November 2024

Hello, and welcome to this month's article. Happy Holidays! It’s that time again! Are you ready for the holiday season?

Be sure to plan ahead so you can enjoy your holidays and limit your stress levels.

There is so much health information available today that it can be overwhelming. Where do you start? Focusing on the basics—getting proper rest and exercise, handling stress, eating well, and drinking adequate water daily—goes a long way to keeping you healthy. Then you can add in other health tips as you learn about them.

This month’s articles address how massage helps to handle stress and how pervasive sugar cravings are these days. And high intake of sugar can lead to obesity, diabetes, certain cancers, and heart disease.

As the holiday festivities and visits get underway, I hope you make the most of the season being with the people you love and cherish.

And thanks for your continued trust and for allowing me to contribute to your well being.

Make all your days better by making massage a high priority!

Have a wonderful holiday season; I’ll see you soon!

Scientific proof that massage can reduce stress during the holidays

The holidays can be a stressful time, even if you love the season.

A survey conducted last year by the American Psychological Association found that 38% of people said their stress levels increased over the holidays and that this effect was more marked in women than in men (44% vs 31%). Other surveys have found that much higher numbers — as many as 90% — of people get stressed out over the holidays about a variety of things. These include money, weight gain, crowds and long lines, travel, and spending time with relatives. And this stress can have real consequences on both physical and psychological well being.

Fortunately, massages ... can help you cope with the skyrocketing stress levels associated with the most wonderful time of the year. If people are looking for scientific evidence that massage can reduce stress, here is a roundup of findings about the effects of massage ... on stress and anxiety levels.

Massage therapy decreases stress and anxiety

Researchers at the Touch Research Institutes examined studies on the effects of massage therapy on biochemistry, including decreased cortisol and increased serotonin and dopamine levels. The research reviewed included studies on depression, pain, auto-immune conditions, HIV, breast cancer, and stress from work, aging, and pregnancy.

In studies in which levels of the stress hormone cortisol were measured, significant decreases, averaging 31%, were noted. In studies measuring the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, both of which contribute to feelings of happiness and wellbeing, an average increase of 28% was noted for serotonin and an average increase of 31% was noted for dopamine. The authors wrote, “These studies combined suggest the stress-alleviating effects (decreased cortisol) and the activating effects (increased serotonin and dopamine) of massage therapy on a variety of medical conditions and stressful experiences.”

Another study found that subjects who underwent Swedish massage twice a week experienced decreases in cortisol levels and increases in oxytocin levels. Researchers also found slight evidence of increased white blood cell counts. ...

Source: spaexecutive.com

Sugar shock: Average person consumes 80 pounds of sugar each year

We all get the occasional sugar craving, but a new survey finds that most Americans have gone completely overboard when it comes to sweet treats and drinks. In a startling revelation, the average American consumes an astonishing 36,000 grams of sugar per year — equivalent to nearly 80 pounds.

This eye-opening statistic emerges from a poll of 2,000 Americans conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Hint Water, shedding light on the nation’s sugar habits and their surprising impact on hydration levels. The study found that the typical American ingests 99 grams of sugar daily, surpassing the sugar content of two 12-ounce cans of soda. This excessive consumption comes despite 85% of respondents actively working to reduce their sugar intake.

The survey also reveals that for 34% of respondents, the majority of their daily sugar intake in beverages comes from their morning coffee. Another 28% say that soda makes up most of their liquid consumption.

Interestingly, more than half of the participants (51%) believe that their sugar cravings might actually be a sign of dehydration. This insight gains significance when considering that respondents reported drinking only 48 ounces of water on a typical day, far below recommended levels.

“The study revealed that, on a regular day, the average respondent consumes more than twice the amount of sugar recommended by the American Heart Association and significantly less water than is recommended by the U.S. National Academy of Medicine. And while it’s important to showcase how much room we have for improvement, it’s also important to understand why this is the case,” says Amy Calhoun Robb, chief marketing officer at Hint Water, in a statement.

The survey explored the emotional triggers behind sugar cravings, with stress (39%), boredom (36%), fatigue (24%), and loneliness (17%) topping the list. When experiencing these cravings, respondents reported feeling anxious (23%), irritable (22%), impatient (20%), and unproductive (20%). ...

Perhaps most alarmingly, the average person can only resist a sugar craving for 13 minutes before giving in. Some go to extreme lengths to satisfy their sweet tooth, with 12% of respondents admitting they’ll make time in their busy schedules — no matter what — to obtain a sweet treat. ...

Source: studyfinds.org

Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth,
faithfulness the best relationship.
— Buddha