Become an Intuitive Eater One of the newest health diet trends, intuitive eating, is not really a diet at all. There is no “good” or bad foods or tedious calorie counting. Intuitive eating is about really paying attention to how your body feels says Tracy L. Tylka, a professor of psychology at Ohio State. There are four main characteristics of this approach: labeling no foods as forbidden, avoiding emotional eating, trusting when your body is hungry and using cues to healthful food choices and choosing foods that make the person feel good in his or her body and that taste good. It takes the stress that we can so easily let revolve around food that people become more open in social situations. Tylka calls it the “antithesis of dieting”—a freeing concept that challenges us to become more in tune with our own bodies and encouraging healthy food choices while not shaming our psyche when we indulge from time to time. Early imposed thought processes about food such as the “clean plate club” messes with our concept of food, and prevents us from thinking about it as is really is nourishment. Unfortunately, the multi-million dollar dieting industry promises quick fixes, and on average, two-thirds of people who do lose weight on a gimmicky diet gain it all back over the course of four years. Get in tune with your body, and honor your hunger instead of feeling guilty about it. It might just free yourself up enough to love yourself more, make better choices and lose the shame associated with a few extra pounds.
Keep Your Gums Healthy It’s time to make that dentist appointment that you’ve have been dreading. Gum disease is a widespread occurrence. But, ignoring your symptoms can lead to much more significant dental problems such as losing some of your pearly whites. Indicators of gum disease are bleeding gums, red gums, swollen gums and tender gums. Chronic halitosis or bad breath that does not respond to brushing or the use of mouthwash, mints or gum is another common gum disease symptom. “Although strong oral hygiene practices are key to managing gum disease; it can not be treated with at-home care alone,” Dr. Dale Spencer. In its earliest stages, gingivitis and gum disease can be fully treated with advanced dental care as the disease progresses to later stages, the condition gradually destroys the healthy tooth and bone structures eventually leading to tooth loss. For this reason, Dr. Spencer recommends patients visit their dentist for regular check-ups and take note of any symptoms of gum disease.
Spend more time with your Grandchildren Two recent studies found there are direct health benefits from grandparents who have active participation in their grandchildren’s lives were more likely to be alive five years longer than those that reported no involvement with theirs. And in another study, researchers found that grandparents who watched their grandchildren one day per week had higher cognitive scores than those who never did. “Having a close connection once or twice per week can be really beneficial, [for] both the mood and for health,” said Dr. Carolyn Kaloostian, a geriatric medicine specialist in Pasadena, California. Simple fun activities like taking a walk, flying a kite or trips to the park can have very healthy effects for both the child and the grandparent.
It ain’t Your Mama’s Marijuana The U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams recently issued a warning on marijuana’s “known and potential harms” on developing brains, noting its link to problems with attention, memory and IQ levels. He warned against the rise of use in adolescents and pregnant women. “Not enough people know that today’s marijuana is far more potent than in days’ past.” Adams said. “This ain’t your mother’s marijuana.” The high potency can make it easier to become addicted, and in states like Colorado where it has been legalized, use among pregnant women is on the rise, resulting in low birth weight babies, pre-term births and higher admittance to a neonatal intensive unit. The warning also said that the state-level legalization of marijuana is creating a false sense of security among young people leading them to believe the drug is safer to use than it is. This is the first surgeon general’s warning on marijuana since 1982.