Heathy 365 News -Happiness and Your Health

 

Healthy 365 News  Issue # 24 - Nov. 15, 2011 Receive daily tips from Dr. W  Update From Dr. Weaver Hello Readers,   I recently came across a study that was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The conclusions of the study were basically that individuals who rated their feelings of happiness higher enjoyed living longer than those whose scores were lower.  This study from the University College of London took place over a 5 year period, involved about 4,000 participants who rated their feelings of anxiety or happiness on a variable scale several times a day, starting with the time they awakened. The study noted that after the 5 years, there was a 35% difference in the death rates between the individuals with higher happiness ratings compared to the less happy pairings. What does this study really mean?  Where does happiness really come from? Do you make a conscious effort to make happiness a major component of your life experience? Well, if not, I would like to encourage you to do so. Here are some tips on ways you might be able to do so as well as why you should do so DrW Health Tip of the Week Happiness and Your Health- The Number One Key to A Quality Life and Longevity How do you measure happiness? Happiness and your health go hand in hand but when asked, few people can really tell you what happiness really means, or rather what would truly make them happy. Many are quick to tell you what makes them unhappy, but research has shown that what we "think" would make us happy is not always the case. What is happiness? One of the reasons happiness is so elusive for so many is because it is purely subjective and is different for every type of personality. For example, what might make one person the happiest is an evening to themself with a good book sitting by the fire, while others may find this same activity to be boring because their version of happiness is to be surrounded by friends and family. The fact is that happiness is the general sense of well-being and it comes in almost as many versions as there are people. How does your happiness affect your health? A study at Carnegie Mellon University by psychology professor Sheldon Cohen found that individuals who displayed an over-all sense of well being and had a positive outlook on life were less likely to get as sick as individuals who were suffering from stress, depression or anxiety. In this study, the participants were given nose drops that contained a common influenza virus. The results  showed that the "happy" people when exposed to the virus were less likely to get sick, suffered from fewer symptoms and were sick for a much shorter period of time. The results of this study supports the idea that positive emotions boost your immune system and can help you fight off or lessen the severity of illnesses. Cohen stated in a press release, "We need to take more seriously the possibility that positive emotional style is a major player in disease risk." Were you born happy? Recent discovery of the 5-HTT or "happiness" gene indicates that genetics does play a certain role in our levels of overall satisfaction with life. So, in a sense, you can be born with a positive outlook on life. When a person inherits the 5-HTT gene from both parents your cells are better able to utilize the body chemical called serotonin. Harvard scholar, Mr. De Neve states, "Of course, our well-being isn't determined by this one gene - other genes and especially experience throughout the course of life will continue to explain the majority of variation in individual happiness." What really makes us happy? Many people have dreams of happiness or goals they are working towards in the attempt to find happiness. But do we really know what will make us happy? For many, the goal is financial freedom or wealth, but in truth, wealthy people are no happier than their less fortunate counterparts. Others seem to crave fame and popularity but if you look at the stars in Hollywood their behaviours would indicate that happiness is elusive to famous people too. The truth is that true happiness comes not from our own achievements but from helping others. Studies have shown that acts of philanthropy give us a better sense of well-being than all of the other achievements we often set our sights on. How to be happy and healthy Since science has proven that positive emotions have a direct effect on our health, we need to find ways of improving our sense of well-being. Remove negativity from your life. Sometimes easier said than done, but negativity breeds negativity. If you tend to think of the glass as half empty instead of half full there are mental exercises you can do to help you switch your outlook on life from the negative to the positive. Start counting your blessings. If you shift the focus to the things in your life that are good, you will spend less time focused on the things that are bad. This simple adjustment can make a world of difference to your happiness levels.  Being grateful and practicing gratitude on a daily basis causes a fundamental shift in brain activity leading to a positive realm. Take steps to become more physically fit. Studies have shown that even if a person is not at the peak of physical fitness, if they are taking action to move themselves toward that goal they have a better outlook on life. Reduce stress. One of the reasons people tend to think wealth will make us happy is because the lack of money can cause stress. The amount of stress and anxiety we suffer is directly associated with our sense of unhappiness.  Stress is also known to cause illnesses. Taking steps to de-stress your life should be a priority. Learn to recognise what your stressors are and develop coping techniques to combat them. Do a good deed. As mentioned above, giving others a helping hand gives us the most happiness so be sure to include little acts of kindness in your daily routines. The happiness you receive as a result just may make you live longer! Science has shown us that happiness is the number one key to a quality life and longevity. With the winter months ahead of us, and a statistical increase in more sullen moods as well as depression it is no coincidence that cold and flu season occur at this time of the year. Give your immune system a boost with a healthy dose of happiness. Now that you know happiness has a direct impact on your wellbeing and longevity, what are you going to do? Are you content with your current level of happiness or do you spend much more time focused on negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, hopelessness or even depression? If you realize that your happiness needs a boost, then take out your pen and use the next ten minutes to start working on raising the happiness index in your life. Do it right now, there is no reason to wait.  This is one of the most important areas of your life.  Write down 10 areas of your life that you think can be changed in a way that will make you happier.  Next, map out your strategies for how to get these things to become reality. Once you have completed these steps, then commit to take the actions that you feel will help you the most.  Every day for the next 30 days spend 5 minutes when you get up in the morning and 5 minutes before you go to bed at night reviewing your list and assessing your progress.  After 30 days, you should be well on your way to a happier existence. Read Dr. Weaver's Latest Blog Posts Anti-Aging Supplements- 5 Reasons You Need to Take Them 5 Ways Lupus Can Harm Your Skin And Things You Can Do to Stop It How to Improve Your Health with the Power of Visualization

Restore Your Health and Energy In Spite of Your Age 

There is a saying that youth is wasted upon the young.  Ongoing research into the areas of health, wellness, and anti-aging might one day lead to a change in this statement so that perpetual youthful energy and vibrancy is still a possibility at any age.

While this might sound a little bit far fetched, it is becoming more and more of a possibility as each day goes by.  But, to tap into this realm of existence requires discipline, focused activity, with a specific purpose and target in mind.  So, I would like to ask you a question.

Is age starting to catch up with you?  Do you have less energy or vitality than you had when you were 5, 10, or 20 years younger?  Well if so, you don't have to feel like the Lone Ranger. 

As we age our body starts to not operate as well as it once did.  There are a lot of reasons for this.  Research into the aging process shows that metabolic changes take place within all of the cells of the body and a particular decrease is noticed in structures called "mitochondria" which are the energy reservoirs.  Muscle cells contain the highest concentration of mitochondria, especially cardiac muscle which is found in the heart.  While it is inevitable that these changes will take place, there are two things in particular you can do to make things better: follow a healthy diet or eating plan and exercise.

We'll start with exercise.  I know that most of us don't really always enjoy exercise; however there are fun ways that you can do it.  You can always grab an MP3 player and load up your favorite music or even an audio book and go for a walk.  It doesn't have to be a long walk in the beginning.  Just a walk around the block might be all you can do.  That's better than nothing though.

Perhaps for exercise you can find something that you like to do for fun.  For example, swimming is one of the best forms of exercise out there, working almost all parts of your body.  Simply getting out and playing a game can start you out with some exercise that is more enjoyable.  Get out and shoot some hoops with your kids or nephews or nieces.  Whatever you choose to do, try to get out and do it frequently and build a habit of doing some form of exercise.  Thirty minutes of exercise three days per week can have a big impact on your energy level as well as improve sleep habits, and how your body processes the food you eat.

When it comes to diet and eating healthy, there are lots of things to consider there as well.  Allergies are one of the biggest such as gluten sensitivity and lactose intolerance; the other consideration is whether or not you have a disease of some sort such as diabetes or high blood pressure.  If either of these is true, you need a little consultation before you make too many radical decisions in your eating habits.  This can be in the form of some good research online, or from your physician or a registered dietitian.

There are many foods out there which promote health and wellness.  For example, garlic has been known for centuries to have healing qualities.  Seek out vitamins that are high in fiber, vitamins and protein.  Beans, beans the musical fruit should be redone to read "beans, beans, the magical fruit."  Of course they're not really magical, but they offer great benefits nutritionally in the form of vitamins, protein and fiber.  Beans are definitely a food that you should add to your diet if you're not already.

Stay away from fried food and foods with a lot of fat.  These will clog up your arteries as well as excessive calories that can increase weight.  This, in turn, makes your body work harder to pump blood and will affect your stamina and cardiovascular health in general.  Sure you can eat these things, but like most things, do so in moderation or just occasionally.  Make sure to mix in some fresh fruits like a banana or blueberries with your breakfast.

The two areas of healthy diet and exercise are always a good place to start when it comes to health and wellness.  Used in combination with natural supplements, meditation, healthy relationships, and activities that fulfill your life purpose, diet and exercise will do almost everything you want.   

Do this regularly for at least 30 days and you will be sure to notice an increase in energy as your body becomes healthier. When so inspired, continue this as part of your plan for lifelong health and abundant energy.

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