Are your chocolate indulgences tarnished by fears of cholesterol, cavities, pimples and fat? Well fret no more, chocoholic chums – a recent SparkPeople article has set about busting these and other chocolate-coated myths. Now before you install chocolate at the base of your personal food pyramid, take note: the quantities you can savor before the… Continue reading Happiness Life Strategy: Enjoy (a little) chocolate, guilt free!
Category: Health
Happiness Life Strategy: Self-reflection each day keeps the flu bugs away
A new study, reported last month in the media and about to appear in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, looked at the way our bodies produce antibodies in response to infection. (Flu vaccines were used as a proxy for pathogens because the body’s response is similar for the purposes of the study.) Not everybody… Continue reading Happiness Life Strategy: Self-reflection each day keeps the flu bugs away
The joy of text: Choosing prose over Prozac for happiness therapy
Last week I mentioned a study pointing to the psychological benefits of creative pursuits. Now, for the readers among us, there’s more good news. This month The Guardian reported the use of experimental reading groups as a form of therapy. ‘Bibliotherapy’ is being tried across a range of problems – including anxiety and depressive disorders,… Continue reading The joy of text: Choosing prose over Prozac for happiness therapy
Happiness Life Strategy: Consciously look for laughs
If you need a little refresher on technique, Mary Poppins and friends have some notes We all love to laugh (er, don’t we?). But ever since Norman Cousins extolled the therapeutic benefits of Marx Brothers-induced giggles, laughter has been lauded for its healthful effects as well as its pleasurable sensations. According to the latest Fitness… Continue reading Happiness Life Strategy: Consciously look for laughs
Happiness Life Strategy: Don’t drown your sorrows – it’ll just make you sad
If you think alcohol is a good way to feel good when things go bad, think again. A recent SMH article shed light on liquor’s little secret – it can lead to depression. ‘Compared to people who drink because they’re depressed, there are more people who get depressed because they regularly drink too much’, says… Continue reading Happiness Life Strategy: Don’t drown your sorrows – it’ll just make you sad
Sex + dark chocolate = a brainier you. Now that’s gotta make you happy!
Tuesday’s SMH ran a story on a new book telling us what to do, and what to avoid, to keep our brain cells firing at optimal levels. Top brain gainers include copious sex, dark chocolate and cold meats for breakfast. So start your day with a daybreak dalliance, followed by cold, leftover BBQ chicken pizza… Continue reading Sex + dark chocolate = a brainier you. Now that’s gotta make you happy!
Be smart in December – and set yourself up for a happier new year
December can be crazy – shopping crowds, stressful relatives, too much eating, drinking, and spending – too much everything! When the end of the year is filled with excess it can really put the kibosh on your plans for a great start to a happy new year. If you want to avoid falling into the… Continue reading Be smart in December – and set yourself up for a happier new year
Happiness Life Strategy: How NOT to find your lost weight
The November 2007 issue of Australian Women’s Health magazine looks at the strategies of that rare breed of weight-loser – the one who keeps it off. The findings are from the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR), which has more than 6000 members who’ve managed to misplace at least 14kg without finding them again. Founders of… Continue reading Happiness Life Strategy: How NOT to find your lost weight
7 Steps to Becoming a Happier Person
Web MD has an article called Strategies for Happiness: 7 Steps to Becoming a Happier Person By Tom Valeo. Reviewed by Cynthia Dennison Haines, MD. Here’s a quick summary of the 7 strategies from the article: Happiness Strategy # 1: Don’t Worry, Choose Happy First, make a decision to be happy. Then you can select… Continue reading 7 Steps to Becoming a Happier Person
10 ways to avoid cancer
In yesterday’s post we looked at nurturing the good in your life rather than just focusing on the problems. If you’re after ideas for nurturing good health, then look no further than this week’s New Scientist magazine. It reports on the very latest findings from the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for… Continue reading 10 ways to avoid cancer