Wellness For Real People

Do you ever feel like your mind is running 100 miles per minute? Racing thoughts can manifest as repetitive fixations or aimlessly bouncing between various topics. Let’s explore a few helpful strategies to manage racing thoughts, which are often associated with anxiety. Here are five strategies from Matthew Solan with Harvard Health to break the cycle of anxiety and put your mind at ease: Give you...

These are challenging times. With so much uncertainty and stress, it can be difficult to shut our minds off and get the quality sleep we need each day. But the benefits of better sleep can include: enhanced short-term stress management, more energy, better mood, and a strengthened immune system. Suzanne Bertisch, from Harvard Health offers some practical tips to improve our sleep, and in turn, our...

Did you know? Heart disease is the nation's leading cause of death. Julie Corliss, with Harvard Health offers 5 five important numbers that can give you a good picture of overall health, and help lower your chance of a heart attack or stroke: Blood pressure: Below 120/80 mm Hg. High blood pressure can damage blood vessels, promote plaque buildup, enlarge the heart, and increase the risk of st...

Did you know? The average American breaks their New Year's resolution on January 17th. Focusing on small steps can lead to sustainable changes. Dr. Stephen Kopecky, a Mayo Clinic preventive cardiologist, recommends focusing on the NEWSSSS approach: Nutrition, Exercise, Weight Management, Sleep, Stress, Smoking, and Spirits (alcohol). Here are a few highlights:  Nutrition: Eat plenty of fruits...

Most of us are not getting enough exercise, and it’s putting our health at risk. According to the latest study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, adults should get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 to 100 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity per week. Muscle strengthening should be done twice per week. For children aged 6 to 17, it is recommended...

Why do we stress eat and how can we stop?  According to Dr. Susan Albers, when we are stressed, our body produces cortisol, which increases appetite and prompts the body to seek out extra calories to prepare for fight or flight. However, in today's world, stressors are not typically life-threatening, so eating to fight off stress is not so helpful.  Stress eating only provides a temporary sen...

In short, it depends. While snacking often gets a bad reputation, it can provide healthy fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals if chosen intentionally. In this episode, we discuss an article from the Mayo Clinic in which author Meredith Bonde shares the potential benefits of snacking as a tool for weight management.  Snacking can also prevent overeating later in the day by keeping you feeling ful...

Contrary to popular belief, it is not career achievement, money, exercise, or a healthy diet that keep us happier, healthier, and help us live longer. An 85 year old study conducted by Harvard researchers found the most consistent factor that makes us happy in life is positive relationships.  We cannot take relationships for granted. They require exercise to ensure they are healthy and balanced. T...

In this episode, we discuss the pressure to "fit everything in."  According to a recent article from the Mayo Clinic, trying to do "fit everything in" often leads to filling our days with activities that we may not value. Making the best decisions about how we spend our time requires mindfulness and attention to what is truly important in our lives.  We have to consciously deci...

Today, we’re talking about 10 Strange Things Stress Can Do To Your Body. We discuss an article by Doctors Susan Albers and Richard Lang, published in the Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials Newsletter. Juwon and I share highlights from the article and personal stories that relate to the topics shared in the article. Albers, S., & Lang, R. (2023). 10 Strange Things Stress Can Do to Your Body. Re...

Today we’re talking about the top ways for you to get fit or stay fit in 2023. Brittney Reese, co-founder of Fit & Nu, shares her top habits to adopt, what people get wrong in their fitness journey, and what you can do today to achieve your goals. Welcome to Wellness For Real People! This show is for people who are looking for ways to live their best lives. We interview experts in mindfulness,...