT AT A TIME.COMPLETE RESULTS OF THE STUDY CAN BE FOUND IN DIABETOLOGIA.
Studies show when grandma and grandpa take an active role in their grandchildren’s lives, EVERYONE benefits.
According to Cleveland Clinic family medicine physician Neha Vyas, M.D., one big benefit grandparents can get comes from chasing after little ones.
Children running
“We have noticed that grandparents who are involved in grandchildren’s, or surrogate grandchildren’s lives, are more active. They are entering their elderly years without as many aches and pains, because they have something that keeps them young and keeps them mobile.” – Neha Vyas, M.D.
Children playing
In addition to keeping grandma and grandpa on the move, research has shown that involved grandparents report having more meaning in their lives, as well as lower levels of stress and depressive mood.
When it comes to mom and dad, Dr. Vyas says having grandparents nearby can help ease the burden of child-caring, and overall stress.
And for grandchildren, research haws shown kids who get to spend a lot of time with grandma and grandpa tend to have fewer emotional and behavioral problems.
Kids soccer football – small children players exercising before match on soccer field
For families who are separated by geographical distance, Dr. Vyas said the technologically savvy can use videoconferencing apps to keep in touch.
NATIONAL LAMPOON’S VACATION, Anthony Michael Hall, Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Dana Barron, 1983
If not, calling on the phone and writing letters helps keep the lines of communication open too.
Dr. Vyas says it helps to be specific – tell grandparents your child’s teachers’ names and their friends’ names. This helps the grandparent and grandchild feel even more connected.
Kids gym class and excercise in gymnasium
If grandparents are very far away, and frequent visits are not possible, Dr. Vyas said it’s important for kids to be able to see what grandma and grandpa look like.
“It’s important to have lots of pictures – not just in the digital realm – but to print out those pictures and have them around your house, so that grandchildren can see what their grandparents look like, and to have that exposure on a day-to-day basis,” she says.
But, of course, Dr. Vyas admits nothing beats an in-person visit, so it’s good to try to plan a trip to grandma’s house whenever possible.
“There is some unconditional love between grandparents and grandchildren and when they go to grandma and grandpa’s house the rules may change, and that’s okay. As long as they’re temporary. Kids are good at compartmentalizing and realizing that there may be some rules that apply in one person’s house, and other rules that apply in their parents’ house.” -Cleveland Clinic family medicine physician Neha Vyas, M.D.
HAPPY GRANDPARENT’S DAY!
Dedicated to my own beautiful grandparents who gave me the gift of health benefits.
The latest study says almost one-half of all cancer deaths are attributed to risk factors within your control. Finally, science catches up to what I’ve known all my life.
Dale Shepard, M.D., of Cleveland Clinic did not take part in the study, but says it’s no surprise that many of these factors are bad for our health, but many people dont realize the impact of making healthy lifestyle changes.
Shepard says, “Half of the people who get cancer might be able to prevent death from their cancer had they modified some risk factors.”
The study looked at U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) records of cancer incidence and death for 26 cancer types in adults ages 30+ in year 2014.
They found that these cancers were largely a result of 17 modifiable lifestyle behaviors.
The behavior that had the most negative impact was smoking, but researchers also pointed to factors such as obesity, alcohol intake, poor diet and lack of exercise.
Again, that’s:
OBESITY
ALCOHOL INTAKE
POOR DIET
LACK OF EXERCISE
SMOKING
Dr. Shepard says its important to note that not all cancers can be prevented from lifestyle modifications, but studies like this show that if we do take the necessary steps to improve our overall health, our likelihood of developing certain cancers can be significantly decreased.
”People often times don’t link everyday lifestyle habits to cancer risk in the way that they do to heart disease, but it also holds true for our overall health.Eat a heart healthy diet; get exercise; watch your weight; be active,” says Dr. Shepard.
Those sorts of things are things that people are maybe more used to thinking about with other diseases, but we know that, with studies like this, up to 40 percent of cancers can perhaps be prevented by doing the same things.
Dr. Shepard says its important to remember that the more lifestyle risk factors that are combined, the more a persons risk for cancer increases.
If you drink alcohol, are inactive, are overweight, and have a poor diet, it can add up to a 20 percent increase in risk of cancers pretty quickly, he said.
###
Complete study can be found in the journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
So remember to make HEALTHY CHOICES daily like following this blog!
Sunday is World Cancer Day. It should be World Health Day!
A day to raise awareness about healthy living. What you focus on expands. Anyone diagnosed or living with cancer NEEDS to focus on health, not illness.
Tomorrow marks the end of Daylight Saving Time when we turn clocks back one hour.
According to Scott Bea, PsyD, of Cleveland Clinic, when it gets darker outside sooner, it can impact our likelihood of developing seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.
”Of course we know people in Florida aren’t going to suffer quite as much,” says Dr. Bea.
Research shows the rate of seasonal affective disorder down there is about 1.4 percent, but if you get up to New Hampshire, its about 9.7 percent. So where you exist in relation to the equator makes a difference.
Dr. Bea says SAD is marked by 3 things:
sleepiness
withdrawal
irritability
Research has shown that women tend to suffer from SAD about four times as much as men do, but when men develop symptoms, they tend to be more severe.
In addition to longer periods of darkness, the grayness of winter impacts a lot of people.
About four percent of folks will experience SAD during the winter, while another ten percent will get winter blues.
Dr. Bea says light therapy works for many people. He suggests getting a light-therapy lamp, sitting in front of it for about 30 minutes every day, ideally in the morning.
Starting light therapy as early as October and keeping it going through the spring will provide the most benefit.
And, if nothing else, Dr. Bea says just getting outdoors more often can help too.
”What people do is they stay indoors and so they dont get ordinary light exposure. One of the problems is we’re not outside enough, even on a cloudy day, if youre outside for thirty minutes in the morning, youre going to get enough light exposure and that seems to make a difference.”
Dr. Bea also suggests creating social obligations – meeting up with other people or perhaps taking up an exercise program – can be beneficial for our mental health during colder months.
Again, to keep smiling through darker, colder weather follow these tips:
GET OUTDOORS, ESPECIALLY IN MORNINGS FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES
SOCIALIZE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS -LAUGHTER!
MAINTAIN A DAILY EXERCISE ROUTINE
USE LIGHT THERAPY 30 MINUTES DAILY UNTIL SPRING
If you’ve used light therapy in the past, we’d love to hear from you.
There are several brands available on Amazon from small portable ones you can place on your desk for about $39. and ones costing up into the hundreds so if you’ve used one, please let us know if and how it worked for you!
Most of us think to pack the sunscreen when heading outdoors into the sun, but we might not always remember to grab a pair of shades.
According to Reecha Kampani, M.D., an ophthalmologist at Cleveland Clinic, putting on sunglasses is more than a fashion statement.
She says protecting eyes from UV rays is just as important as protecting skin.
”UV protection is good for all kinds of structures of the eye, like the eyelids, the cornea, conjunctiva, the lenses and retina tissue itself,” says Dr. Kampani. ”You can get damage and changes of the eye with exposure to UV light, so protection is very important.”
Dr. Kampani says it is actually possible to get a sunburn on the eyelids and while rare, if exposed to too much UV light, the cornea, which is the clear tissue over the eye, can get a thermal burn, which can be very painful.
“Long-term exposure to UV light can lead to the formation of cataracts or macular degeneration.”
Dr. Kampani recommends wearing sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat even on moderately sunny or overcast days, to make sure eyes are protected.
Wrap-around sunglasses are best if heading out in the sun all day, as they can keep light from coming in through the top and the sides of the glasses.
The good news is that people don’t have to spend a fortune to keep their eyes protected.
Dr. Kampani says buying discounted sunglasses is fine, but it’s a good idea to replace inexpensive glasses yearly.
”If you’re buying lenses that are at more discounted places, that’s fine, said Dr. Kampani. A lot of times they still do have full protection, but you have to keep in mind that it could be something thats more temporary, like a spray-on coating, that wont last as long.”
It’s also a good idea to keep in mind that artificial UV light, like the kind that is found in tanning beds, is just as bad for the eyes as it is for the skin.
Remember, when you’re outdoors or out in the field as we say in TV, wear sunglasses OR a hat to protect your eyeballs.
Stay healthy!
maria.dorfner@yahoo.com
MEDIA:
Access CCNS Video for Soundbites and B-Roll Video:
Pathfire: If you’re using the web browser, click on the ‘Provider Directory’ and look for the ‘Cleveland Clinic’ tab. Use the ‘Video News Feed Locator’ if you’re getting Pathfire via satellite.
Maria Dorfner is the founder of NewsMD Communications, specializing in health and wellness since 1993. She began working in media in 1983 on the Today Show at NBC in New York City as a p/t fill-in for co-host, Bryant Gumbel’s assistant while she was still in college. She also worked part-time in Barnes & Noble bookstore at Pace University (she worked at Barnes and Noble Fifth Avenue during all of high school) and part-time as a sales associate in Sak’s Fifth Avenue. She is an English major with national honors and Political Science minor. She served in NYC’s Intercollegiate Model City Council, having been selected by her Political Science Professor to join honor pre-law students on the council with actual council members to represent NYC on the council.
Upon graduation, Maria was hired full-time at NBC. Three years later, she helped launch their cable station, CNBC out of Ft. Lee, NJ. She produced three talk show pilots that were successfully nationally syndicated with a Who’s Who in medicine, media, politics and entertainment as guests. She conducted research, fact-checked, wrote questions, pre-interview guests in the green room and produced segments and shows from concept to completion. She was director of research for Ailes Communications, a political consulting firm and production company run by the departed, Mr. Ailes who went on to become president of CNBC and later chairman of Fox News Channel.
“I never saw the negative side of Roger. Yes, he was tough. Yes, he’d fire someone on the spot, but he was nothing but respectful of me and other female colleagues. He was a media genius and I was fortunate to learn from him. Anyone that says otherwise didn’t know him. It was a different time then. Women, including myself didn’t dress like we were going to a nightclub to tell the news. We were professional. Ever notice the first women to shout sexual harassment look like they’re either doing a push-up bra or pantyhose commercial while anchoring? They’ll defend themselves by saying they should be able to dress however they want and not expect anyone to treat them differently. Really? I don’t expect my male colleagues to come to work bare chested with suspenders. And then sue me if I make a comment. It’s ridiculous. I think a bit of common sense and professionalism in order.”
In 1993, Maria created 7 half-hour original health series for CNBC. They included Healthcare Consumers, Healthy Living, Lifestyles and Longevity and others.
She co-anchored them for 3 years before joining NBC Miami as their medical and special projects producer. She then relocated to North Carolina and launched her own production company, while producing 21st Century Medicine documentary series for Discovery Health, weekly JAMA Reports for networks and medical segment for iTV. She traveled to Stockholm, Spain, Paris, London and all over the U.S. conducting interviews and filming segments.
She won a Media Recognition Award from the American Heart Association for national series Heart Smart, an Outstanding Achievement Award from the March of Dimes, a Medical Reporting Scholarship from the American Medical Association, a Freddie Award for Excellence in Medical Reporting, an Advanced Writing Scholarship from NBC News, an Outstanding Leadership Abilities Award from Pace University, a Commitment to the Advancement of Women in Media Award from her alma mater, Pace University.
She mentors journalism students and is the author of PRESSure: Break Into Broadcasting,Healthy Within and a little cookbook she created for her family to preserve family recipes called, Health, Heart & Humor In An Italian-American Kitchen. Her books are available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon. She has worked with a Who’s Who in Medical and Health, trained PR departments, trained people wanting to work on-camera, and created a newsroom from scratch for MedPage Today and others, trained associate producers on Good Morning America to be producers, and in 2000 launched the Cleveland Clinic News Service (CCNS).
This is her blog.
“I’m blessed with amazing health all my life; doctors ask what I do.”
Ah, watermelon. So refreshing on hot summer days. Love it.
So, it’s great to know it’s jam-packed with health benefits, including reducing muscle soreness the day after a workout. Fellow fitness enthusiasts rejoice.
According to a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the amino acids citrulline and arginine in watermelon, help improve circulation. That’s not all.
A prior study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology reports watermelon’s citrulline may also help improve your athletic performance.
Study showed improved performance in high-intensity exercises like cycling & sprinting.
It also contains amino acids, which you need to make protein function optimally.
Watermelons are almost 100 percent water, and everyone knows I love H2O.
Other nutrients worth noting are Vitamins C, B6, A, lycopene (the redder the watermelon, the more lycopene!), antioxidants, and potassium. Zero fat.
Lycopene is tied to reducing prostate cancer cell proliferation. Source: Nat’l Cancer Institute.
Good electrolytes help prevent heat stroke. Great choice when temps rise.
A study published in the American Journal of Hypertension found watermelon lowers blood pressure in obese adults and helps reduce hypertension. Stress can cause inflammation flareups in your body. Anti-inflammatory foods help reduce that.
Just like exercise. Walking outdoors in nature (pollution also causes inflammation), preferably laughing with loved ones or friends is great for your health and well-being.
When you lower stress, you lower inflammation and pain in your body.
And there’s another benefit for your looks.
According to Cleveland Clinic Vitamin A and C in watermelon are great for your hair and skin. It keeps it moisturized from the inside and promotes new collagen and elastin cells. Just one cup contains nearly one-quarter of your recommended daily intake.
It increases blood flow, which is heart healthy. And fiber in it keeps you regular.
And if that’s not enough, a study published in Menopause found postmenopausal women benefit from improved blood flow and reduce their accumulation of excess fat from the arginine and citrulline in watermelon.
Women in the study who took watermelon extract for six weeks saw decreased blood pressure and arterial stiffness compared to those who did not take watermelon extract.
Make sure the watermelon is ripe and red, which means higher concentrations of phenolic antioxidant, beta-carotene and lycopene.
Tomatoes, another favorite, are also high in lycopene.
One cup of cooked tomato contains almost 25 mg. One fresh tomato contains 3.7 mg. Again, lycopene reduces inflammation in your body and builds your immune system.
These dessert options at get togethers keep family and friends healthy.
Healthy choices make you feel your best. Select a variety of fruits & veggies.
Disclosure: I haven’t been paid to sell you watermelon. I really do love it. Just to be fair, here are OTHER amazing hydrating foods.
Adults need one & 1/2 to 2 cups of fruit each day, so mix it up!
Don’t forget too much watermelon will leave you feeling bloated.
So, stick with the recommended amount.
Again, that’s 2 cups of diced watermelon OR
a small 1-inch thick wedge of sliced melon.
If you have Diabetes Medline.com did a terrific article called “Can I Eat Watermelon If I Have Diabetes?” The following is an excerpt from it, but I highly recommend reading the full article at:
Although eating watermelon has its benefits, you should consider balancing your diet with fruits that have a lower GI. Be sure to pick up fresh fruit wherever possible, as it doesn’t have any added sugars.
If you want to buy canned or frozen fruit, remember to opt for canned fruits soaking in fruit juice over syrup. Be sure to read the label carefully and look for hidden sugars.
Dried fruit and fruit juice should be consumed less often than fresh fruit. This is due to calorie density, sugar concentration, and smaller recommended portion sizes.
What are other diabetes-friendly fruits?
Diabetes-friendly fruits with a low GI include:
plums: 2 whole plums have a GI of 24 and a GL of 4
grapefruit: 1 average size has a GI of 25 and a GL of 7
peaches: 1 large peach has a GI of 28 and a GL of 5
apricots: 5 whole apricots have a GI of 34 and a GL of 6
Turns out, it’s 15 minutes of sun exposure without sunscreen 3 times a week.
How Much Sunshine Is Not Healthy?
More than 15 minutes of sun without sunscreen and you’ll end up with premature aging.
Dr. Melissa Piliang (pronounced Pill-ee-ang) of Cleveland Clinic says areas that should be covered at ALL times include:
FACE
CHEST
BACK
HANDS
SHE REMINDS US YOU CAN STILL DEVELOP SKIN CANCER ON TINY EXPOSED AREAS.
CG: Dr. Melissa Piliang /Cleveland Clinic
“Face, chest, back of hands are places too – that you can get a lot of sun just running and out of stores, to and from your car, to your mailbox; those kinds of situations.”[:10]
What Does 15 Minutes of Healthy Sunlight Do?
It activates Vitamin D in your body. After activation, it functions as a hormone. The active form of Vitamin D is called D3 or cholecalciferol.
Vitamin D is vital for mental health, age-related cognitive decline, mood, cardiovascular health and strong bones. D3 supports calcium absorption and your immune system.
You get vitamin D3 from foods such as mushrooms, orange juice fortified with calcium/D, milk, fortified soy products, fish or supplements.
What If You Can’t Avoid Sun More Than 15 Min.?
If you need to be exposed to the sun more than 15 minutes Dr. Piliang says to use sunscreen liberally. Everyone should make sun protection a part of their everyday routine, even while running errands –not just when you go to the beach or pool.
SHE SAYS THE BEST PROTECTION ARE SPRAY-ON SUNSCREENS OR A VARIETY OF LOTIONS AND MAKEUPS THAT CONTAIN S-P-F TO PROTECT SKIN.
DR. PILIANG SAYS KEEP LOTION HANDY SO YOU DON’T FORGET.
CG: Dr. Melissa Piliang /Cleveland Clinic
“For people who are worried about sun exposure on their head, a hat is helpful. And actually a hat is very helpful for everyone because it protects the face, the head, and the top of the ears.”[:15]
ACCORDING TO THE U-S CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION,
SKIN CANCER IS THE MOST COMMON FORM OF CANCER IN THE UNITED STATES AND MEN, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH LIGHTER SKIN. [:11]
If you see new moles or ones that change shape make sure to get them checked.
Again, people with exposed scalps should always use sunscreen there or wear a hat.
See a dermatologist if you have any concerns.
You can now safely say, “Good Morning, Sunshine!” 15 min. 3x’s a week.
THEN, IT’S “HELLO SUNSCREEN!” 😀
YOU CAN PREVENT SKIN CANCER BY TAKING THESE PRECAUTIONS.
MEDIA: See Cleveland Clinic News Service (CCNS), July 26, 2017 Pathfire #10839 for Sound Bites/VO/B-Roll
Don’t forget to protect your EYES too!
Most of us think to pack the sunscreen when heading outdoors into the sun, but we might not always remember to grab a pair of shades.
According to Reecha Kampani, M.D., an ophthalmologist at Cleveland Clinic, putting on sunglasses is more than a fashion statement.
She says protecting eyes from ultraviolet rays is just as important as using sunscreen to protect the skin.
”UV protection is good for all kinds of structures of the eye, like the eyelids, the cornea, conjunctiva, the lenses and retina tissue itself,” says Dr. Kampani. ”You can get damage and changes of the eye with exposure to UV light, so protection is very important.”
Dr. Kampani says it is actually possible to get a sunburn on the eyelids and while rare, if exposed to too much UV light, the cornea, which is the clear tissue over the eye, can get a thermal burn, which can be very painful.
“Long-term exposure to UV light can lead to the formation of cataracts or macular degeneration.”
Dr. Kampani recommends wearing sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat even on moderately sunny or overcast days, to make sure eyes are protected.
Wrap-around sunglasses are best if heading out in the sun all day, as they can keep light from coming in through the top and the sides of the glasses.
The good news is that people dont have to spend a fortune to keep their eyes protected.
Dr. Kampani says buying discounted sunglasses is fine, but its a good idea to replace inexpensive glasses yearly.
”If you’re buying lenses that are at more discounted places, thats fine, said Dr. Kampani. A lot of times they still do have full protection, but you have to keep in mind that it could be something thats more temporary, like a spray-on coating, that wont last as long.”
Dr. Kampani says it’s also a good idea to keep in mind that artificial UV light, like the kind that is found in tanning beds, is just as bad for the eyes as it is for the skin.
Remember, when you’re outdoors or out in the field as we say in TV wear sunglasses OR a hat to protect your peeps!
Pathfire: If you’re using the web browser, click on the ‘Provider Directory’ and look for the ‘Cleveland Clinic’ tab. Use the ‘Video News Feed Locator’ if you’re getting Pathfire via satellite.
Scott Bea, PsyD, of Cleveland Clinic, says for years doctors have had notions that attitudes and thoughts may predispose us to early aging.
More and more these notions are turning into scientific research.
He says there are different types of negative thinking. Each can be impactful.
One is just cynical hostility, where you know, we stew a lot, says Dr. Bea. When people are kind of suspicious and pretty certain the world or folks are against them it stays with them; and keeps stress chemicals like cortisol circulating in the body too long.
Dr. Bea says some studies have looked at how certain types of behavior and thought patterns can impact our aging and DNA.
He says we tend to lump all negative thinking into one place, but there are actually many little ways that can actually harm us by influencing our telomeres, which are the tips at the end of our DNA that affect the aging process.
Thoughts like pessimism — always predicting doom and gloom, as well as ruminating, which isdredging up past events and mulling them over and over again, can keep stress chemicals active and alive.
Dr. Bea also says thought suppression where we actively try to avoid thoughts – takes a lot of activity and tension and tends to overload our brains.
What to do? When we engage in the outside world, and not in our own heads, Dr. Bea says we can better handle these negative thought patterns.
The key is to be able to recognize that thoughts are just thoughts.
Dr. Bea recommends you do the following to cut off negative self-talk:
Say to yourself, ‘I’m allowed to think without trying to fix or solve anything.’
Use simple mindfulness exercises that can be done, even in five second bursts at various times throughout the day. Focus on the sensation of your breath.
If something distracts you (sights, sounds) ease your attention back to your breath.
MEDIA: Video and Sound, See Pathfire July 19 or contact: ccnewsservice@ccf.org
MY two cents and what I recommend. My blog. My two cents:
I subscribe to something called DAILY PRIME. You know how a “Good Morning Beautiful” text from your significant other can make you wake up with a smile.
Well, relationships ebb and flow, so you can’t count on consistency. It can also border on creepy if it’s not from your SO. DAILY PRIME is consistently in a positive, good mood.
Here’s how it works. Each morning, I get an amazing, positive, motivational, inspirational text that kick starts the rest of my day. You pick a time preference.
It’s created by John Assaraf.
John and his wife Maria are two of my favorite people in the world. When I first met them we walked in San Diego for Rady’s Children Hospital.
They’ve wonderful energy and such an authentically calm, healing presence. It’s the kind of good, positive energy that radiates from within. I
When you get to that state, it benefits your well-being and everyone in your presence.
Assaraf has been preaching thoughts equals things way before before The Secret (which he appeared in) was on Oprah or studies confirm it.
One of my favorite books, The Power of Positive Thinking did too.
Positive THOUGHTS lead you to make positive ACTIONS.
Also, you can do things that release the opposite of cortisol in your body. There are naturally healthy healing chemicals and hormones inside your body, but it takes action to release them.
Actions like daily exercise, listening to music, mediating, spending time in nature or with positive family and friends, laughing, petting your dog, and hugging release endorphins.
Love is a biggie. It releases all the feel good hormones, including oxytocin. I read a great book about it in 2014 and interviewed author, Paul J. Zak for this blog. It’s called The Moral Molecule: The Source of Love and Prosperity. I
I was recently interviewed on a radio program about mind-body connection –hot topic.
Stay healthy!
Related:
I was delighted to meet Brian Tracy while in San Diego. I attended one of his conferences and brought one of his books with me. Without my even asking he graciously says, “Let me sign that.” He wrote, “Maria, You can do it!” inside it. That’s positivity for you. Whatever “it” is doesn’t matter when someone believes in you.
How To Be More Positiveby Brian Tracy
Your mental diet largely determines your character and your personality and almost everything that happens to you in life.
What is a mental diet? Keep reading and I’ll explain…
When you feed your mind with positive affirmations, information, books, conversations, audio programs, and thoughts, you develop a more positive attitude and personality.
You become more influential and persuasive. You enjoy greater confidence and self-esteem.
Those who work with computers use the expression “G.I.G.O.” or “Garbage in, Garbage out.” But the reverse is also true, “Good in, Good out.”
When you make a clear, unequivocal decision that you are going to take complete control over your mind, eliminate the negative emotions and thoughts that may have held you back in the past, and become a completely positive person, you can actually bring about your own personal transformation.
Mental fitness is like physical fitness. You develop high levels of self-esteem and a positive attitude with training and practice. Here are the seven keys to becoming a completely positive person:
1) Positive Affirmations
Speak to yourself positively; control your inner dialog. Use positive affirmations phrased in the positive, present, and personal tense:
“I like myself!”
“I can do it!”
“I feel terrific!”
“I am responsible!”
We believe that fully 95% of your emotions are determined by the way you talk to yourself as you go throughout your day. The sad fact is that if you do not deliberately and consciously talk to yourself in a positive and constructive way, you will, by default, think about things that will make you unhappy or cause you worry and anxiety.
As we said before, your mind is like a garden. If you do not deliberately plant flowers and tend carefully, weeds will grow without any encouragement at all.
Perhaps the most powerful ability that you have is the ability to visualize and see your goals as already accomplished. Create a clear, exciting picture of your goal and your ideal life, and replay this picture in your mind over and over.
All improvement in your life begins with an improvement in your mental pictures. As you “see” yourself on the inside, you will “be” on the outside.
3) Positive People
Your choice of the people with whom you live, work, and associate will have more of an impact on your emotions and your success that any other factor. Decide today to associate with winners, with positive people, with people who are happy and optimistic and who are going somewhere with their lives.
Avoid negative people at all costs. Negative people are the primary source of most of life’s unhappiness. Resolve that from today onward, you are not going to have stressful or negative people in your life.
4) Positive Mental Food
Just as your body is healthy to the degree to which you eat healthy, nutritious foods, your mind is healthy to the degree to which you feed it with “mental protein” rather than “mental candy.” Read books, magazines, and articles that are educational, inspirational, or motivational.
Feed your mind with information and ideas that are uplifting and that make you feel happy and more confident about yourself and your world.
Listen to positive, constructive CDs and audio programs in your car and on your MP3 player or iPod. Feed your mind continually with positive messages that help you think and act better and make you more capable and competent in your field. Watch positive and educational DVDs, educational television programs, online courses, and other uplifting material that increases your knowledge and makes you feel good about yourself and your life.
5) Positive Training And Development
Almost everyone in our society starts off with limited resources, sometimes with no money at all. Virtually all fortunes begin with the sale of personal services of some kind. All the people who are at the top today were once at the bottom, and sometimes they fell to the bottom several times.
The miracle of lifelong learning and personal improvement is what takes you from rags to riches, from poverty to affluence, and from underachievement to success and financial independence.
As Jim Rohn said, ”Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.”
When you dedicate yourself to learning and growing and becoming better and more effective in your thoughts and actions, you take complete control of your life and dramatically increase the speed at which you move upward to greater heights.
6) Positive Health Habits
Take excellent care of your physical health and wellness. Resolve today that you are going to live to be eighty, ninety, or one hundred years old and still be dancing in the evenings. Eat healthy foods, natural and nutritious, and eat them sparingly and in proper balance. A nutritional diet will have an immediate, positive effect on your thoughts and feelings.
Resolve to get regular exercise, at least two hundred minutes of motion per week, walking, running, swimming, bicycling, or working out on equipment in the gym. When you exercise on a regular basis, you feel happier and healthier and experience lower levels of stress and fatigue than a person who sits on the couch and watches television all evening.
Especially, get ample rest and relaxation. You need to recharge your batteries on a regular basis, especially when you are going through periods of stress or difficulty.
Vince Lombardi once said, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.”
Some of the factors that predispose us to negative emotions of all kinds are poor health habits, sleep deprivation, lack of exercise, and nonstop work. Seek balance in your life.
7) Positive Expectations
Practicing the Law of Attraction is one of the most powerful techniques you can use to become a positive person and to ensure positive outcomes and better results in your life. Your expectations become your own self-fulfilling prophesies.
Whatever you expect, with confidence, seems to come into your life. Since you can control your expectations, you should always expect the best.
Expect to be successful.
Expect to be popular when you meet new people. Expect to achieve great goals and create a wonderful life for yourself. When you constantly expect good things to happen, you will seldom be disappointed.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed this post on developing a more positive attitude with positive affirmations. Please leave a comment and share with your friends!
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Why You Need Positive People in Your Life
Happiness is a choice. But we continually need to be reminded by people to make that choice.
One big mistake people make is not realizing that happiness is an individual choice. But every choice is influenced by the people in our lives. If you change your life influencers for the better, you can dramatically increase your chances for happiness and success.
In my research, I’ve found that positive social connection is the greatest predictor of long-term happiness. Welcoming a positive new influencer into your world can be one of the most important choices for happiness you make. That person might be a professional life coach or a mentor or simply someone whom you respect and who has the positive outlook you want to emulate.
A positive influencer will have a few outstanding traits that rub off on you over time. This person will practice gratitude. He will seek joy daily and work at becoming his best self. He’ll enjoy being active and feel connected to others.
Think about the negative influences around you. These are people who focus on the bad things in their lives and cause you to do the same. You’ll be left searching for new problems to worry over. Negative influencers don’t smile or laugh easily. They have trouble maintaining relationships and see stress as a threat rather than a challenge to embrace. Steer clear!
We know that happiness is a choice. But we continually need to be reminded by people to make that choice, especially when life gets challenging. Think about the people you know who could be positive influencers and spend more time with someone who will improve your happiness and lead you to greater success.
The 10 Essential Habits of Positive People
Are you waiting for life events to turn out the way you want so that you can feel more positive about your life? Do you find yourself having pre-conditions to your sense of well-being, thinking that certain things must happen for you to be happier? Do you think there is no way that your life stresses can make you anything other than “stressed out” and that other people just don’t understand? If your answer is “yes” to any of these questions, you might find yourself lingering in the land of negativity for too long!
The following are some tips to keep positive no matter what comes your way. This post will help you stop looking for what psychologists call “positivity” in all the wrong places! Here are the ten essential habits of positive people.
1. Positive people don’t confuse quitting with letting go.
Instead of hanging on to ideas, beliefs, and even people that are no longer healthy for them, they trust their judgement to let go of negative forces in their lives. Especially in terms of relationships, they subscribe to The Relationship Prayer which goes:
I will grant myself the ability to trust the healthy people in my life …
To set limits with, or let go of, the negative ones …
And to have the wisdom to know the DIFFERENCE!
2. Positive people don’t just have a good day – they make a good day.
Waiting, hoping and wishing seldom have a place in the vocabulary of positive individuals. Rather, they use strong words that are pro-active and not reactive. Passivity leads to a lack of involvement, while positive people get very involved in constructing their lives. They work to make changes to feel better in tough times rather than wish their feelings away.
3. For the positive person, the past stays in the past.
Good and bad memories alike stay where they belong – in the past where they happened. They don’t spend much time pining for the good ol’ days because they are too busy making new memories now. The negative pulls from the past are used not for self-flagellation or unproductive regret, but rather productive regret where they use lessons learned as stepping stones towards a better future.
4. Show me a positive person and I can show you a grateful person.
The most positive people are the most grateful people. They do not focus on the potholes of their lives. They focus on the pot of gold that awaits them every day, with new smells, sights, feelings and experiences. They see life as a treasure chest full of wonder.
5. Rather than being stuck in their limitations, positive people are energized by their possibilities.
Optimistic people focus on what they can do, not what they can’t do. They are not fooled to think that there is a perfect solution to every problem, and are confident that there are many solutions and possibilities. They are not afraid to attempt new solutions to old problems, rather than spin their wheels expecting things to be different this time. They refuse to be like Charlie Brown expecting that this time Lucy will not pull the football from him!
6. Positive people do not let their fears interfere with their lives!
Positive people have observed that those who are defined and pulled back by their fears never really truly live a full life. While proceeding with appropriate caution, they do not let fear keep them from trying new things. They realize that even failures are necessary steps for a successful life. They have confidence that they can get back up when they are knocked down by life events or their own mistakes, due to a strong belief in their personal resilience.
7. Positive people smile a lot!
When you feel positive on the inside it is like you are smiling from within, and these smiles are contagious. Furthermore, the more others are with positive people, the more they tend to smile too! They see the lightness in life, and have a sense of humor even when it is about themselves. Positive people have a high degree of self-respect, but refuse to take themselves too seriously!
8. People who are positive are great communicators.
They realize that assertive, confident communication is the only way to connect with others in everyday life. They avoid judgmental, angry interchanges, and do not let someone else’s blow up give them a reason to react in kind.Rather, they express themselves with tact and finesse. They also refuse to be non-assertive and let people push them around. They refuse to own problems that belong to someone else.
9. Positive people realize that if you live long enough, there are times for great pain and sadness.
One of the most common misperceptions about positive people is that to be positive, you must always be happy. This can not be further from the truth. Anyone who has any depth at all is certainly not happy all the time. Being sad, angry, disappointed are all essential emotions in life. How else would you ever develop empathy for others if you lived a life of denial and shallow emotions? Positive people do not run from the gamut of emotions, and accept that part of the healing process is to allow themselves to experience all types of feelings, not only the happy ones. A positive person always holds the hope that there is light at the end of the darkness.
10. Positive person are empowered people – they refuse to blame others and are not victims in life.
Positive people seek the help and support of others who are supportive and safe.They limit interactions with those who are toxic in any manner, even if it comes to legal action and physical estrangement such as in the case of abuse. They have identified their own basic human rights, and they respect themselves too much to play the part of a victim. There is no place for holding grudges with a positive mindset. Forgiveness helps positive people become better, not bitter.
How about you? How many habits of positive people do you personally find in yourself? If you lack even a few of these 10 essential habits, you might find that the expected treasure at the end of the rainbow was not all that it was cracked up to be. How could it — if you keep on bringing a negative attitude around?
I wish you well in keeping positive, because as we all know, there is certainly nothing positive about being negative!
New research now links sleep problems with Alzheimer’s disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than five million Americans live with Alzheimer’s.
Cleveland Clinic’s Stephen Rao (pronounced Ray-Oh) did not participate in the new study but says results suggest people who have trouble sleeping may be at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s later in life.
CG: Stephen Rao, PhD /Cleveland Clinic: “The basic finding is that the more disturbance of sleep that people reported, the more likely that they were going to have pathology in their spinal fluid that related to Alzheimer’s disease.” [:15]
RESEARCHERS SURVEYED JUST OVER ONE-HUNDRED PEOPLE AT HIGH RISK OF DEVELOPING ALZHEIMER’S WHO HAD NORMAL THINKING AND MEMORY ABILITIES.
PARTICIPANTS WERE ASKED ABOUT THEIR SLEEP QUALITY AND ALSO PROVIDED A
SPINAL FLUID SAMPLE.
RESULTS SHOW THAT PEOPLE WHO REPORTED HAVING SLEEP PROBLEMS HAD MORE
BIOLOGICAL MARKERS FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE IN THEIR SPINAL FLUID THAN FOLKS WHO DID NOT REPORT SLEEP PROBLEMS.
DOCTOR RAO NOTES THAT WHILE THE STUDY SHOWS A LINK BETWEEN SLEEP
AND ALZHEIMER’S IT’S A BIT OF A CHICKEN AND EGG SCENARIO, IN THAT DOCTORS AREN’T SURE WHAT COMES FIRST. THE ALZHEIMER’S OR THE SLEEP PROBLEMS.
HE SAYS MORE RESEARCH NEEDS TO BE DONE TO BE SURE.
CG: Stephen Rao, PhD/Cleveland Clinic: “We don’t know what the chicken or egg cause is here, it may very well be that sleeping longer will help us to prevent us from developing or slow down the process of Alzheimer’s disease but we certainly don’t have the definitive answer as yet.”
Complete results of this study can be found online in the Journal NEUROLOGY. [:10]
Maria Dorfner
MY OPINION:
“A multitude of factors may cause insomnia, but I bet the primary cause is your choice of food or beverage before turning in. Technology is a biggie, but if you’re sleepy you won’t want to look at your phone or computer.
Your brain requires healthy food and beverages to stay sharp and sleep well.
Numerous foods and beverages are already proven to disrupt sleep including high-fat foods, soda, chocolate, caffeine, heavy spicy foods, alcohol 4 to 6 hours before bedtime, meat and high protein intake. Even prescription and over-the-counter cold medications may contain caffeine. Let’s also not rule out tobacco usage.
Healthy foods that promote sleep include nuts, seeds, eggs, bananas and a few crackers & cheese. Water no later than 8 p.m. is a healthy go-to beverage.
Daily exercise also helps you sleep well.
I’d love to see “further studies” include two groups of people “at risk” for developing Alzheimer’s: 1. sedentary people who eat and drink disruptive foods and beverages, use tobacco and take prescription medications 2) compared to people that exercise daily, eat and drink healthy foods and beverages and do not take OTC or prescription medications or use tobacco.
Then, compare how well these two different groups sleep, along with their biological markers for Alzheimer’s disease.
Bottom line: Missing piece to this puzzle may be finding out what causes sleep problems. I posit people more at risk have unhealthy habits leading to sleeplessness.
Remember, you have the power to change your daily habits and choices.
It’s time to research and study causes, so people can practice prevention instead of seeking treatment for symptoms, or worse believing the symptom is a cause. ”
-Maria Dorfner
NATIONAL MEDIA: See Pathfire #: 10826 dated July 5, 2017 for soundbites/voiceover
THE ILLNESS IS SPREAD WHEN BACTERIA IS TRANSMITTED THROUGH A TICK BITE.
TIME SPENT OUTDOORS INCREASES THE CHANCES OF BEING BITTEN BY A TICK BUT CLEVELAND CLINIC’S DOCTOR ALAN TAEGE (TAY-GEE) SAYS THERE ARE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO REDUCE THAT RISK.
CG: Dr. Alan Taege /Cleveland Clinic“You can protect yourself. Use the insect repellent, particularly those with DEET, D-E-E-T, when you go out to work in your yard, camping, hiking, whatever you’re doing, put it on, because it can be very effective.” [:16]
IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE CAMPING, DOCTOR TAEGE SAYS YOU CAN ALSO USE AN ADDITIONAL CHEMICAL ON CLOTHING, TENTS AND CAMPING EQUIPMENT CALLED PERMETHRIN (PER-METH-ER-IN) TO KEEP TICKS AWAY.
ACCORDING TO DOCTOR TAEGE, IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO TUCK PANT LEGS INTO SOCKS OR BOOTS. THIS MAKES IT HARDER FOR TICKS TO GET ONTO YOUR SKIN.
HE ALSO RECOMMENDS WEARING LIGHT-COLORED CLOTHING. IT WILL BE EASIER TO SPOT AND SWAT A DARK-COLORED TICK ON A SLEEVE OR PANT LEG.
HE SAYS THE AVERAGE TICK HAS TO BE ATTACHED FOR SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE IT CAN CAUSE ILLNESS. REMOVING THEM QUICK IS VITALLY IMPORTANT.
CG: Dr. Alan Taege /Cleveland Clinic“When you come in from any of those activities where you’ve exposed yourself to ticks you should do a tick check to try to be sure that you haven’t collected any of the little creatures on your body.” [:12]
Blog contact: Maria.Dorfner@yahoo.com
The latest study says almost one-half of all cancer deaths are attributed to risk factors within your control. Finally, science catches up to what I’ve known all my life.
New research now links sleep problems with Alzheimer’s disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than five million Americans live with Alzheimer’s.
Maria Dorfner
NewsMD: What's Hot in Health 