The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health publishes a wealth of information online. This morning, I opened my mail to information on music and health.
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A lecture I gave last week.
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I have written Morning Pages for years. For those of you not familiar with the concept, see Julia Cameron’s web site or read her book The Artist’s Way.
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Anxiety in the general population has been increasing for years. Add the fear, social isolation, economic impact, and disruption to our routines that go along with a global pandemic, and we have a real problem on our hands. And then there's the comfort food we're eating. Ultra-processed diet is associated with anxiety and depression. The systemic inflammation is thought to at least partially involve the microbiome.
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Most Americans don’t eat enough fiber. And most Americans don’t drink enough water. Staying hydrated to regulate body temperature helps maintain body weight, prevent infections, and keep organs functioning properly. Being well-hydrated also improves sleep quality, cognition, and mood.
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Obesity is a global epidemic and is far more prevalent in countries that adopt Western patterns of eating. Western patterns of eating include highly processed foods with lots of sugar and fat and the removal of fiber. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines processed food as one that has undergone any change to its natural state
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Many of us have had the opportunity to focus on our health during the Covid-19 pandemic. Exercise has a myriad of benefits to health and mental well being and is one of the pillars of wellness.. Most of us are familiar with the "runners high." Many exercise specifically for this feeling. The "high" is not limited to running. One can feel bliss with any sustained physical activity. An interesting article on TED focuses on the phenomenon.
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Loneliness is a significant issue in the United States. Loneliness is a subjective feeling of being alone and anxious or depressed over the isolation. According to some estimates, more than one-fifth of the United States population suffers from loneliness. The seriousness of the epidemic has only risen with the global pandemic of Covid-19.
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The global COVID-19 pandemic is causing a crisis in mental and physical health. One way to buffer yourself from the virus is to pay attention to sleep, nutrition, and stress management. Few interventions have more of an effect on stress management than Meditation. I pointed out some of these benefits, in my entry: Meditation, the facts.. As COVID-19 tears across the country, I find myself recommending meditation practice over and over again. Beginning the practice of Meditation will be the topic of today’s entry.
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I've been a practitioner of meditation for more than a decade. I wish I had started sooner. I'm often asked about the evidence behind the practice of meditation. Davidson and Goleman, two meditation experts, wrote Altered Traits.
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