Artful Living Blog
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Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #30: Anti-Aging Skin Care
Posted on October 28 2018
Most "anti-wrinkle" skin creams and lotions have no research to back up their claims. But, this article does indicate that tretinoin can help restore collagen, the primary structural component of skin, thereby helping to reduce wrinkles, Different formulations of tretinoin are discussed.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #29: Are "Natural Cures" Effective?
Posted on September 30 2018
This blog provides a summary of the major article on Natural Cures in the November, 2018 issue of Consumer Reports
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #28: Why Do We Prefer Less Healthy Foods?
Posted on September 30 2018
Based upon new brain research, it appears that our brains give unorthodox responses to foods that are high in both fats and carbohydrates, a combination that was rare in our evolutionary development. Highly processed foods are typically combinations of both high fat and high carbohydrate ingredients. This combination seems to trigger an over response in the brain's "reward circuits" unrelated to the foods actual energy content.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #27: Sleeping Better
Posted on September 16 2018
Sleep is one of the most difficult pillars of healthy living to voluntarily control. This blog outlines a number of scientifically-tested techniques for improving sleep and the author also adds some of his personal techniques for getting a better night's sleep.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #26: A Common Sense Approach to Healthy Eating
Posted on September 09 2018
White House chef Sam Kass' new book, Eat a Little Better, makes common sense recommendations on how to eat a more healthy diet, like put the things you want to eat more of (like produce) on the main shelf of the refrigerator rather than in the produce bin so that you see it every time you open the refrigerator. Practical advice on eating a little better and healthier.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #25: The Real Story On Losing Weight
Posted on September 08 2018
The key to weight loss is not a popular diet, but a change in lifestyle. Diets do not work precisely because they typically cannot be sustained over the rest of your life. You have to eat more of the food that you like that is lower in calories, and eat less of the food that you like that is higher in calories. And you have to eat foods that you like because you must maintain this discipline for the rest of your life, your new lifestyle. This blog discusses the challenges and remedies for adopting this change.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #24: Minimizing Pesticide Exposure in Produce
Posted on July 22 2018
While 99% of tested fruits and vegetables have pesticide residues below the EPA's safety levels, many people are still concerned about the potential health effects of consuming fruits and vegetables with pesticide residues (and almost 70% of tested conventionally grown produce has pesticide residues). This blog makes specific recommendations how to further reduce your exposure to pesticide residues in produce.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #23: Living to be 100 the Blue Zone Way
Posted on July 15 2018
We can learn a lot about healthy living by studying identifiable populations of people who achieve the age of 100 in far greater numbers than randomness would suggest. Such populations are called "Blue Zones" and this blog summarizes some of the research that has been done with these populations and the interesting findings from that research.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #22: Healthier Cleaning
Posted on July 08 2018
The new "Safer Choice" EPA-approved label on cleaning products will help us make easier, safer decisions about which cleaning product to purchase by helping us cut through the confusing and misleading claims made on many cleaning product labels.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #21: What's the Deal With Fiber?
Posted on July 01 2018
Fiber seems to be added to more and more processed foods, but is that fiber going to contribute to a healthier you? Learn the answer and the best solution for living a healthier life with more fiber.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #20: Achieving Happiness and a Sense of Wellbeing
Posted on June 08 2018
It turns out that we can control the degree of our happiness and sense of wellbeing to a greater extent than most people think is possible. Learn the secrets of being happy from one of the world's experts, Dr. Laurie Santos, who taught these secrets in the most popular course in the 317 year history of Yale University.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #19: Focusing On Fruit as a Bigger Part of a Healthy Diet
Posted on May 20 2018
Some people think that vegetables are "better for you" than fruit because they are worried about the sugar in fruit. Worry no longer. Read this blog on the ways that fruit can enhance your health even more effectively than vegetables.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #18: What Vitamin D Pills Can Do For You
Posted on May 13 2018
Dr. Michael Greger ("How Not To Die") routinely discounts the value and efficacy of taking isolated vitamins in pill form because many of the research findings he cites affirm that nutrients in isolated form do not work as intended. He argues for obtaining these vitamins and nutrients through whole food nutrition, i.e. eating whole grains, fruits and vegetables. However, some recent research findings do indicate that taking mega doses of Vitamin D pills can be effective in decreasing artery stiffness, thereby helping to reduce blood pressure. Combined with the fact that many people have difficulty obtaining their recommended daily allowance of 600 to 800 IU of Vitamin D through food or exposure to the sun does suggest that taking a Vitamin D supplement or multivitamin may be beneficial to your health.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #17: Weight Loss
Posted on May 06 2018
Recent research at Stanford University indicates that low carb and low fat diets are equally effective if they lead to a reduction in the consumption of processed food, sugary drinks and unhealthy fats, and are equally ineffective if they don't, irrespective of the genetic makeup of the individual.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #16: Beating the Health Care System the #3 Killer
Posted on April 29 2018
The American health care system is actually the third greatest cause of death in comparison to all diseases. It turns out that being diagnosed and treated by our health care system is dangerous to your health! The common sense guidelines outlined in the previous fifteen blogs on how not to die can help you avoid this most unexpected risk of dying by keeping you healthy and out of the "health care system".
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #15: Beating Parkinson's Disease the #14 Killer
Posted on April 22 2018
Parkinson's disease kills 25,000 Americans every year, but it impacts the lives of many more because of the length of time people with Parkinson's have to endure increasingly debilitating symptoms. Parkinson's is caused in great part by environmental pollutants that destroy brain cells in the part of the brain which controls movement. The pollutants enter our blood stream by means of the food that we eat and the air that we breath. You can reduce your chances of getting Parkinson's by reducing your consumption of meat, eggs, and dairy products and increasing your consumption of plant-based foods, especially berries, coffee and bell peppers.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #14: How To Beat Prostate Cancer the #13 Killer
Posted on April 15 2018
While prostate cancer is considered less deadly than other forms of cancer, about 28,000 American men die from it every year. However, an enlarged prostate is a wide-spread health issue (more than 50% of men in their 50s have an enlarged prostate) which can be very inconvenient and lead to prostate cancer. It is possible to reduce, and even eliminate, your risk of prostate cancer by reducing your dietary ratio of animal to vegetable proteins. Read this blog to learn more.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #13: Beating Suicidal Depression the #12 Killer
Posted on April 08 2018
Depression contributes to almost 40,000 suicides in this country every year. Increasing evidence shows that while often effective in the short run, long-term anti-depressant drug use can lead to dependence, loss of control over important aspects of your life, and severe withdrawal symptoms. A better approach may be to utilize the power of fruits and vegetables as well as exercise to help you maintain a positive mental state. Read about how what you eat can have as powerful and positive effect on your mental health as taking an anti-depressant drug.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #12: Beating Breast Cancer the #11 Killer
Posted on April 01 2018
There are scientifically-validated ways to reduce your risk of getting breast cancer, or of increasing your chances of survival if you have it. This blog reviews a number of studies which point to successful strategies for dealing with this disease which impacts a quarter of a million women every year. If you are a woman, please read this, because there is a significant chance that you may already have cancerous cells growing in your body, and you will learn strategies to reduce your risk of developing the disease.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment # 11: Beating the #10 Killer: Kidney Disease
Posted on March 25 2018
One third of Americans over age 64 suffer from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) but 75% of them don't know it because kidney disease typically exhibits no symptoms until one or both kidneys fail. Kidneys filter toxins out of our blood supply and animal-based foods are the primary contributing factor for kidney stones and kidney failure from hyperfiltration, inflammation, acid load, and cancer. To avoid these problems eat less animal-based foods and eat more plant-based foods.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #10: Beating Blood Cancers the #9 Killer
Posted on March 18 2018
Blood cancers, like leukemia, are devastating, but you can reduce your risk of developing these cancers by eating more vegetables, especially cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, as well as some fruits like the exotic and delicious acai berry. Read on.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #9: Beating Liver Disease the #8 Killer
Posted on March 11 2018
Over 70 million Americans have fatty liver damage from consuming too much animal-based fat, cholesterol, and sugar. Others have alcoholic liver damage. These forms of liver disease can be easily avoided with a healthy diet that reduces meat, eggs and dairy products as well as alcohol and increases whole-grain foods like oatmeal (and coffee, too!).
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #8: Beating High Blood Pressure the #7 Killer
Posted on March 04 2018
High blood pressure is the #1 health risk world wide, and the #7 killer of Americans. But, the truest measure of the damage it causes is better measured by the fact that over 100 million Americans have high blood pressure, many of whom do not even realize the danger that they risk of heart attacks and stroke. While various high blood pressure medications can reduce these risks, it is also possible to reduce the risk even more effectively by reducing the consumption of highly salted processed foods, prepared foods, and meat while increasing consumption of unprocessed fruits and vegetables, especially fruit and some especially effective vegetables, like the rhubarb in the accompanying photo.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #7: Beating Diabetes the #6 Killer
Posted on February 25 2018
Diabetes is the # 6 killer of Americans. Approximately 75,000 Americans die per year from the disease, but the disease is also responsible for many other tragic outcomes, including over 650,000 cases of vision loss every year. Diabetes Type 2 is strongly associated with obesity and the consumption of excessive fats and sugars in the diet, so if you want to greatly reduce your chances of becoming diabetic you should reduce your consumption of saturated fats and sugars from animal-source and processed foods and increase your consumption of unsaturated fats and sugars from natural, plant-source foods.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #6: Beating Infectious Diseases the #5 Killer
Posted on February 18 2018
Our bodies are constantly being invaded (infected) by bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microorganisms through what we breath and what we eat. Maintaining our remarkable natural immune systems to fight against these infections is critical to maintaining health. Fruits, vegetables, exercise, and E-cloths can all help avoid these pathogens, or strengthen our immune systems to prevent infections from developing into diseases.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #5: Beating Digestive Disease the #4 Killer
Posted on February 11 2018
The number four killer of Americans is cancer of the digestive system. According to Dr. Michael Greger's book, How Not To Die, the risk of colorectal and pancreatic cancers can be reduced by the consumption of the spice turmeric and more fruits and vegetables. And more fiber (which only comes from plant-based foods) helps prevent esophageal cancer. Juice Plus makes a Tower Garden that will permit you to aeroponically grow organic plant-based foods year around.
Healthy "Artful Living" Moment #4: Beating Brain Disease the #3 Killer
Posted on January 28 2018
Alzheimer's and strokes are devastating diseases, but you can substantially reduce your risk of both by eating a more plant-based diet, getting aerobic exercise, and sleeping 7-8 hours a night. If you are concerned about getting Alzheimer's or suffering a stroke, read this blog for specific steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of both.
Healthy, "Artful Living" Moment #3: Beating Lung Diseases the #2 Killer
Posted on January 21 2018
Lung diseases are the second greatest killer of Americans, but research findings show that a change of diet towards more fruits, vegetables and turmeric spice may significantly reduce your chances of dying from these diseases.
Healthy, "Artful Living" Moment #2: Beating Heart Disease the #1 Killer
Posted on January 14 2018
Heart disease is the #1 killer of Americans, but the primary cause of this disease is our diet, which we can control. In fact, by changing our diet to a more plant-based diet, it is possible to reduce the amount of cholesterol in our blood stream and reverse the build-up of fatty plaque in our arteries.
Healthy, "Artful Living" Moment #1--Is High Blood Pressure Now A Bigger Problem For You?
Posted on January 14 2018
According to new guidelines announced last week from a dozen different medical groups (like the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology) “high” blood pressure is now defined as a blood pressure reading of 130 over 80 or higher. If either the systolic pressure (the first number) is...
Cleaning and Health Part 3: Protecting Your Baby's Health
Posted on September 26 2017
Blog 3. Cleaning and Your Baby’s Health If you have a baby you know that he or she is the most important person in the household. It seems like everything we do as parents is focused on protecting and nurturing our baby. But, sometimes we don’t know enough about or...
Cleaning and Health Part 2: Defense Against Bacteria
Posted on September 15 2017
Blog 2: Cleaning and Health: Defense Against Bacteria In Blog #1 I discussed how e-cloths are better for your health because they permit you to clean dirt and grime and grease and oil and everything else without using expensive and even hazardous household cleaning chemicals. But now I would like...
Cleaning and Health. Part 1.
Posted on September 05 2017
The mundane task of cleaning our homes is potentially health threatening when we use cleaning chemicals. Cleaning products commonly found under our kitchen and bathroom sinks often contain ingredients that are considered hazardous by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and women who work at home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than women who work outside the home because of their greater exposure to toxic household chemicals. A safer, and better, way to clean is with E-cloth microfiber cleaning products which clean with only water used in conjunction with E-cloth's advanced microfiber technology.
How to Buy a Mattress. Four things you need to know. Part Four.
Posted on July 18 2017
Part Four: The Fourth Most Important Factor to Consider When Buying a Mattress: A System for Decision Making. Most people decide to buy a mattress upon seeing an ad offering to save them a lot of cash on what is promoted as a great (maybe even an incredible!) mattress. You...
How to Buy a Mattress. Four things you need to know. Part Three.
Posted on July 11 2017
Part Three. The Third Most Important Factor to Consider When Buying a Mattress: What It Is Made Of. Compounding the mattress comparability challenge is the fact that mattresses are not simple constructions and can vary significantly in terms of their inner design and materials. There are “innerspring” mattresses with steel...
How to Buy a Mattress. Four things you need to know. Part Two.
Posted on July 05 2017
How to Buy a Mattress. Four things you need to know. Part Two. Price is obviously an important consideration when choosing among various mattresses, but mattress makers and sellers make it very difficult (if not impossible) to comparison shop based on price because they change the names or the look of the same mattress sold by different retailers and they produce a bewildering array of slightly different mattresses at slightly different price points. The highly touted, impressive sounding sales that are repeatedly advertised are also largely illusionary. So just focus on the quality mattress you want and then what the "out-the-door" prices for those kind of mattresses will be as well as looking for non-price benefits like free delivery and free disposal of your old mattress.
How to Buy a Mattress. Four things you need to know. Part One.
Posted on June 16 2017
How to Buy a Mattress. Four things you need to know. Part One. The most important factor to take into consideration when buying a mattress is the manufacturer's warranty because it is the only enforceable promise made by the manufacturer about the mattress. But warranties can be tricky, so understand how they work and what is most important to you before you start lying down and testing mattresses for comfort.
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