Alternative Health

Avoiding genetically modified (GM) foods is a challenge, as mostly they remain unlabeled. Many consumers are also confused about what these foods are, or are under the persistent misconception that “all foods have been modified anyway.” That is not true, and there are stark differences between foods that have changed through the creation of heirloom […]

The release of the Mister Rogers documentary, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” calls to mind the essential message of Rogers’ long-running children’s program, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” Fred McFeely Rogers, who died in 2003, was also an ordained Presbyterian minister. Over the course of three decades on public broadcasting, he brought to millions of children what […]

A lot of the time, life can be pretty stressful. You feel like you’re treading water, or drowning from an overwhelming number of things to do. Or maybe you feel bad about yourself because you’re not sticking to things, you’re in debt, you’re overweight, you feel like you keep messing up. Your relationships might be […]

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a delicious and healthy tropical fruit. It’s believed to have originated in South America, where early European explorers named it after its resemblance to a pinecone (1). This popular fruit is packed with nutrients, antioxidants and other helpful compounds, such as enzymes that can fight inflammation and disease. Pineapple and its […]

A new study has yielded a radically different picture of aging in America, finding that how old you are plays little or no role in determining differences in health and well-being. The researchers say the results suggest the medical community is focusing on the wrong set of factors to determine risk of dying. Rather than […]

We make tough decisions all the time, but choices related to money send many of us running in the other direction. The science of decision-making offers some explanations for why we do this: We’re befuddled by too many choices, content to defer to our partner, or think we don’t have the expertise to do a […]

There’s a part of us that wants to find peace from all the chaos in our lives, all the busyness and distractions and complications and stress and overwhelmingness of it all. We want to get away from it all, or get control of everything and create order out of the mess. We want stillness, we […]

We all need moments of solitude, but people are primarily social creatures. Connecting with others gives us a sense of meaning and purpose, and helps us make our way in the world. That is why social anxiety can be so devastating—it injures our ability to connect. Sometimes known as “social phobia,” this affliction can turn […]

Every four minutes, someone in Australia is diagnosed with cancer. Only 1 in 10 of those diagnosed will exercise enough during and after their treatment. But every one of those patients would benefit from exercise. I’m part of Australia’s peak body representing health professionals who treat people with cancer, the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia. […]

In 2014, a chess competitor collapsed during his final match of the Chess Olympiad in Norway. Within hours, another was found dead in his hotel room. Earlier, a chess grandmaster died of a heart attack while playing a tournament game in Finland in 2000. Within the same year, another player died after having a stroke […]

A gnawing sense of irrelevancy and invisibility suddenly hits many aging adults, as their life roles shift from hands-on parent to empty nester, or from workaholic to retiree. Self-worth and identity may suffer as that feeling that you matter starts to fade. Older adults see it in the workplace when younger colleagues seem uninterested in […]

Many couples come to my office because they don’t feel deeply connected. Often, one of them is lonely in the relationship because they feel like they can’t bridge the distance. These couples describe their relationships as containing little intimacy. But something recently reminded me of the divine ingredients of connection and how simple—but not easy—it […]

A solar term is a period of about two weeks and is based on the sun’s position in the zodiac. Solar terms form the traditional Chinese calendar system. The calendar follows the ancient Chinese belief that living in accordance with nature will enable one to live a harmonious life. This article series explores each solar […]

You’re starting a project or a new exercise plan, and it’s in shaky, new territory for you. You feel doubt about whether you can do it, and so you’re tensely doing everything you can to make sure it will turn out the way you hope. The stress, fear, doubt, and tension you feel likely come […]

The simple act of holding your loved one’s hand may be more powerful than it seems, especially for those in pain. According to a study by researchers at University of Colorado and University of Haifa, when couples hold hands, their brainwaves sync, and pain is eased. The study looked at 22 heterosexual couples between 23 […]

About two years ago, I suffered from a bout of tendinitis in my right elbow. Most of the time it caught me off guard because it wouldn’t be particularly painful until, suddenly, it was. As soon as I did any pushing, pulling, or curling motion, a sharp, no-nonsense pain reminded me that my elbow was […]

Are Americans becoming lonelier? On May 1, NPR reported on a survey about loneliness conducted by Cigna, a large health insurance company. Cigna asked more than 20,000 American adults if they agreed with statements like “People are around me but not with me” and “No one really knows me well.” The survey found that younger […]

The fast pace of the business world—where competition is the rule and return on investment decides everything—can be challenging for business students. They are expected to know the rules of business inside and out, but they also need to learn to master their emotions to enable them to make efficient and ethical decisions. A traditional […]

Classical musicians and elite athletes might not appear to have much in common. One is concerned with artistry, the other with physicality. But whether they are on the stage or the field, holding a violin or football, there is a constant pressure for them to perform under the spotlight.This ongoing stress can mean classical musicians […]

Yesterday, we arrived back home from a monthlong trip to Tokyo and Guam. Today, I’ve been on a lovely spree, clearing out inboxes, processing paper mail, taking care of finances, and getting my work and life in order. It turns out to be one of my favorite simple pleasures: coming back home and clearing things […]

We are all aware that exercise can improve physical fitness and strength. But what do we know about the effects of specific types of exercise? Researchers have already shown that jogging can increase life expectancy, for example, while yoga makes us happy. However, martial arts go beyond enhancing physical and mental health—they can boost your […]

A solar term is a period of about two weeks and is based on the sun’s position in the zodiac. Solar terms form the traditional Chinese calendar system. The calendar follows the ancient Chinese belief that living in accordance with nature will enable one to live a harmonious life. This article series explores each solar […]

Our days are often filled with things we have to do and things we do to comfort ourselves from the stress and tiredness from doing what we have to do. The result: We end up putting off what we really want to do. Think about that for a second. Our days are filled with “have to do” stuff and […]

Anger is like a wild animal trying to deliver an urgent message. The better our ability to control that animal and interpret its message, the better we make our lives, and the lives of those around us. Because of its volatile nature and reputation for violence, anger is typically considered a negative emotion, but it […]

A decade ago, I wrote about “Haiku Productivity” and how limits can make us more productive, more focused, and better able to prioritize and simplify. The idea comes from haiku poetry, in which the poet is limited to three lines and (essentially) 17 syllables. Such a crazy limit, and yet the poetry that can be […]

The day I became truly rich was the day the millions of dollars I held on to so tightly were gone. Sounds crazy, right? Don’t get me wrong—if someone handed me a check for millions today, I would gladly take it. The difference is, today I would know what to do with it. It’s taken […]

We’ve all seen it happen: An older friend or family member retires, is diagnosed with a serious illness, or loses a spouse. Suddenly, this individual’s world is altered, sometimes beyond recognition. He has reached a fork in the road; will he get stuck or find a way to regroup and move on? In a new […]