Did you know that "an attitude of gratitude" can affect our health?

health benefits of gratitude

Grateful people are healthier people

People who feel gratitude as part of their being rather than a temporary state of mind have an edge on the not-so-grateful when it comes to health, according to one noted researcher. "Grateful people take better care of themselves and engage in more protective health behaviors like regular exercise, a healthy diet and regular physical examinations," says Robert Emmons, a psychology professor at the University of California Davis.

Further, gratitude is an ally in fighting stress, which is linked to a wide variety of both physical and emotional ailments. "Gratitude research is beginning to suggest that feelings of thankfulness have tremendous positive value in helping people cope with daily problems, especially stress," says Emmons.

SHOP Amazon's Top 100* Best Selling Vitamins & Nutritional Supplements
+ Free Shipping & Returns on Eligible Items.
(*Amazon's Top 100 list updated hourly.)

Grateful people tend to be more optimistic, a characteristic that researchers say boosts the immune system. In one study, researchers comparing the immune systems of healthy, first-year law students under stress found that, by mid-term, students characterized as optimistic (based on survey responses) maintained higher numbers of blood cells that protect the immune system, compared with their more pessimistic classmates.

One researcher who has studied life satisfaction of people from various cultures found two fascinating extremes. Among people in India living in poverty, not surprisingly he found low levels of life satisfaction. However, he found the same low satisfaction among people in affluent Japan, too, where materialism might be the cause.

Money no indicator of happiness
Who has a high level of life satisfaction? The middle class, especially those who have risen from poverty, according to Edward Diener, Ph.D., a psychology professor at the University of Illinois. Diener, who has studied life satisfaction among cultures around the globe, says that the people of Ireland, a country boasting a "count your blessings" culture, report high levels of life satisfaction.

If you'd like to start cultivating an "attitude of gratitude," here are some simple steps:

  • Keep a gratitude journal. Those who do this weekly tend to exercise more regularly, have fewer physical problems and feel better about life in general.
  • Remember difficult times in your past. It is easier to be grateful if you can compare positive things in your life now to more difficult times in your past.
  • Give frequent, daily prayers of thanks for all that is good in your life. And post notes around your home, in your car and at work to remind you.
  • Make a list of all the positive things and people in your life. Then consider how much you take all these for granted. It can help to have concrete, visual reminders of all you have to be grateful for.
  • Let your "self-talk" be optimistic and appreciative. This could be as simple as thinking about all your blessings. Or, if you're in a challenging situation, try to re-frame it from negative to positive. For example, if you're trying to cope with a troublesome co-worker or neighbor, instead of seeing that person as a thorn in your side, think of him or her as giving you a chance to improve your patience and understanding.
  • Go through the motions of gratitude (smiling, thanking others, etc.), even when you have a difficult time actually fealing it.

Here's to your health, and promoting your own wellness with gratitude all year 'round.


From the Louisville Health Research Desk...

Important news about statins, CoQ-10 and your heart

The CoQ-10 and statin medication connection
Several studies have confirmed that statin medications interfere with CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10) production, causing blood levels of CoQ-10 to drop. So, if you're taking a statin for a heart condition, don't hesitate to discuss the benefits of CoQ-10 supplementation with your healthcare provider.

Coq-10 for heart health

Improving blood pressure, cholesterol
In a significant study*, CoEnzyme Q-10 was given to 26 patients with essential arterial hypertension. (Also known as primary hypertension, essential hypertension is high blood pressure where no cause can be identified. It gradually develops over many years and is the most common type of hypertension among adults.)

Each patient received 50 mg of CoQ-10, twice daily, during the 10-week period. The results:

  • The high blood pressure number (systolic) decreased 10.8%
  • The low blood pressure number (diastolic) decreased 12.2%
  • Total cholesterol decreased 4.3%
  • HDL cholesterol (good kind) increased 4.8%

These are impressive results for only 2 1/2 months of supplementation.

*Treatment of essential hypertension with CoEnzyme 0-10;
Langsjoen P., Willis R., Folkers K.; Institute for Biomedical Research, University of Texas at Austin, TX 78712, USA

Resveratrol could be a heart-saver -- among other health benefits

For some time, red wine in moderation has been regarded as heart healthy. That's because the antioxidant it contains called resveratrol seems to provide heart-healthy benefits.

The alcohol and antioxidants (resveratrol and flavonoids) in red wine may help prevent heart disease by increasing levels of "good" cholesterol and protecting against artery damage.

While the news may be encouraging if you occasionally enjoy a glass of red wine, doctors are quick to caution against starting to drink alcohol for this reason alone. Too much alcohol can have very harmful effects on health.

red wine for heart healthHow much red wine is healthy?
10 ounces a day for men and 5 ounces per day is the recommended limit. Men generally weigh more and are better able to metabolize alcohol. And certain groups should abstain from alcohol entirely -- such as those with a weakened heart muscle, people who take aspirin daily or women who are pregnant.

Do any other foods contain resveratrol?
Other than in red wine, uncooked red grapes, mulberries, cranberries and blueberries (especially the skins), cocoa powder (found as in dark chocolate and bakers chocolate) and peanuts (especially boiled) provide small amounts of resveratrol when consumed in the normal amounts. Because of the way it is processed, red wine has about twice the amount of resveratrol you'd get if consuming the same amount of red grape juice.


Disease Prevention Tips...

Are you at risk for Type 2 diabetes? 1 in 3 U.S. adults could have it by 2050
type2-diabetes-risk-factors

New statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are startling: By 2050 the number of Americans with diabetes will range from 1 in 3 to 1 in 5. Currently, 1 in 10 U.S. adults has diabetes. But Americans aren't the only ones at risk; the International Diabetes Foundation predicts that as many as 438 million people worldwide will have diabetes by 2030.

Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, nerve problems, gum infections and amputations. It is also the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

Assessing your risk for diabetes
Use this checklist from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) to determine your risk factors. Check each item that applies to you; the more items you check, the higher your risk. Keep in mind that only a healthcare provider can make a diagnosis.

  • I have a parent, brother or sister with diabetes.
  • I am 45 or older.
  • I am overweight or obese.
  • My family background is Alaska Native, American Indian, African-American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian-American or Pacific Islander.
  • I have had gestational diabetes, or I gave birth to at least one baby weighing more than 9 pounds.
  • My blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg or above, or I have been told that I have high blood pressure.
  • My cholesterol levels are not normal. My HDL cholesterol - "good" cholesterol - is below 35 mg/dL, or my triglyceride level is above 250 mg/dL.
  • I am fairly inactive. I exercise fewer than three times a week.
  • I have polycystic ovary syndrome, also called PCOS (women only).
  • On previous testing, I had impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).
  • I have other clinical conditions associated with insulin resistance, such as a condition called acanthosis nigricans, characterized by a dark, velvety rash around my neck or armpits.
  • I have a history of cardiovascular disease.

Getting tested for diabetes
The NIDDK recommends that anyone 45 or older consider getting tested for diabetes. If you are 45 or older and overweight, getting tested is strongly recommended. If you are younger than 45, overweight, and have one or more risk factors, you should also consider getting tested.

Reducing your risk
Good news: there are ways to delay and even prevent diabetes. A federally funded study, the Diabetes Prevention Program, showed that weight loss through lifestyle changes - healthy eating and physical activity - can delay and prevent Type 2 diabetes. Study participants who changed their lifestyle reduced their risk of diabetes by 58%. These changes were even more effective in people over age 60: their risk was reduced by 71%!

But there's even better news: With lifestyle changes, you can not only reduce your risk of diabetes, but you can also increase your overall health and well-being. It's a double win for your health! Get started today and help prove those dire predictions wrong.

Low Prices on Best Selling VITAMINS &
SUPPLEMENTS

SHOP NOW AT AMAZON

spacer
A Sampling of Today's Health News Headlines
L.A. Times - Health
L.A. Times - Health

09/30/2023 07:30 AM
Q&A: How Calabasas coach Thomas Cassidy regained his love for baseball after witnessing terror

Calabasas baseball coach Thomas Cassidy was at the mass shooting in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, 2017, and has moved forward with help of counseling.


09/27/2023 05:30 PM
New law allows doctors living in 'hostile' red states to get abortion training in California

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed another round of reproductive health bills into law on Wednesday, including legislation that allows doctors living under "hostile" laws in states where abortion is banned to receive training in California.


09/26/2023 01:16 PM
Angus Cloud struggled with addiction. HBO, Sam Levinson tried to help 'Euphoria' star stay clean

'Euphoria' creator Sam Levinson says he told Angus Cloud, 'I need you to be sober' during production. HBO reportedly paid for the late actor's rehab.


09/25/2023 03:15 PM
Bruce Willis' dementia diagnosis was 'a blessing and a curse,' Emma Heming Willis says

Bruce Willis' wife, Emma Heming Willis, says it's 'hard to know' if the 'Die Hard' actor knows what's happening to him because of his frontotemporal dementia.


09/25/2023 06:20 AM
Opinion: I thought I had it made. Then I accidentally discovered my brain tumor

A bout of food poisoning saved my life and taught me a lesson in stability — or lack thereof.


09/25/2023 06:00 AM
It's a sober event that doesn't feel like one: Inside L.A.'s booze-free dance party movement

Instead of substances, partygoers use tools such as meditation, breathwork and somatic movement to get in the flow and connect with one another.


BBC News - Health
BBC News - Health
BBC News - Health
09/27/2023 08:52 PM
Safer brain surgery using AI possible within two years
Artificial-intelligence technology can guide surgeons, which should make complicated operations safer.
09/28/2023 05:41 AM
Millions wrongly labelled with penicillin allergy, pharmacists warn
Many people are needlessly avoiding the most common antibiotics, which are the most effective.
09/26/2023 12:00 PM
Vapes '95% safer' than cigarettes messaging backfired
The messaging around vaping may be driving children and teens to take up the habit, says expert.
09/20/2023 05:55 PM
Child fentanyl death: Police seek husband of NYC nursery owner
Video footage shows the man removing full shopping bags and fleeing before police arrived.
09/21/2023 01:01 AM
Where Ukraine’s army of amputees go to repair their lives
Orla Guerin visits a hospital and clinic in Ukraine, where 15,000 lost limbs in the first half of 2023.
09/21/2023 01:01 PM
South Africa to clear Covid lockdown criminal records
More than 340,000 people were convicted of breaking some of the world's toughest lockdown restrictions.
09/19/2023 12:25 AM
Japan population: One in 10 people now aged 80 or older
The world's most elderly country has long struggled with how to provide for its ageing population.
09/15/2023 04:00 AM
Meditate to beat stress blood pressure, say guidelines
There is enough scientific evidence for some less conventional "body and mind" approaches, say experts.
09/15/2023 02:02 AM
Scientists discover how brain cells die in Alzheimer’s
The findings, which had been a mystery for decades, give new ideas for treating the disease.
09/13/2023 07:21 PM
France sets out plan to ban disposable vapes
France joins several other European countries that are trying to stop children using e-cigarettes.
CNN.com - RSS Channel - Health
CNN.com - RSS Channel - Health
CNN.com delivers up-to-the-minute news and information on the latest top stories, weather, entertainment, politics and more.
11/15/2022 07:11 AM
RSV hospitalization rate for seniors is 10 times higher than usual for this point in the season
The respiratory virus season has started early in kids this year and flooded children's hospitals in many parts of the country -- especially with respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV.
11/15/2022 12:01 AM
Covid-19 boosters could keep thousands of kids out of hospitals, but uptake remains low
Higher Covid-19 vaccination rates among US children could prevent thousands of pediatric hospitalizations and millions of missed school days, according to an analysis published Tuesday by the Commonwealth Fund and the Yale School of Public Health.
11/14/2022 02:41 PM
Experimental therapy gantenerumab fails to slow or improve Alzheimer's memory loss in clinical trials
An experimental treatment, gantenerumab, failed to help people at high risk of memory loss from Alzheimer's or those who were in the early phases of the disease, the manufacturer said Monday.
11/15/2022 08:00 AM
US gets D+ grade for rising preterm birth rates, new report finds
The rate of premature birth in the United States is climbing, according to the infant and maternal health nonprofit March of Dimes.
11/13/2022 03:07 AM
Desperate for heart surgery for their baby, a family feels the effects of pediatric hospital shortages
Even before their daughter was born in June, Aaron and Helen Chavez knew she would need heart surgery. Doctors expected her to have an operation around 6 months of age.
04/14/2023 02:37 PM
Fuzzy first photo of a black hole gets a sharp makeover
The first photo ever taken of a black hole looks a little sharper now.
04/14/2023 11:20 AM
Paper airplane breaks a world distance record
It's a bird... It's a plane... It's a paper airplane!
04/13/2023 02:05 PM
This bat fossil could fill in a piece of the evolutionary puzzle
Two 52 million-year-old bat skeletons discovered in an ancient lake bed in Wyoming are the oldest bat fossils ever found — and they reveal a new species.
08/16/2023 05:17 PM
How long you can use vintage Tupperware
Since Tupperware, the iconic kitchen brand that's been a household name for decades, signaled recently that it might be going out of business, you might be wondering how long your stash of its food storage containers is safe to use — especially if it's vintage.
04/14/2023 08:49 AM
Why we have nightmares and how to stop them
We leave behind our fears of monsters under the bed as we say goodbye to our childhoods, but one can follow us into adulthood and loom over our heads.
 
Copyright 2023 LouisvilleHealth.com. All rights reserved. rss Subscribe to our RSS
Information provided here should not be relied on to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition, disease or illness. Please consult with your physician or health care professional for guidance on any health concern. LouisvilleHealth.com is a commercial website and is not affiliated with any government agency, university, or private medical center. COMPENSATION DISCLOSURE: This site may be compensated for products promoted here. Read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.