By Lisa Zamosky, WebMD Feature Reviewed by Louise Chang,MD
Every year at Thanksgiving and Christmas, most of us engage in an annual rite of passage: stuffing ourselves mercilessly with turkey, cranberry sauce, and pie. Not a bad way to spend a Thursday. But inevitably, in that hour between feeling so full you think you'll explode and gearing up for round two with the leftovers, your relatives can find you conked out on the couch.
Along comes Aunt Mildred with her armchair scientific explanation. You're tired, she tells you, because the turkey you just ate is laden with L-tryptophan. Tryptophan, she says, makes you tired.
So is your aunt right? Is the turkey really what's to blame for Thanksgiving sleepiness? The experts helped WebMD sort out the facts.
What is L-Tryptophan?
L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid. The body can't make it, so diet must supply tryptophan. Amino acids are building blocks of proteins. Foods rich in tryptophan include, you guessed it, turkey. Tryptophan is also found in other poultry, meat, cheese, yogurt, fish, and eggs.
Tryptophan is used by the body to make niacin, a B vitamin that is important for digestion, skin and nerves, and serotonin. Serotonin is a brain chemical that plays a large role in mood) and can help to create a feeling of well-being and relaxation. "When levels of serotonin are high, you're in a better mood, sleep better, and have a higher pain tolerance," says Elizabeth Somer, MA, RD, author of numerous nutrition books, including her latest, Eat Your Way to Happiness.
Tryptophan is needed for the body to produce serotonin. Serotonin is used to make melatonin, a hormone that helps to control your sleep and wake cycles.
Turkey the Sleep Inducer?
As it turns out, turkey contains no more of the amino acid tryptophan than other kinds of poultry. In fact, turkey actually has slightly less tryptophan than chicken, says Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, LDN, an American Dietetic Association spokeswoman and author of The Flexitarian Diet.
Jackson Blatner says that if we're sleepy on Thanksgiving as a direct result of eating turkey, then eating other foods rich in tryptophan should have the same effect.
"When is the last time someone ate a chicken breast at a summertime barbecue and thought they felt sluggish [because of it]?" she asks.
Turkey is, indeed, a good source of tryptophan. Still, it's a myth that eating foods high in tryptophan boosts brain levels of tryptophan and therefore brain levels of serotonin, Somer says.
Somer says that proteins like turkey, chicken, and fish, which are high in tryptophan, require assistance from foods high in carbohydrates to affect serotonin levels.
"Tryptophan is quite high in milk and turkey, but that's not the food that will give you the serotonin boost," she says. It's a small, all-carbohydrate snack --no more than 30 grams of carbohydrates -- in combination with the tryptophan stored in your body from food you've already eaten that will give you the biggest boost of serotonin, Somer says.
A serotonin-boosting snack may include a few Fig Newtons, half of a small whole wheat bagel with honey drizzled over it, or a few cups of air-popped popcorn some time after you've eaten foods high in tryptophan. "Research shows that a light, 30 gram carbohydrate snack just before bed will actually help you sleep better," Somer says.
Amino Acid Overload
When you eat foods rich in tryptophan, as the food digests, amino acids - not just tryptophan - make their way into the bloodstream. This causes competition among the various amino acids to enter the brain.
"Tryptophan, which is a bulky amino acid, would have to stand in line to get through the blood-brain barrier with a whole bunch of amino acids," Somer says. "It would be like standing in line when the Harry Potter movie comes out and you didn't get in line early enough. The chances of getting in [to see the movie] are pretty slim. That's what happens when you eat a protein-rich food. Tryptophan has to compete with all these other amino acids. It waits in line to get through the blood-brain barrier and very little of it makes it across."
The small, all-carbohydrate snack is tryptophan's ticket across the blood-brain barrier, where it can boost serotonin levels. So have your turkey, Somer says, because it will increase your store of tryptophan in the body, but count on the carbohydrates to help give you the mood boost or the restful sleep.
"It's the all-carb snack that ends up being like a sneak preview of the [Harry Potter] movie, where no one else knows it's showing," she says.
Too Much of a Sleepy Thing
Is it possible to have too much tryptophan in the body? Not really, Somer says. "Except if you end up eating a lot of tryptophan, it means you're eating a lot of protein and Americans already eat a lot of protein. It's the only nutrient we get too much of," she says.
"If you're getting even one serving of 3 ounces of meat, chicken, or fish; a couple of glasses of milk or yogurt; or if you're eating beans and rice, you will get all the amino acids you need and in there will be the tryptophan," Somer says.
Thanksgiving Grogginess: Look Beyond the Turkey
So if eating turkey isn't exactly the same as popping a sleeping pill, why the sudden grogginess as soon as our holiday feast is over?
"It boils down to Thanksgiving being a time when people overeat," Jackson Blatner says. "When people overeat food, the digestion process takes a lot of energy. Don't incriminate the turkey that you ate," she says of post-Thanksgiving meal exhaustion, "incriminate the three plates of food that you piled high."
And let's not forget that the holidays generally mean time off from work and with family. Many people feel more relaxed to begin with (family wars not withstanding). Add alcohol to the mix, and voila! Sleep!
Speaking of sleep, Joyce Walsleban, PhD, associate professor at New York University's Sleep Disorders Center, suggests we all get plenty of it. "Coming up on the holidays and trying to get all the things done that one would normally be doing, you short cut your sleep and that's never helpful. By the time the holiday comes, everyone has gotten sick."
At least then you'll have a good excuse to lay down and take a nap.
Courtesy: WebMD.com newsletter
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Can Money Buy Happiness?
Dear Friends,
No, I did not forget you (since I did not post my sincere wishes for you to have a festive Thanksgiving yesterday)! I wasn't near a computer, so believe that I sent you my strongest mental greetings :o)
Meanwhile, since the "Holidays" are being thrust upon us from all sides to help our ailing Economy (reinforced by this morning's "Black Friday" call to the bargains, with some stores opening up at 3:00 A.M.!)---I wanted to share this fascinating article with you.
Enjoy and Get Happy! LOL
Jacques
_____
Money and happiness: 5 ways your spending style matters.By Katherine Kam WebMD Feature Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
“Money can’t buy me love,” the Beatles once sang. But can greenbacks buy a measure of happiness? Yes, psychologists say, but many people don’t know how to spend for maximum happiness.
“Money is an opportunity for happiness, but it is an opportunity that people routinely squander because the things they think will make them happy often don’t,” says Elizabeth W. Dunn, PhD, associate professor of psychology at Canada's University of British Columbia.
As a young academic, Dunn had a personal stake in figuring out how to best spend one’s money. “I went from being a graduate student, making around $20,000 a year, to being a faculty member. While most people don’t think of professors as being wealthy, I suddenly found myself like ‘the nouveau riche,’ with a lot more money than I had previously,” she tells WebMD.
Being a psychology researcher, she sought scientifically based advice on how to spend her money -- not in terms of making financial investments, but to boost life satisfaction. “I was surprised to find out there was actually very little research on that topic,” she says.
As she delved into the subject, she discovered that people often misjudge purchases on three counts: “People mispredict what will make them happy, how happy it will make them, and how long that happiness will last.”
Puddles of Pleasure, Peaks of Presumption
Other experts agree with Dunn’s view. Purchases, such as a remodeled bathroom or a new couch, may bestow delight, but the pleasure often vanishes faster than people expect -- “like a springtime puddle evaporates under a stifling summer sun,” says Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, a psychology professor at the University of California, Riverside, and author of The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want.
Take that remodeled bathroom, for example. At first, it’s a joy, but those positive feelings dwindle until the bathroom becomes ordinary and “completely fades into the background of one’s conscious experience," Lyubomirsky says.
Furthermore, all those sparkling, new bath fixtures may heighten expectations and desires, creating a “lofty peak of presumption” that drives people to become dissatisfied and strive for more and more, Lyubomirsky says. “After one finishes remodeling one’s bathroom, the living room and bedroom now seem drab by comparison. People’s rising aspirations render rooms eyesores that were previously normal.”
"Now, no one is saying that money and spending play a negligible role in happiness. In fact, wealthy people have better nutrition and medical care, more meaningful work, and extra free time", Dunn says.
“And yet, they aren’t that much happier than those who have less,” she writes with co-authors Daniel T. Gilbert and Timothy D. Wilson in an article to be published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology. The article’s title: “If Money Doesn’t Make You Happy, Then You Probably Aren’t Spending It Right.”
So how can you spend your money to maximize happiness? Try these tips, experts say.
Tip 1: Buy experiences instead of things.
Many people assume that filling a large house with possessions will make them happiest. So why might a cooking class or vacation getaway trump a new kitchen floor or TV?
In one recent study, Cornell University researchers found that purchasing an experience tended to improve well-being more than buying a possession, in part because people are more prone to comparisons and buyer’s remorse with material goods.
Also, objects tend to deteriorate with time, but experiences can create lasting memories. If you share lessons or dinners and vacations with others, the social connections can make you happier, too, experts say.
“Experiences are just easier to appreciate,” says Lyubomirsky, who didn't work on the Cornell study. “We are made happier by experiences. You’re more likely to recall it. It’s more likely to become part of your identity. You’re the sum of your experiences, not the sum of your possessions.”
People adapt faster to things that don’t change, such as material objects, Dunn says. But experiences offer more novelty and variety, which can extend enjoyment.
“Whereas cherry floorboards generally have the same size, shape, and color on the last day of the year as they did on the first,” Dunn says, “each session of a year-long cooking class is different from the one before.”
Tip 2: Consider that many small pleasures might be better than a few big ones.
Are you more likely to be happier if you save up for a few big-ticket items, such as a sports car, or if you indulge frequently in small things, such as lattes and manicures?
Saving up for a big purchase may be admirable. But in terms of happiness, “We may be better off devoting our finite financial resources to purchasing frequent doses of lovely things, rather than infrequent doses of lovelier things,” Dunn says. Research shows that happiness is more closely aligned with the frequency of pleasures, as opposed to the intensity, according to her.
"Since frequent, small pleasures tend to be different every time -- whether it’s a beer with friends or a new book -- we don’t adapt to them and become bored as quickly", Dunn says.
Tip 3: Spend on others and not yourself.
Some research suggests that it really is better to give.
A few years ago, Dunn did an experiment in which researchers fanned out across the University of British Columbia campus and handed students a $5 or $20 bill. The students were randomly assigned to spend the cash on themselves or others by the end of the day.
In the evening, those who had been told to spend on others reported feeling happier -- even if they spent only $5 -- than those assigned to buy for themselves.
The emotional rewards of social spending can even be detected on MRI brain scans. In a University of Oregon study, people were given a chance to donate money to a food bank. Others were forced to give to the food bank through a tax-like transfer. Volunteering the money activated brain areas typically associated with receiving rewards, but so did the mandatory giving.
As highly social creatures, much of our happiness hinges on the quality of our relationships, Dunn says. “Almost anything we do to improve our connections with others tends to improve our happiness as well, and that includes spending money.”
So the next time you buy a cookie, treat your pal, too.
Tip 4: Rent a dose of happiness.
In these lean times, it’s smart to be frugal. You can still enjoy something without having to own it, Lyubomirsky says, whether it’s a video, cabin hideaway, or a sports car.
If you love the thrill of driving a luxury car, rent one occasionally, she says. You’ll get the boost of pleasure, but not the hassles of changing the oil and tires or the burden of paying unpredictable repair costs.
Tip 5: When you buy, think about what you’re not thinking about.
Often, people make purchases the way some lovers enter a hasty marriage -- in a rosy glow of imagination, with little realistic thought of the beloved’s shortcomings.
So people who want to buy a lakeside cabin will focus on the peace and quiet, gorgeous sunsets, and good fishing, Dunn says. What they don't consider: buzzing insects, late-night calls about plumbing disasters, and endless drives home after a weekend at the cabin, with tired and cranky children scratching mosquito bites. And yet, such things will affect the owners’ happiness.
It’s a common pitfall. We simply don’t see the future in fine detail, and the further away the event lies in time, the more abstract our imaginings, Dunn says.
So before buying something major, try to consider the less obvious cost, including how a purchase might affect your time. “Happiness is often in the details," Dunn says.
Courtesy: WebMD.com newsletter
No, I did not forget you (since I did not post my sincere wishes for you to have a festive Thanksgiving yesterday)! I wasn't near a computer, so believe that I sent you my strongest mental greetings :o)
Meanwhile, since the "Holidays" are being thrust upon us from all sides to help our ailing Economy (reinforced by this morning's "Black Friday" call to the bargains, with some stores opening up at 3:00 A.M.!)---I wanted to share this fascinating article with you.
Enjoy and Get Happy! LOL
Jacques
_____
Money and happiness: 5 ways your spending style matters.By Katherine Kam WebMD Feature Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
“Money can’t buy me love,” the Beatles once sang. But can greenbacks buy a measure of happiness? Yes, psychologists say, but many people don’t know how to spend for maximum happiness.
“Money is an opportunity for happiness, but it is an opportunity that people routinely squander because the things they think will make them happy often don’t,” says Elizabeth W. Dunn, PhD, associate professor of psychology at Canada's University of British Columbia.
As a young academic, Dunn had a personal stake in figuring out how to best spend one’s money. “I went from being a graduate student, making around $20,000 a year, to being a faculty member. While most people don’t think of professors as being wealthy, I suddenly found myself like ‘the nouveau riche,’ with a lot more money than I had previously,” she tells WebMD.
Being a psychology researcher, she sought scientifically based advice on how to spend her money -- not in terms of making financial investments, but to boost life satisfaction. “I was surprised to find out there was actually very little research on that topic,” she says.
As she delved into the subject, she discovered that people often misjudge purchases on three counts: “People mispredict what will make them happy, how happy it will make them, and how long that happiness will last.”
Puddles of Pleasure, Peaks of Presumption
Other experts agree with Dunn’s view. Purchases, such as a remodeled bathroom or a new couch, may bestow delight, but the pleasure often vanishes faster than people expect -- “like a springtime puddle evaporates under a stifling summer sun,” says Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, a psychology professor at the University of California, Riverside, and author of The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want.
Take that remodeled bathroom, for example. At first, it’s a joy, but those positive feelings dwindle until the bathroom becomes ordinary and “completely fades into the background of one’s conscious experience," Lyubomirsky says.
Furthermore, all those sparkling, new bath fixtures may heighten expectations and desires, creating a “lofty peak of presumption” that drives people to become dissatisfied and strive for more and more, Lyubomirsky says. “After one finishes remodeling one’s bathroom, the living room and bedroom now seem drab by comparison. People’s rising aspirations render rooms eyesores that were previously normal.”
"Now, no one is saying that money and spending play a negligible role in happiness. In fact, wealthy people have better nutrition and medical care, more meaningful work, and extra free time", Dunn says.
“And yet, they aren’t that much happier than those who have less,” she writes with co-authors Daniel T. Gilbert and Timothy D. Wilson in an article to be published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology. The article’s title: “If Money Doesn’t Make You Happy, Then You Probably Aren’t Spending It Right.”
So how can you spend your money to maximize happiness? Try these tips, experts say.
Tip 1: Buy experiences instead of things.
Many people assume that filling a large house with possessions will make them happiest. So why might a cooking class or vacation getaway trump a new kitchen floor or TV?
In one recent study, Cornell University researchers found that purchasing an experience tended to improve well-being more than buying a possession, in part because people are more prone to comparisons and buyer’s remorse with material goods.
Also, objects tend to deteriorate with time, but experiences can create lasting memories. If you share lessons or dinners and vacations with others, the social connections can make you happier, too, experts say.
“Experiences are just easier to appreciate,” says Lyubomirsky, who didn't work on the Cornell study. “We are made happier by experiences. You’re more likely to recall it. It’s more likely to become part of your identity. You’re the sum of your experiences, not the sum of your possessions.”
People adapt faster to things that don’t change, such as material objects, Dunn says. But experiences offer more novelty and variety, which can extend enjoyment.
“Whereas cherry floorboards generally have the same size, shape, and color on the last day of the year as they did on the first,” Dunn says, “each session of a year-long cooking class is different from the one before.”
Tip 2: Consider that many small pleasures might be better than a few big ones.
Are you more likely to be happier if you save up for a few big-ticket items, such as a sports car, or if you indulge frequently in small things, such as lattes and manicures?
Saving up for a big purchase may be admirable. But in terms of happiness, “We may be better off devoting our finite financial resources to purchasing frequent doses of lovely things, rather than infrequent doses of lovelier things,” Dunn says. Research shows that happiness is more closely aligned with the frequency of pleasures, as opposed to the intensity, according to her.
"Since frequent, small pleasures tend to be different every time -- whether it’s a beer with friends or a new book -- we don’t adapt to them and become bored as quickly", Dunn says.
Tip 3: Spend on others and not yourself.
Some research suggests that it really is better to give.
A few years ago, Dunn did an experiment in which researchers fanned out across the University of British Columbia campus and handed students a $5 or $20 bill. The students were randomly assigned to spend the cash on themselves or others by the end of the day.
In the evening, those who had been told to spend on others reported feeling happier -- even if they spent only $5 -- than those assigned to buy for themselves.
The emotional rewards of social spending can even be detected on MRI brain scans. In a University of Oregon study, people were given a chance to donate money to a food bank. Others were forced to give to the food bank through a tax-like transfer. Volunteering the money activated brain areas typically associated with receiving rewards, but so did the mandatory giving.
As highly social creatures, much of our happiness hinges on the quality of our relationships, Dunn says. “Almost anything we do to improve our connections with others tends to improve our happiness as well, and that includes spending money.”
So the next time you buy a cookie, treat your pal, too.
Tip 4: Rent a dose of happiness.
In these lean times, it’s smart to be frugal. You can still enjoy something without having to own it, Lyubomirsky says, whether it’s a video, cabin hideaway, or a sports car.
If you love the thrill of driving a luxury car, rent one occasionally, she says. You’ll get the boost of pleasure, but not the hassles of changing the oil and tires or the burden of paying unpredictable repair costs.
Tip 5: When you buy, think about what you’re not thinking about.
Often, people make purchases the way some lovers enter a hasty marriage -- in a rosy glow of imagination, with little realistic thought of the beloved’s shortcomings.
So people who want to buy a lakeside cabin will focus on the peace and quiet, gorgeous sunsets, and good fishing, Dunn says. What they don't consider: buzzing insects, late-night calls about plumbing disasters, and endless drives home after a weekend at the cabin, with tired and cranky children scratching mosquito bites. And yet, such things will affect the owners’ happiness.
It’s a common pitfall. We simply don’t see the future in fine detail, and the further away the event lies in time, the more abstract our imaginings, Dunn says.
So before buying something major, try to consider the less obvious cost, including how a purchase might affect your time. “Happiness is often in the details," Dunn says.
Courtesy: WebMD.com newsletter
Monday, October 4, 2010
Mystery of the roast pork
It has been said that "imitation is the highest form of flattery".
And it is in that spirit that I share with you one of many illustrative stories I told to my vast audiences during my years as a public speaker and seminar leader.
As is the case when a story is passed on from one person to another, this one has been somewhat changed. Nevertheless, its "punch line" of wisdom hasn't. So, ENJOY my Friend Christian Godefroy's version and comments!
Jacques
-----
As Jane serves "roast pork" for dinner, John comments on how "delicious" it looks but has been wondering for a long time why Jane cuts off both ends of the pork, so he asks her.
"Well dear" replies Jane, "I have always watched my mother do it when I was growing up and therefore cannot answer why this has to be done, however I shall ask her why when I speak with her next"
Later that evening Jane calls her mother to ask. After a short silent pause, the mother replies "Well dear, I have always watched your grandmother prepare the roast pork this way, therefore maybe you should ask her"
By this time curiosity has got the better of Jane and she calls her grandmother almost immediately.... "Grandma, why do you cut off both ends of the roast pork when preparing it" ask Jane. "is this to make it taste better?" Her Grandma replies "well Jane, as far as I can remember the reason I done that was because I could not fit the pork into my roasting pan otherwise and was too poor to afford buying a larger one."
The moral of the story is that we as a society seem to do things almost instinctively or automa-tically without knowing the actual real historical reason behind them. For example... everyone has that voice within which tells you things such as "be perfect" "hurry up" "make an effort" "please me" and "be strong".
According to the school of "Transactional Analysis" we always seem to associate such messages from our childhood days and therefore the "drivers" coming from our parents and ancestors both influence and orient our actions throughout our lives and as if it has been "thrust" into the values we all hold as "a highest priority" influence directly to these orders.
But who for example, is capable of always doing everything perfectly? No one is! So statements such as "be perfect" is therefore a message which is terribly constraining on the human mind. It creates strong internal tension in both us as individuals and society as a whole. This in turn affects the way we communicate towards each other.
And it is in that spirit that I share with you one of many illustrative stories I told to my vast audiences during my years as a public speaker and seminar leader.
As is the case when a story is passed on from one person to another, this one has been somewhat changed. Nevertheless, its "punch line" of wisdom hasn't. So, ENJOY my Friend Christian Godefroy's version and comments!
Jacques
-----
As Jane serves "roast pork" for dinner, John comments on how "delicious" it looks but has been wondering for a long time why Jane cuts off both ends of the pork, so he asks her.
"Well dear" replies Jane, "I have always watched my mother do it when I was growing up and therefore cannot answer why this has to be done, however I shall ask her why when I speak with her next"
Later that evening Jane calls her mother to ask. After a short silent pause, the mother replies "Well dear, I have always watched your grandmother prepare the roast pork this way, therefore maybe you should ask her"
By this time curiosity has got the better of Jane and she calls her grandmother almost immediately.... "Grandma, why do you cut off both ends of the roast pork when preparing it" ask Jane. "is this to make it taste better?" Her Grandma replies "well Jane, as far as I can remember the reason I done that was because I could not fit the pork into my roasting pan otherwise and was too poor to afford buying a larger one."
The moral of the story is that we as a society seem to do things almost instinctively or automa-tically without knowing the actual real historical reason behind them. For example... everyone has that voice within which tells you things such as "be perfect" "hurry up" "make an effort" "please me" and "be strong".
According to the school of "Transactional Analysis" we always seem to associate such messages from our childhood days and therefore the "drivers" coming from our parents and ancestors both influence and orient our actions throughout our lives and as if it has been "thrust" into the values we all hold as "a highest priority" influence directly to these orders.
But who for example, is capable of always doing everything perfectly? No one is! So statements such as "be perfect" is therefore a message which is terribly constraining on the human mind. It creates strong internal tension in both us as individuals and society as a whole. This in turn affects the way we communicate towards each other.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
THIS IS GOOD! :o)
The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!"
One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off.
Examining the situation, the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!"
To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail.
About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of Cannibals captured him and took them to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake.
As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way.
As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend.
"You were right," he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this."
"No," his friend replied, "This is good!"
"What do you mean, 'This is good'? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?"
"If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you."
Situations may not always seem pleasant while we experience them, but it depends on the way you see them... the choice is yours!
Your "This is good" friend,
Jacques
Courtesy: my "This Is Good!" friend Christian Godefroy
One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off.
Examining the situation, the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!"
To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail.
About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of Cannibals captured him and took them to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake.
As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way.
As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend.
"You were right," he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this."
"No," his friend replied, "This is good!"
"What do you mean, 'This is good'? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?"
"If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you."
Situations may not always seem pleasant while we experience them, but it depends on the way you see them... the choice is yours!
Your "This is good" friend,
Jacques
Courtesy: my "This Is Good!" friend Christian Godefroy
Monday, September 20, 2010
A Test of Friendship
A Friend...
(A)ccepts you as you are
(B)elieves in "you"
(C)alls you just to say "HI"
(D)oesn't give up on you
(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)
(F)orgives your mistakes
(G)ives unconditionally
(H)elps you
(I)nvites you over
(J)ust to "be" with you
(K)eeps you close at heart
(L)oves you for who you are
(M)akes a difference in your life
(N)ever Judges
(O)ffers support
(P)icks you up
(Q)uiets your fears
(R)aises your spirits
(S)ays nice things about you
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it
(U)nderstands you
(V)alues you
(W)alks beside you
(X)-plains thing you don't understand
(Y)ells when you won't listen and
(Z)aps you back to reality
OK: This Is A Test To See How Many Friends You Have!!! Pass It On To Everyone You Consider A Friend Or Would Like To Have As A Friend. See How Many Times You Get It Back!
Courtesy: Christian Godefroy
(A)ccepts you as you are
(B)elieves in "you"
(C)alls you just to say "HI"
(D)oesn't give up on you
(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)
(F)orgives your mistakes
(G)ives unconditionally
(H)elps you
(I)nvites you over
(J)ust to "be" with you
(K)eeps you close at heart
(L)oves you for who you are
(M)akes a difference in your life
(N)ever Judges
(O)ffers support
(P)icks you up
(Q)uiets your fears
(R)aises your spirits
(S)ays nice things about you
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it
(U)nderstands you
(V)alues you
(W)alks beside you
(X)-plains thing you don't understand
(Y)ells when you won't listen and
(Z)aps you back to reality
OK: This Is A Test To See How Many Friends You Have!!! Pass It On To Everyone You Consider A Friend Or Would Like To Have As A Friend. See How Many Times You Get It Back!
Courtesy: Christian Godefroy
Monday, September 6, 2010
Funny quotes on marriage and life
"Sometimes, when I look at my children, I say to myself,
'Lillian, you should have remained a virgin."
- Lillian Carter (mother of Jimmy Carter)
"I had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was
not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: - 'No good in a bed, but fine against a wall."
- Eleanor Roosevelt
"Last week, I stated this woman was the ugliest woman I had ever
seen. I have since been visited by her sister, and now wish to withdraw that statement.. "
- Mark Twain
"The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a
good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible"
- George Burns
"Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people only once a year."
- Victor Borge
"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint."
- Mark Twain
"By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become
happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher."
- Socrates
"I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury."
- Groucho Marx
"My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and
then she stops to breathe."
- Jimmy Durante
"I have never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back."
- Zsa Zsa Gabor
"Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential
food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat."
- Alex Levine
"My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop
dying."
- Rodney Dangerfield
"Money can't buy you happiness ... But it does bring you a more
pleasant form of misery."
- Spike Milligan
"Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was SHUT UP."
- Joe Namath
"I don't feel old. I don't feel anything until noon. Then it's
time for my nap."
- Bob Hope
"I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish
do in it.."
- W. C. Fields
"We could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work
its way through Congress."
- Will Rogers
"Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it
will avoid you."
- Winston Churchill
"Maybe it's true that life begins at fifty .. But everything else
starts to wear out, fall out, or spread out.."
- Phyllis Diller
"By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too old
to go anywhere."
- Billy Crystal
And the cardiologist's diet - "If it tastes good spit it out."
'Lillian, you should have remained a virgin."
- Lillian Carter (mother of Jimmy Carter)
"I had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was
not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: - 'No good in a bed, but fine against a wall."
- Eleanor Roosevelt
"Last week, I stated this woman was the ugliest woman I had ever
seen. I have since been visited by her sister, and now wish to withdraw that statement.. "
- Mark Twain
"The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a
good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible"
- George Burns
"Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people only once a year."
- Victor Borge
"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint."
- Mark Twain
"By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become
happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher."
- Socrates
"I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury."
- Groucho Marx
"My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and
then she stops to breathe."
- Jimmy Durante
"I have never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back."
- Zsa Zsa Gabor
"Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential
food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat."
- Alex Levine
"My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop
dying."
- Rodney Dangerfield
"Money can't buy you happiness ... But it does bring you a more
pleasant form of misery."
- Spike Milligan
"Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was SHUT UP."
- Joe Namath
"I don't feel old. I don't feel anything until noon. Then it's
time for my nap."
- Bob Hope
"I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish
do in it.."
- W. C. Fields
"We could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work
its way through Congress."
- Will Rogers
"Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it
will avoid you."
- Winston Churchill
"Maybe it's true that life begins at fifty .. But everything else
starts to wear out, fall out, or spread out.."
- Phyllis Diller
"By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too old
to go anywhere."
- Billy Crystal
And the cardiologist's diet - "If it tastes good spit it out."
Saturday, September 4, 2010
5 Powerful Ways to Beat Stress!
By Dr. Stephen Sinatra - a cardiologist with an integrative approach to health and healing.
Dr. Sinatra is also the author of the monthly newsletter Heart, Health & Nutrition, which includes his best advice on heart health, diet and nutrition, exercise, and much more.
Connect with me on
Facebook or Twitter
Dear Friend,
I’ve always had mixed feelings about Labor Day. It’s the “unofficial” end of summer, with pools closing, shorter days, and a return to the busy season. While there’s comfort in going back to more structured days—not to mention the cool, crisp days and beautiful fall foliage here in New England—it’s also the start of what can be a very stressful time for many people.
Not only do we have the stress of more time pressures, and impending holidays just around the corner, the change of season is also a stressful time for your immune system. So, I thought now would be a good time to give you a few stress-busting tips for fall.
1) Fortify Your Body with “Anti-Stress” Vitamins.
B vitamins are often called the “stress vitamins” because they’re quickly depleted from your body during times of stress. That’s because your body needs B vitamins to create the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin, to boost your immune system, to give you energy, and more.
As a cardiologist, this greatly concerns me, because a deficit of B vitamins can put you on the road to a heart attack. Your body requires niacin (B3) to keep your good HDL cholesterol up, and vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid are essential to neutralize homocysteine, a widely-recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
I recommend taking 250 mg of niacin three times daily and slowly working up to 1-2 grams daily in divided doses (many people notice flushing as they start taking niacin, so don’t be alarmed). I also recommend taking vitamin B6, 40 mg daily; vitamin B12, 500 mcg daily; and folic acid, 200–400 mcg daily.
2) Boost Your Immune System with Vitamin D.
I’ve been writing about the health benefits of the “Big D” for years, long before it became the subject of numerous new studies. At this time of the year especially, I highly recommend supplementing with vitamin D. That’s because beginning in the fall and continuing through winter we get less sunlight, so our bodies manufacture less vitamin D. Plus, the change of season is stressful on your immune system, and your body counts on vitamin D to keep your immunity strong.
Vitamin D works by increasing the activity of your natural killer and T-cells supporting your immune system. In research, people with higher levels of vitamin D were less likely to have poor immune health. There’s also a distinct relationship between vitamin D and the health of your cells. Plus, vitamin D promotes bone health, heart health, normal blood pressure, healthy joints, colon health, and normal blood sugar. It also plays a critical role in brain function.
I recommend taking 2,000 to 4,000 IU of vitamin D3 a day if you’re healthy, and 5,000 to 10,000 IU a day if your immune system is compromised with a chronic illness, or if you have an illness of uncertain cause like fibromyalgia. The best way to get that is through a good vitamin D supplement, and eating foods like vitamin D-fortified milk, salmon, and tuna.
3) Diffuse Your Stress with Exercise.
One of the best antidotes for stress is physical activity. Exercise not only works the stress out of your muscles, it also stimulates your body’s creation of feel-good endorphins. So, grab your walking shoes and take advantage of the crisp fall air to take a brisk walk. If you can, wear leather-soled shoes like moccasins because they help to ground you to the Earth which helps to improve your mood and mental state.
A mile of walking—at any speed—burns as many calories as a mile of running, and I’ve rarely heard of people injuring muscles, ligaments, or joints while walking. I recommend walking every day for a minimum of 20 minutes. Better still, walk for 20 minutes twice a day. If you become bored with that routine, get creative. Go to a park or try hiking through the woods. Or try an activity that incorporates a lot of walking. For example, I’m an avid fly fisherman, and I frequently must walk up and down river banks and through fields to be where the fish are.
4) Look at the Glass as Half Full.
Research has found that optimists are not only happier, they’re also healthier, live longer, and recover from illnesses better than those with less cheery outlooks. Optimists interpret events in a way that gives them hope to keep on trying. Pessimists look at an event with a negative slant.
One way to start each day on the right foot is to think about what you are grateful for. However, don’t just rattle off a list. Really take the time to contemplate your feelings about each thing and internalize how each positive feature makes your life better.
Also, as you encounter frustrations during the course of your day, try to put a positive spin on them, also known as “reframing,” to encourage an optimistic perspective. For example, if you don’t feel like going to work, be thankful that at least you have a job during this time when 10% of Americans don’t have that luxury. If you failed at a task the day before, be grateful if you have the chance to try again. If a relative has irritated you, remember good times you have had together. Reminding yourself of what you are grateful for will promote optimism and hope, even if your life has been difficult lately. You’ll feel serene as opposed to agitated and depressed.
5) Breathe! Proper breathing is one way to reduce stress.
When you find yourself under stress, focus on your breathing. The act of observing your breathing will cause feeling, rather than thought, to take over. Intense feeling activates healing mechanisms.
So, the next time you feel stressed take a deep breath and sigh deeply. Make noise as you exhale. Do this several times, as loud as you can. After several breaths, you should be aware of how much more you need to breathe and how much relief it offers you. If you continue this, you may find that you release strong emotions–sadness, fright, or a sudden desire to cry or burst out laughing. Releasing these feelings will help bring on a feeling of serenity. If they come up, just go with them.
Here’s to an enjoyable, stress-free holiday weekend!
Stephen Sinatra, M.D., F.A.C.C.,
_____
And now, few related quotes from Jacques:
"I really do think that any deep crisis is an opportunity to make your life extraordinary in some way."
- Martha Beck, Author
"When you find yourself stressed, ask yourself one question: Will this matter five years from now? If yes, then do something about the situation. If no, then let it go."
- Catherine Pulsifer, writer
Dr. Sinatra is also the author of the monthly newsletter Heart, Health & Nutrition, which includes his best advice on heart health, diet and nutrition, exercise, and much more.
Connect with me on
Facebook or Twitter
Dear Friend,
I’ve always had mixed feelings about Labor Day. It’s the “unofficial” end of summer, with pools closing, shorter days, and a return to the busy season. While there’s comfort in going back to more structured days—not to mention the cool, crisp days and beautiful fall foliage here in New England—it’s also the start of what can be a very stressful time for many people.
Not only do we have the stress of more time pressures, and impending holidays just around the corner, the change of season is also a stressful time for your immune system. So, I thought now would be a good time to give you a few stress-busting tips for fall.
1) Fortify Your Body with “Anti-Stress” Vitamins.
B vitamins are often called the “stress vitamins” because they’re quickly depleted from your body during times of stress. That’s because your body needs B vitamins to create the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin, to boost your immune system, to give you energy, and more.
As a cardiologist, this greatly concerns me, because a deficit of B vitamins can put you on the road to a heart attack. Your body requires niacin (B3) to keep your good HDL cholesterol up, and vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid are essential to neutralize homocysteine, a widely-recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
I recommend taking 250 mg of niacin three times daily and slowly working up to 1-2 grams daily in divided doses (many people notice flushing as they start taking niacin, so don’t be alarmed). I also recommend taking vitamin B6, 40 mg daily; vitamin B12, 500 mcg daily; and folic acid, 200–400 mcg daily.
2) Boost Your Immune System with Vitamin D.
I’ve been writing about the health benefits of the “Big D” for years, long before it became the subject of numerous new studies. At this time of the year especially, I highly recommend supplementing with vitamin D. That’s because beginning in the fall and continuing through winter we get less sunlight, so our bodies manufacture less vitamin D. Plus, the change of season is stressful on your immune system, and your body counts on vitamin D to keep your immunity strong.
Vitamin D works by increasing the activity of your natural killer and T-cells supporting your immune system. In research, people with higher levels of vitamin D were less likely to have poor immune health. There’s also a distinct relationship between vitamin D and the health of your cells. Plus, vitamin D promotes bone health, heart health, normal blood pressure, healthy joints, colon health, and normal blood sugar. It also plays a critical role in brain function.
I recommend taking 2,000 to 4,000 IU of vitamin D3 a day if you’re healthy, and 5,000 to 10,000 IU a day if your immune system is compromised with a chronic illness, or if you have an illness of uncertain cause like fibromyalgia. The best way to get that is through a good vitamin D supplement, and eating foods like vitamin D-fortified milk, salmon, and tuna.
3) Diffuse Your Stress with Exercise.
One of the best antidotes for stress is physical activity. Exercise not only works the stress out of your muscles, it also stimulates your body’s creation of feel-good endorphins. So, grab your walking shoes and take advantage of the crisp fall air to take a brisk walk. If you can, wear leather-soled shoes like moccasins because they help to ground you to the Earth which helps to improve your mood and mental state.
A mile of walking—at any speed—burns as many calories as a mile of running, and I’ve rarely heard of people injuring muscles, ligaments, or joints while walking. I recommend walking every day for a minimum of 20 minutes. Better still, walk for 20 minutes twice a day. If you become bored with that routine, get creative. Go to a park or try hiking through the woods. Or try an activity that incorporates a lot of walking. For example, I’m an avid fly fisherman, and I frequently must walk up and down river banks and through fields to be where the fish are.
4) Look at the Glass as Half Full.
Research has found that optimists are not only happier, they’re also healthier, live longer, and recover from illnesses better than those with less cheery outlooks. Optimists interpret events in a way that gives them hope to keep on trying. Pessimists look at an event with a negative slant.
One way to start each day on the right foot is to think about what you are grateful for. However, don’t just rattle off a list. Really take the time to contemplate your feelings about each thing and internalize how each positive feature makes your life better.
Also, as you encounter frustrations during the course of your day, try to put a positive spin on them, also known as “reframing,” to encourage an optimistic perspective. For example, if you don’t feel like going to work, be thankful that at least you have a job during this time when 10% of Americans don’t have that luxury. If you failed at a task the day before, be grateful if you have the chance to try again. If a relative has irritated you, remember good times you have had together. Reminding yourself of what you are grateful for will promote optimism and hope, even if your life has been difficult lately. You’ll feel serene as opposed to agitated and depressed.
5) Breathe! Proper breathing is one way to reduce stress.
When you find yourself under stress, focus on your breathing. The act of observing your breathing will cause feeling, rather than thought, to take over. Intense feeling activates healing mechanisms.
So, the next time you feel stressed take a deep breath and sigh deeply. Make noise as you exhale. Do this several times, as loud as you can. After several breaths, you should be aware of how much more you need to breathe and how much relief it offers you. If you continue this, you may find that you release strong emotions–sadness, fright, or a sudden desire to cry or burst out laughing. Releasing these feelings will help bring on a feeling of serenity. If they come up, just go with them.
Here’s to an enjoyable, stress-free holiday weekend!
Stephen Sinatra, M.D., F.A.C.C.,
_____
And now, few related quotes from Jacques:
"I really do think that any deep crisis is an opportunity to make your life extraordinary in some way."
- Martha Beck, Author
"When you find yourself stressed, ask yourself one question: Will this matter five years from now? If yes, then do something about the situation. If no, then let it go."
- Catherine Pulsifer, writer
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