Mental Attitude: Eating Together?
Family dinners are associated with lower incidences of teen depression, substance use, and delinquency. Family meals may afford a regular and positive context for parents to connect with kids emotionally, to monitor their social and academic activities, and to convey values and expectations.
Journal of Marriage and Family, June 2012
Health Alert: I’ll Have Another.
There is good evidence that moderate alcohol consumption protects against heart disease, but when all of the chronic disease risks are balanced against each other, the optimal consumption level is much lower than many people believe. Researchers analyzed the link between alcohol consumption and 11 chronic diseases (five cancers, coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cirrhosis of the liver, epilepsy, and diabetes), and concluded that limiting alcohol consumption to half a drink a day (1/2 glass of wine or 1/2 can of beer) would save more lives.
BMJ Open, May 2012
Diet: Hurry and Get Curry.
The spice turmeric is an ingredient in curries and has been used for 2,500 years as a major part of the Ayurvedic system of medicine in India. A compound found in the spice called curcumin can increase the levels of a protein known to be vital in the immune system. It’s possible that sustained consumption over time may be healthy and protect against infection, especially in the stomach and intestinal tract.
Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, June 2012
Exercise: Good Reasons.
Exercise improves respiratory muscle strength, improves muscle endurance, reduces your risk of having a stroke, and helps you burn excess calories.
Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996
Chiropractic: Take A Deep Breath.
Chiropractic care can increase the ability for the lungs to inflate and the ribcage to move, helping you breathe better.
Wellness/Prevention: Increasing Fiber.
Only 1% of adolescents consumed the recommended daily intake of fiber, 28 grams for females and 38 grams for males. On average, they consumed only one-third of the recommendation. Those who don’t eat enough fiber tend to have bigger bellies and higher levels of inflammatory factors in their blood, both major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, June 2012