Monthly Archives: June 2019

Fostering Happiness Right Now

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If you ask most of our whole health students what they want in their lives and what is most important, they will likely tell you that they “want to be happy.” The desire for happiness is a universal want. It transcends culture, geography, age, and social status. The topic of happiness even finds its way into the academia, an example of its pervasiveness.

The most popular course at Harvard Medical School is a course on happiness. Taught by Harvard psychology professor Tal D. Ben-Shahar, Ph.D., the course is so popular that students wait a year or longer to get in.

A Different Take

Happiness is traditionally defined as a state of well-being and contentment, joy, a pleasurable or satisfying experience; yet many people report that happiness is elusive or too often fleeting at best.

Modern happiness gurus like Ben-Shahar offer an altered take on what happiness is or can be. They invite us to walk around the subject and take a different look at the almost mystical feeling called happiness. They suggest not an “I’ll be happy when…” perspective, but allowing ourselves to see how happiness can be enjoyed anytime we choose to have gratitude and joy about the daily, simple blessings in our life. Like completing accomplishments such as the health coach certification, which brings great pride.

Happy Right Now

The lesson is that there are things we can be happy about right now and continue to be happy about throughout the day, no matter what else has happened or is going on. These things and experiences are already built into our lives, and it is just a matter of focusing on the simple pleasures and joys these opportunities can provide. They also provide an opportunity to improve their patients’ experiences by encouraging them to embrace the little bits of good, even in times of illness, which tend to bring a sense of discontent.

Things That Spark Happiness:

  • The peace and tranquility of rising early in the morning.
  • The first taste of food and drink in the morning.
  • Listening to birds singing.
  • Watching strangers laugh and smile.
  • Enjoying natural beauty.
  • Working cooperatively with others.
  • Curling up with a good book on a rainy day.
  • The pleasure of lying down on clean, soft bedding.
  • Time with your best friend.
  • Being kissed.
  • The smell of apple pie baking.
  • A moment of love shared with family.
  • A home-cooked meal.
  • A freshly cleaned bathroom.
  • A long, hot bath or shower.
  • Music that moves you.
  • Sharing stories and memories.
  • Being hugged.
  • Breathing deeply.
  • Completing a task or project.
  • Time in a garden.

Think of all the things in your day that can bring joy or happiness when you allow yourself to be in the moments of your life, and share your hours and days with others and with yourself. Happiness is all around us. It is often just a matter of allowing ourselves to embrace it. Consider how you can apply this to your experiences throughout the health coach certification.

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The Role Ketones Play In Improving Health Quality

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A 6-month study carried out by Eric Westman showed that following the keto diet had a 95% success rate in reducing insulin dependency for patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This is just one of the many benefits keto has to offer. Ketogenetic diets primarily work by inducing a state of Ketosis, where the body burns its own fat to produce ketones which fuel it.

Ketones are an essential need for this process to take place, as they take the place of blood glucose used for energy production. More to this, the state has shown other health benefits that promote whole person health. It builds better brain performance, lowers cholesterol levels, increases insulin sensitivity, and helps in weight loss and maintenance. It is, however, recommended to seek professional guidance in order to gain the necessary knowledge and to find out if you are eligible.

Ketones In Everyday Mammalian Life

Ketones are present in all mammals, including human beings. Everyone produces a small amount in their sleep when they haven’t had a meal for a few hours. They are a source of energy for body tissue, and are used by the brain during starvation. Having elevated levels of ketones in the body, a condition known as ketoacidosis can, however, be dangerous, as it throws blood pH off balance, making it acidic. This is why testing your ketone levels is important. The acid in question is released through exhalation or in urine, and can also be detected in the blood. This means you can easily carry out a ketone test at home using your urine or blood. People diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes are more prone to this kind of condition, and need ketone level monitoring. Ketosis is different from ketoacidosis, as it is a biologically adapted state which improves your health, while the latter is harmful.

Ketones Improve Brain Functionality

The production of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is helpful in building long term memory. Beta-hydroxybutyrate is a form of ketone produced during ketosis that helps the cognitive ability to hold information for longer periods. This is because it provides more energy for the brain cells, which use it up to 70% more efficiently. One way to encourage this function is by increasing your healthy fat intake, such as by consuming more omega-3. It boosts the production of a fatty acid DHA, which makes up 15% to 30% of the brain. It brings better clarity, as well as improves memory. So effective are ketones in boosting brain functionality that the keto diet has been used to help patients diagnosed with neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Ketones Improve Metabolism-Related Problems

Ketones as a source of energy improve mitochondrial function and biogenesis, in turn positively affecting metabolism. Metabolic coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide NAD is essential for mitochondrial health. NAD levels significantly increase when ketones are used for energy instead of glucose. With this, various metabolism problems are resolved in a much more efficient way. These problems include abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated fasting blood sugar levels, high triglycerides, and low “good” HDL cholesterol levels. An intentional increase by utilizing ketogenetic diets has therefore been recommended for people with the above metabolic syndrome symptoms to improve their health.

A ketogenetic diet is not the only way to improve ketogenesis, the process through which ketone bodies are formed. You can also stimulate the process by increasing your physical activity, fasting and increasing your intake of medium-chain triglycerides, such as coconut oil. All these help you achieve ketosis, which is healthy from time to time for the body. Burning the fat reserves will help you maintain a healthy weight, and in turn save you many weight-related diseases. As an added advantage, the improved health and functioning of brain cells help with anti-aging in senior adults.

For more whole health discussions, listen to my weekly radio show Living Above The Drama. Also available on iHeartRadio.

Author Credit: Allie Oliver

Mighty Muscles and Bones: How Do The Muscular And Skeletal Systems Help Us Work?

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Our Mighty Muscles And Bones

In the past our accredited health program has explored the nervous system, brain function, cranial nerves, digestive function, adrenal function, and the immune system. Now let’s take a look at the most glamorized, yet under-appreciated, part of our body—our mighty muscles and bones. So, how do the muscular and skeletal systems help us work?

Muscular Attraction

The muscles get a lot of attention with regard to how they can make us look attractive and sexy to others. Our muscle tone communicates how healthy our body is. The strength of the muscles, the lack of water retention or fat in the muscles, and how flexible we are, all indicate that we may be a good reproductive partner and produce strong, healthy offspring. This is one of the functions we all can relate to, but it is certainly not the most important function of our muscles.

Try to imagine what your life would be like if your muscle tissue could not form the shape of your body. What if it didn’t allow you to physically move around your environment? Without locomotion, thru muscle strength and movement, we would be a lump of humanity, never moving from the spot we found ourselves in.

Mighty Bones

Our bones are so amazing too. Remember that apart from their distinctive and critical role as part of the immune system carrying precious bone marrow, they are the armature upon which our muscles are draped. Bones allow cooperation between the muscles, to physically move, play, exercise, work, eat, sleep and achieve all of the mobility we experience throughout our day.

When we look at people stooped over with distorted posture and their musculature not functioning properly, we immediately associate this with either being ill or not “vital.” Our posture is the number one thing people notice, followed by how we are dressed. Our body language is expressed thru our bone/muscle function. In essence, our personality and how we view the world are all communicated in how we move through the space we inhabit.

Working Together

Physiology teaches that our muscles and bones not only share the work load in glucose and immune regulation, body heat production, fat metabolism, mineral storage, and the ability for “fight or flight”—self-preservation. They also communicate to the world what we think about ourselves, others, and the world through the expression of body movement and non-verbal communication. This can be one of the most attractive or frightening aspects about us – depending on how we express our movement and actions.

Keeping your muscles and bones strong thru exercise and a healthy diet is a wise move. Without them, we are literally “going nowhere.”

For more whole health discussions, listen to my weekly radio show Living Above The Drama. Also available on iHeartRadio.

Avoid Boredom To Live Longer And Healthier

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Do you know anyone who is often bored on a regular basis? Do you find yourself feeling bored? A study, conducted in the United Kingdom identified a connection between individuals who experience chronic boredom and a shorter life expectancy. The expression being “bored to death” has some literal truth in it, according to the 1980’s UK study that followed 7,500 civil servants in the UK for a period of 25 years. NIWH explores the study to see what applications can be derived from the results.

Bored To Death

The study conducted interviews on the civil servants, recording attitudes and their outlook on life. The updates continued until 25 years after the initial interviews. The data found that subjects who stated they were bored in the original interview screening were almost 40% more likely to have died during the 25 year period than those who found life to be interesting.

This same study revealed that people living with “high levels of tedium” were 2.5 times more likely to die of heart disease than those who lived a more varied lifestyle. This particular study is a wonderful example of the connection between our mind and body and how our thoughts and feelings have a huge impact on our health and even longevity.

Examining Discontent

According to Daily Health News journalist Lauren Zander, most of us live with experiences of boredom, but when our lives take on a chronic sense of boredom, the effects can be destructive to our work, relationships and, ultimately, our health and longevity. When we are willing to examine what aspects of our lives feel “boring,” we can identify in which areas of our life we feel stuck, frustrated or unfulfilled. This allows us to make a plan and take action toward change.

Boredom is a loss of interest or enthusiasm for aspects of your life. You “go through the motions” rather than being engaged and enjoying life. For instance, in personal relationships it is easy to get in a rut and not look for new ways of enjoying the company of the people we care about most. By taking a step back and looking at our relationships as if we were meeting the person for the first time, this brings a renewed perspective and interest in what we may take for granted on a daily basis.

Renovate Your Life

This information lends to several suggestions. To start, your work, family life, or love life is leaving you disinterested or bored, try “renovating” your relationship by adding new and imaginative ways to refresh your communication or shared experience. Kiss your special someone in the car instead of waiting to get home to physically connect. Bring home some special “treats” your kids or partner will love and serve it with breakfast, lunch or brunch instead of going out to eat. Plan a lunch time activity at your office with co-workers or a mystery party at home with your friends to liven up rapport.

Find new ways to refresh your relationships and your life. Encourage those around you to do the same. It’s not only fun, but this can help you live a longer and healthier life!

For more whole health discussions, listen to my weekly radio show Living Above The Drama. Also available on iHeartRadio.