You often hear about the negative effects of stress. But it is important to understand how stress can be beneficial, too. There are both good and bad types of stress. Any plan for increasing general well-being should be centered around the reduction and management of stress. However, stressful experiences can also be entertaining and enriching.…
You may have heard the term “endotoxin” before. If so, you probably know it’s bad (its root word is “toxin” after all). But you may not fully understand what it is or how it affects your health. In this post, I explain the definition of endotoxin, the effects of endotoxin, and how your diet…
If you read my previous post, you already know that novel experience is shown to have a tremendous positive impact on health and healing. New sensations and experiences, such as those introduced through environmental enrichment, help to enhance brain plasticity, learning, and self-confidence. They also aid in the treatment and prevention of things like anxiety, depression,…
Why seek out new sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and moments? Novel experiences are not only fun and memorable. They’re also shown to have a tremendous positive impact on health and healing. That’s right—scientific evidence supports the idea that new experiences like traveling to a new city, learning a new sport, exploring a museum exhibit, or…
The state of matter we call life is marked by a continual flow of energy through the cell. The relationship between the cell, its internal environment, and its external environment, is essential for promoting positive development as well as healing and recovery. When the body undergoes stress—whether mental, physical, emotional, nutritional, or toxic—this can lead…
There is an important concept in my coaching method I refer to as the foundation of understanding. This concept is key to getting motivated—and staying motivated—along the path to health and happiness. I believe that cultivating a strong foundation of knowledge and understanding is a necessary first step toward realizing your desired experience in life.…
People often talk about “holiday stress.” But what does that really mean? Are the holidays stressful in and of themselves? Why do tasks like holiday shopping, decorating, cooking, and wrapping presents stress some people out, while making others feel joyful and cheery? These two very different responses to so-called “stressful” events help to highlight the…
You probably already know that your cognitive and emotional states affect your physical health and the way your body functions (e.g., psychosocial stress can have a negative impact on heart health). But did you know that the converse is also true? Chemicals taken in from your environment as well as produced within your cells affect…
Beauty perception in our society is unfortunately very narrow. Our standards for health and beauty tend to be very high, specific, and unrealistic. We idealize body sizes and shapes characterized as “thin,” “lean,” and “athletic,” while looking down on (and discriminating against) people who are viewed as “fat” and “out of shape.” This outlook is…
What causes heart disease and “clogged arteries” (i.e. atherosclerosis)? Well, there are many contributing factors to look at when exploring the causes of heart disease. The first step is to understand the nature of the disease itself, which is explained in my previous post: The Truth About Clogged Arteries. Next, you’ll want to take a…