“Diet is an equal-opportunity killer. People — independent of age, gender, country of residence and socioeconomic status — to some extent are affected by poor dietary habits,” says study co-author Dr. Ashkan Afshin, an assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. “Low intake of healthy foods and high intake of unhealthy foods is the leading cause of mortality, globally and in many countries.” Jamie Ducharme
Time Magazine
wellness
Wellness Tip
4 Wellness Tips
- Learn ways to say “no” when something occurs that you do not want to do or be involved with.
- Have fun (go on a trip with someone you love, go shopping, go fishing; do not let vacation time slip away).
- Let yourself be pleased with your achievements, both big and small (develop contentment).
- Have a network of friends; those with strong social support systems lead healthier lives. SOURCE
Longevity Tip
Coffee is a daily ritual in blue zones areas, as well. Sardinians, Ikarians, and Nicoyans start their days with a cup, lightly sweetened without cream. In addition to a daily cup of coffee, blue zones centenarians drink water, tea and wine.
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Wellness Tip
Taking a 12-minute walk in a public space and thinking to yourself “I wish for this person to be happy” every time you see a passerby may be a surprisingly easy way to make yourself feel better, according to a new study by researchers from Iowa State University. ~ Christopher Bergland
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Wellness Tip
How to Head Off a Headache
Start double-fisting beverages the minute the throbbing begins. “I’ll have a bottle of water in one hand and a coffee in the other,” says Jennifer Ashton, MD, author of Your Body Beautiful and cohost of ABC’s The Revolution. That’s because many headaches are caused by dehydration, while caffeine is known to curb them. If the drinks don’t alleviate the pounding in an hour, she pops ibuprofen.
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Longevity Tip
Rafaella Monne, a 107-year-old from Sardinia said it best: “Life is short. Don’t run so fast you miss it.” Slowing life’s pace may help keep inflammation in check, and apart from its health benefits, it adds richness to life.
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Wellness Tip
Forgive Yourself
If you slip up on vacation and overeat, drink too much, or fail to exercise — forgive yourself. Don’t beat yourself up! Instead, say, “I really enjoyed my vacation,” and let it go at that. Allowing yourself time to enjoy a few indulgences occasionally is OK. If you start to feel guilty for having dessert on a special night out, forgive yourself and start back on your more disciplined program the next day.
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Wellness Tip
Are your nerves keeping you up at night? “When my mind starts racing in bed, I think about the next day’s challenges. Then, I take long breaths, thinking, Breathe in, breathe out,” says Olympic swimmer Rebecca Soni. “It takes practice, but if you do it regularly, your body learns how to relax.”
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Wellness Tip
Feel Good About Yourself Today
Be sure the people around you make you feel good about you — no matter what your size or health condition. In addition, if close friends encourage you to smoke, overeat, or drink too much, find some new friends who have good health habits and also want a healthier you.
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Longevity Tip
A key takeaway from a new book on how to eat and live like “the world’s healthiest people” is that longevity is not just about food.
The people who live in the Blue Zones — five regions in Europe, Latin America, Asia and the U.S. researchers have identified as having the highest concentrations of centenarians in the world — move their bodies a lot. They have social circles that reinforce healthy behaviors. They take time to de-stress. They’re part of communities, often religious ones. And they’re committed to their families.
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