Your Daily Source for Alternative Health News & Tips
The use of antidepressants has skyrocketed over the last two decades, and was the third most common prescription drug taken by Americans of all ages from 2005 to 2008. Females are 2 ½ times more likely than men to take anti-depressants Continue reading
A recent study by American and Italian neuroscientists sheds new light on why it may be so difficult to lose weight. Research results show that complex processes in the brain’s hypothalamus instruct you to eat enough to maintain your current weight, regardless of whether it is healthy or not. Once a heavier weight is the norm, your brain resets, accepting it as the norm. Continue reading
One thing that most Americans seem to fight against is aging. We do our best to nip, tuck, surgically alter and hide all the visible signs of our aging bodies. However, many of these procedures and products do more damage than good. In a new study, researchers have discovered how some skin care products containing pure gold nanoparticles can accelerate aging and wrinkling while slowing wound healing due to their interference with fat storage. Continue reading
Do you wake up tired in the morning, unable to function without your cup or two of coffee? Do you crave high carb snacks and often fall asleep mid afternoon, only to stay up till all hours of the night, wired and unable to rest? Wrapped tighter than a ball of twine, many people find themselves unable to reduce speeds long enough to give their body adequate rest. Sound familiar? Continue reading
We often talk about illness and disease as being something out of our control. Like we are unwilling victims of … Keep Reading
A good night of restful sleep is key to feeling your best and maintaining an optimal energy level throughout the day. Furthermore, new studies have shown that even partial sleep deprivation can lead to decreased cardiovascular function and negative effects on breathing. Continue reading
Stress has been called “the silent killer” and can lead to heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and other serious medical conditions. The term stress is a derivative of the Latin word stringere which means to draw tight. Stress can change blood sugar levels, encourage mood swings, fatigue, high blood sugar and metabolic syndrome. Continue reading
Many of us have heard that meditation has an array of benefits, but are unsure as to specifically what they are. We have heard that it promotes mental clarity and relaxation, but so does a walk in the park. So the question remains, what are the specific benefits of this ancient practice, and is there any scientific evidence for them? The answer can be found in analyzing the effects of meditation on the human brain. Continue reading
There is nothing quite so distracting as a pounding headache. Headaches can range from mild to severe, even temporarily debilitating. There are many different types of headaches caused by any number of things including dehydration, diet, lack of sleep, stress, and hormones. Continue reading
Studies have confirmed what many of us know but few of us wish to admit: our Nation’s guilty pleasures, fast food addictions and quick-fix mentality are leading us down a tragedy-filled path to our own demise.
America’s average life expectancy is lagging behind other wealthy countries, and new research has shown that most of the lag is due to the high death rate of the 50-and-under population. Death tolls from health and diet-related issues, prescription drug abuse and traffic accidents abound, and many of us still choose to remain oblivious to the simple truth that taking good care of our bodies and our minds now can literally save our lives.
Compared to citizens of other nations, Americans are statistically more likely to eat high-fat, calorie-intensive and processed foods. Dr. Richard Woolf of the National Research Council acted as the lead author on a report comparing the health and longevity of people living in the United States versus populations worldwide. He and his colleagues found that Americans in all age groups up to age 75 have shorter lifespans and a higher rate of disease and injury than other developed countries. Summarizing the report, he says, “what struck us — and it was quite sobering — was the recurring trend in which the U.S. seems to be slipping behind other high-income countries.”
In fact, the study found that the United States was lagging behind other nations in nine key subjects: heart disease, chronic lung disease, obesity and diabetes, drug-related deaths, disability, injuries, homicides, birth outcomes, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancies. Some of these areas can be explained by our diet trends and commercial media – both of which are centered on instant gratification. Others could potentially be a symptom of not taking the time to quiet our minds and meditate before choosing an action.
Many accidents, especially traffic accidents, could be theoretically avoided if meditation was a part of our daily lives and drivers adopted the principles of mindfulness while on the roads. Everyday ‘road rage’ and reckless driving would diminish if we took the time to breathe, reflect and channel our frustrations.
It is no secret that our Nation loves junk food. Americans consume about 4,000 calories per day, which is much higher than any other country. All too often, they are empty, chemical-filled calories from processed snacks and beverages. We choose not to pay attention to our bodies, and the results are chronic, non-communicable illnesses which other more health-conscious nations do no suffer in such large numbers.
On this disturbing trend, Dr. Woolf comments, “(this) wasn’t always the case. But over the past 20 years, the consumption of high-calorie foods and refined sugars and other dietary causes of obesity has increased dramatically in the United States in comparison to these other countries.” Additionally, our media is focused on instilling an instant craving in the consumer, and as a result, television commercials and web pages are saturated with images of corporate logos and greasy burgers that the ads tell us we’ve ‘gotta have now.’
Another symptom of our quick-fix lifestyle is our nationwide epidemic of prescription drug abuse. Jessica Ho, a doctoral student in demography and sociology at the University of Pennsylvania, published a study outlining the excessive mortality rates of Americans under 50. She found that a surprisingly high number of these deaths could be attributed to prescription drug overdoses. “These deaths have flown under the radar until recently,” Ho said. “This study shows that they are an important factor in our life expectancy shortfall relative to other countries.” These findings are not overly surprising considering the availability of these drugs and the intensity with which they are targeted to Americans of all ages. The medical attitude, “there’s a pill for that” is leading to a climbing number of needless deaths.
In order to reverse America’s downward spiral of poor health and lifestyle choices, we need to change our attitude as a whole. The secret to health and longevity worldwide is simple – countries with populations that live the longest, such as Japan and Sweden, have diets rich in fresh fruits, vegetables and fish, and minimal processing of their ingredients. Citizens of Iceland are notorious for their high rate of gym memberships, and their health statistics reflect the positive results. If Americans were to focus on disease prevention through healthy diet, exercise and mindful meditation, we may succeed in dramatically lowering the death tolls from causes that are largely within our control.
- The Alternative Daily
Sources:
http://www.upenn.edu/pennnews/news/penn-study-links-us-mortality-rates-under-age-50-us-life-expectancy-lagging-other-high-income-c
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/01/09/168976602/u-s-ranks-below-16-other-rich-countries-in-health-report
http://www.webmd.com/news/20130104/americans-sicker-other-nations
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/7-countries-with-the-healthiest-people.html
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