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SpaceX Plans Civilian Space Mission to Raise Funds for St Jude Hospital

February 20, 2021 by Kristen Lawrence

SpaceX recently announced plans for the first-ever all-civilian space mission, raising money for St Judes Children’s Hospital. Planned for late 2021, Jared Isaacman, a 37-year-old entrepreneur and seasoned pilot, will lead the flight. They’ve started seeking crew members to tag along. In a press release, the company said the crew would ride with Isaacman aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule.

Isaacman, the CEO of Shift4 Payments, said he donated $100 million to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He hopes to help raise $200 million more. To reach this goal, he said that those who donate at least $10 would have a chance of being picked.

His company will select three crew members “to represent the mission pillars of leadership, hope, generosity, and prosperity,” according to a press release. They’ve already chosen one person, Isaacman said during a press call. The full crew “will be announced in the weeks ahead,” SpaceX said.

The mission, named Inspiration4, will garner support for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The journey marks a tremendous step forward for human spaceflight and exploration. Shift4 Payments announced the mission during the first quarter of this year’s Super Bowl. During this introduction, Isaacman invited all viewers to support and become part of this historic mission.

Isaacman said in the press release: “Today’s announcement is the first step of a very exciting journey. In the lead-up to launch, we’ll share new ways to support and follow our mission preparation and execution with a focus on inspiring and helping others.”

“Inspiration4 is the realization of a lifelong dream and a step towards a future in which anyone can venture out and explore the stars,” said Isaacman. “I appreciate the tremendous responsibility that comes with commanding this mission, and I want to use this historic moment to inspire humanity while helping to tackle childhood cancer here on Earth.”

Details about the mission to inspire support for St Jude Children’s Hospital

The flight will launch from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket. Before the flight, crew members will undergo special training from SpaceX on the Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft. Training will include “a specific focus on orbital mechanics, operating in microgravity, zero gravity, and other forms of stress testing.”

They will also participate in emergency preparedness training, spacesuit and spacecraft ingress and egress exercises, and mission simulations. After launch, careful monitoring will take place by the SpaceX mission control as the spacecraft orbits Earth every 90 minutes. The Falcon 9 will follow a customized flight path.

Crew members will spend up to five days in the Crew Dragon capsule. Dragon will reenter Earth’s atmosphere for a soft water landing off Florida’s coast at the end of the mission.

Isaacman gave two seats to St Jude on the Inspiration4 mission. He reserved the first seat for a St Jude ambassador with direct ties to the mission. This person should embody the pillar of Hope in addition to the hospital’s vision – compassion, unity, equality, and inclusion. The second seat will exemplify the pillar of Generosity. This month, the public can enter for a chance to join the journey and support St Jude Hospital’s noble mission.

Isaacman hopes to raise the $200 million to support the hospital’s multi-billion dollar expansion, which will expand research advancements. It will also save more children around the world. He will give even more support to the fundraising effort by offering other prizes. These include flights in a military jet as well as flight gear.

The entrepreneur previously raised funds for other charities as well.

Isaacman holds a license to fly both commercial and military aircraft. He also holds several world records, including a Speed-Around-The-World flight to raise money and awareness for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Also, he took part in over 100 airshows as part of the Black Diamond Jet Team. He dedicated every performance to some charity.

In 2011, Isaacman co-founded what eventually became the world’s largest private air force, Draken International. This allowed pilots to train for the United States Armed Forces.

“The same year St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital broke boundaries by opening its doors, the first American orbited the Earth in 1962,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President, and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude. “From the beginning, St. Jude has been at the forefront of innovation and inclusion, leading in cancer research, care, and treatment for some of the world’s sickest children regardless of race, ethnicity, beliefs, or a family’s ability to pay.”

“This partnership brings two missions together to create one incredible moment in time that will make an impact for years to come on the global effort to cure childhood cancer.”

Isaacman will collaborate with Shift4 Payments to offer up the last crew seat. This final crew seat represents the prosperity mission pillar. It will go to an entrepreneur who uses the new Shift4Shop eCommerce platform. This gives entrepreneurs the tools they need to start and build successful eCommerce businesses online.

Current and new Shift4Shop customers will have an exclusive opportunity to enter an online competition showcasing them and their business. The competition will occur from February 1-28, 2021, and a panel of independent judges will choose a winner.

To learn more about how to support and possibly join this historic space mission, visit www.Inspiration4.com. You can also follow the journey on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for the latest news on the mission.

Final thoughts: the SpaceX mission piloted by Shift4 Payments CEO will make history

The world’s first all-civilian space mission launched by SpaceX will mark a turning point in space exploration. It also sends a “humanitarian message of possibility” by supporting the lifesaving work of St. Jude Children’s Hospital. The spaceflight piloted by Jared Isaacman will include three civilian crew members who uphold the hospital’s values and vision. What an exciting time to be alive!

13 Behaviors That Can Help Reverse Prediabetes

February 19, 2021 by Chris Butler

Has your doctor told you that you’re prediabetic? You should take prediabetes seriously as it’s a warning sign.

The alarm bells send clear signals. Your body is trying to tell you that if you don’t change your ways, you will develop full-blown diabetes.

You can monitor your blood sugar levels at home, or your doctor will run a hemoglobin panel that measures your A1C levels. According to DPBH, the acronym for A1C stands for glycated hemoglobin. This test will evaluate your blood sugar levels over the past three months to give you a score.

The target is to keep your A1C below 7, but doctors fret when their patients have a number between 5.7 and 6.4. It’s because these medical experts have seen people make the jump from prediabetes to a person with diabetes in a short matter of time.

How Serious Is Type 2 Diabetes?

You can’t forget how serious it is to develop type II diabetes, as the health consequences can be severe. If you don’t keep your sugar levels in check, you can have all sorts of issues.

Your blood becomes thicker when the glucose in your body is out of whack, which can increase your risk of blood clots, a heart attack, or a stroke. Here are some other things that commonly happen to those with diabetes:

High blood pressure
Elevated cholesterol levels
Gum disease
Poor brain health
ED or erectile dysfunction
Hearing Loss
Frequent urinary tract infections
Numerous fungal infections
Sleep Apnea
Cataracts and other visual difficulties
Kidney Disease and, ultimately, failure
Neuropathy
Amputations

Nothing will if this list of possible eye-opening complications doesn’t stir you to make changes. Diabetes is severe, and it can take your life.

Thirteen Ways to Reverse Prediabetes

Now that you’re fully aware of this disease’s complications, it’s time to be proactive. You can fix things, and there is time to reverse this situation. Here are some behaviors that you can change that will make a significant impact on your glucose numbers.

1. Bulk Up on Fiber

Fiber is one of the best ways to combat diabetes. First, it helps to fill you up so that you eat less, and second, it helps to stabilize blood sugars. There are two kinds of fiber, soluble and insoluble.

Insoluble foods like cashews, peanuts, beans, oats, apples, quinoa, grains, and lentils are delicious. Soluble fiber is a powder you put into water and does a great job of lowering A1C levels.

2. Cut Out High Sugar Fruits

It’s okay to eat fruit while you have diabetes, regardless of popular beliefs. However, you must choose lower sugar varieties or limit the high sugar vegetation. Berries are an excellent source of nourishment without a ton of sugar. Consider raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries, which are all great for you.

However, the highest sugary fruits are bananas, mangos, watermelon, pineapple, oranges, grapes, figs, and cherries. Don’t tell yourself that you can never have these items, but remind yourself that limiting these foods is best.

3. Toss the White Bread

White bread is highly processed and has too many additives. White flour is a big issue as it turns to starch inside the body, which turns to sugar. However, it would help if you didn’t get caught up in the advertising schemes that anything labeled as “whole grains” is good for you, either.

Make sure you take time to see what is in your bread. Wheat bread and those made with seeds are often a better choice, but they don’t have the same soft and gooey texture as the white varieties. Still, the high fiber content helps to keep your sugar numbers in check.

4. Get Moving to Help Reverse Prediabetes

Sometimes it’s not as much as what you eat as it is the fact that your lifestyle is sedentary. Remember that you shouldn’t exercise if your glucose is above 250 mg/dl or too low. Thankfully, many programs can help you lose weight and get your sugar levels where they need to be.

5. Avoid Potatoes

Who doesn’t love a good bowl of mashed potatoes or a large baked potato loaded with goodies? Sadly, potatoes are like eating pure sugar as their high starch content turns to sugar in your body. If you have a craving for a potato, then you should try the sweet potato as it’s loaded with fiber and nutrients that a diabetic needs.

6. Get in Shape

According to the National Institute of Health, more than eighty percent of people with diabetes are overweight. You can quickly reverse your numbers by dropping your body fat.

7. Avoid Carbohydrates

There are many benefits to lowering your carbohydrate intake. However, you may be wary of using fad diets that won’t last. It would help to change your eating habits to avoid contracting this disease. Sadly, many foods you love are probably not good for you. Stay under 225-325 grams of carbs daily, as the Mayo Clinic recommends.

8. Read the Labels

Make a habit of reading the labels when your grocery shopping. If you do any “click list” grocery ordering services, they also offer all the labels online for you to see. Avoid trans or saturated fat, heavy corn syrup, molasses, dextran, maltose, inverted or regular sugars, and malt syrup. All these things are not good for you.

9. Load Up on Healthy Fats Like Fish and Avocados

Healthy fats are good for prediabetes, but they’re also good for your heart. They help to absorb nutrients into the body and have a negligible effect on blood sugar levels. They help to fill your stomach fully, so you’re not searching for something to eat an hour later.

10. Treat Sleep Apnea Along With the Prediabetes

It sounds bizarre, but your sleep can have a great deal to do with your insulin resistance. When you have sleep apnea, you stop breathing throughout the night.

Some clues that you’re suffering from this condition include loud snoring, choking and gasping for air, excessive sleepiness in the daytime, headaches upon waking and being told by your partner to stop breathing during the night.

You can improve your insulin levels by simply wearing a device that helps your airways remain open during sleep.

11. Flush Your System with Water

When you drink more water, you go to the bathroom more often. The kidneys are responsible for flushing impurities from your system, so the more water you drink, the more glucose you lose. Anyone with diabetes will tell you that drinking water is essential for keeping your sugar levels balanced.

If you regularly consume juice and soda, turn to water as it benefits the body. Plus, soda and juice are loaded with sugars, which someone with prediabetes doesn’t need.

12. Work with A Nutritionist to Better Manage Prediabetes

Working with a nutritionist can be incredibly beneficial when you have a condition like prediabetes. It’s tricky to learn what foods you can and can’t eat with a glucose problem. Though your physician may try to guide you in the right direction, they don’t have all the specific training of a registered dietician.

One of the benefits of a dietician is that they can help you make a specific meal plan centered around the foods you love. It would help if you learned that there are healthy foods that you will like and new and exciting ways to create dishes for your health. Remember, your goal is to learn how to stabilize your blood sugars to control your glucose with diet.

Thankfully, it’s not difficult to eliminate what’s wrong and focus on healthy food choices.

13. Stop Smoking

Smoking is bad for you as it releases harmful toxins into your body. The smoke from cigarettes makes it hard to breathe and constricts your blood vessels. You can die from oral and lung cancer because of smoking, but it can also affect your blood sugar levels.

The stimulating drug nicotine found in cigarettes directly affects your blood sugar levels. According to the Centers for Disease and Control, smoking cigarettes causes inflammation, which causes the body to stop responding to insulin, making you resistant.

Final Thoughts on Making Lifestyle Changes to Reverse Your Prediabetes

To some, being diagnosed with prediabetes is a wake-up call that it’s time to change their lifestyle. The great thing about type II diabetes is that it can be reversed. Genetics plays a significant role, but your glucose levels are dictated by the foods you eat and your sedentary lifestyle.

Since most of those who have this type of diabetes are overweight, it’s time to take action to prevent it from turning into a full-blown disease. Diabetes is a very troublesome condition to manage, and it’s expensive. It will affect every aspect of your life.

Being told that you have prediabetes might be a shock, but it’s the jolt you need to stimulate you to make necessary changes. Do you want to prick your finger four or more times a day to monitor your sugar, among all the other things required of you? Now is the time to alter your lifestyle.

Dr. Berns-Zare Shares 4 Ways to Reclaim Control if You Feel Off-Balance

February 19, 2021 by Power of Positivity

The world is a busy place, or at least it used to be. Life could sometimes come at you at 100 miles per hour, and it could seem like there was no stopping it. If you were an efficient person, you learned how to navigate the fast pace of life without getting off-balance.

Most people adapted to the fast pace of life, so the rapid pace seemed normal. Everything from technology to medicine is more advanced than one could have imagined a few decades ago. That is why no one could have predicted that in 2020, the entire global population would be halted by a pandemic.

It’s hard to imagine that a society as advanced as we are could be crippled by something so minuscule as a virus these days. Yet here we are. It is safe to say that we’ve all been humbled by this experience and are probably seeking to make our lives count in some way.

Ironically, people have been thrown off-balance by the pause in life that the pandemic has caused. Having to stay home for almost a whole year has left many people struggling to make sense of things. It has caused a lot of difficulties in finding a sense of purpose. However, we must keep trying to see it, as well as happiness, throughout this challenging time.

That was the subject of an article written by Dr. Ilene Berns-Zare, PsyD. Titled How to Gain Greater Balance in an Unbalanced World, she explained four ways to happiness and peace in this challenging time. Surprisingly, they are quite simple tips. However, it is easy to overlook these simplicities when you’re stressed about the world’s state and life as you know it.

Here is a breakdown of her four tips:

Here are four things you can do to regain control.

Tip #1: Really experience the taste of your food and beverages.

If you have never really stopped to savor your food, you have time to do that now. When the world was in full force, you would be surprised at how many people had to eat on the run or try to fit meals into a short, 15 to 30 minute break period. All that rushing leads people to eat because they are hungry without really enjoying the food.

Dr. Berns-Zare recommends taking the time to use all five senses as you eat your food. Notice textures, tastes, smells, and more. Take a mental note of how you really feel about the food or drink as you consume it.

Tip #2: Take the time to enjoy happy or positive times.

Often, when pleasant and happy times are happening, you are enjoying them but not letting them soak in. Before you know it, you are back to your off-balance life of social distancing and trying not to lose your marbles. The happy moment has passed and will rarely be recollected.

According to Dr. Berns-Zare, you should pause and really experience the moment. Breathe, notice the moment, and welcome the joy and gratitude that you get from it. Really live in the experience to get the full benefits that happiness offers you.

Tip #3: Do the same with your happy or positive memories.

Pleasant moments make you feel right now, but people often forget about these moments as they go on with their lives. Dr. Berns-Zare recommends that you purposely take the time to remember these pleasant moments from time to time. She says to pause, take a deep breath, and welcome it with joy and gratitude.

Envisioning yourself in a happy time and place is a great way to relieve stress. You are essentially using your mind to “get away from it all.” These temporary breaks are like mental vacations that can allow you to recharge.

Tip #4: Take note of experiences that make you happy or make you feel good.

This may sound like the same tip as the second one, but the difference is that you will think of experiences (rather than think about them) that make you happy so you can do them again. Dr. Berns-Zare recommends making a list of activities you really enjoy doing. Then find a way to make time in your life for these activities regularly.

Even if you cannot do these activities daily, doing them once a week could give you something to look forward to. These activities could almost be like goals that can give you back your sense of purpose.

Dr. Berns-Zare gave some great advice on getting back on track in a world that is off-balance. These four tips are as valuable as gold. The rest of the article will expand upon these tips and offer you more advice on getting your balance back.

Four Additional Tips for People with an Off-Balance Life

We are all going through it – trying to navigate a new normal. You can take comfort in the fact that this new world is unique to everyone. People of all socioeconomic backgrounds have been affected by the pandemic. It is an unprecedented time in our century.

Despite knowing this, it doesn’t make it any easier to get yourself back on track. The good news is that it’s not impossible to gain your balance back. Here are some extra tips to get you heading in the right direction.

1. Don’t be so hard on yourself.

Some people are incredibly critical of themselves because they cannot achieve the goals they set out to achieve. They are behaving as if they’ve somehow failed like they didn’t work hard enough. However, this is the wrong line of thinking.

No one “failed” at anything. The world stopped, and there was nothing that anyone could do about that.

Jobs ended, so promotions could not happen. Schools closed so new high-school graduates could not start college. Gyms closed, and home-exercise equipment stopped being manufactured so people could not lose the weight they vowed to lose. People had to social distance not to visit family and friends they hadn’t seen for a while.

Worst of all, many people died, putting fear in society that people had not seen in centuries. This is not meant to get you down (although it’s regrettable), but it’s meant to get you to realize that none of those unmet goals were due to any fault of your own.

The world is starting to open back up, so you will be able to work on your goals again very soon. You may be facing a new normal, but there is no doubt that your dreams will once again be attainable.

2. Cherish every moment with your loved ones.

Procrastination was something that many people did before the world stopped. There may have been friends or family that you hadn’t seen in a long time, and you figured you would get around to it eventually. Now that you’ve been through a time when you couldn’t see them, you probably realize how important it is to keep in touch with everyone.

Don’t take those moments for granted. Even if you can’t spend time with them in person, technology makes it possible to video chat with them. Consider each moment you can spend with your loved ones as a gift and make it count.

3. Make a plan.

You’ve had plenty of time to consider which direction you want your life to go in. The best way to make it happen is to plan on how you’re going to do that. Don’t go into post-pandemic life with no clue or no roadmap. This will extend your off-balance feeling. Get back on track by figuring out the steps you will take while you have downtime.

4. Eat healthily and exercise.

Being home all the time can encourage you to eat unhealthy foods and to be a bit lazy. However, if you let your health go, this will cause your life to be off-balance. You may not be able to go to the gym right now, but you can still take steps to stay healthy at home.

Your body and your mind are connected. If you let your body get unhealthy, your mind can also become tainted. Bad health can make you feel even worse about life. The best thing you can do is to do everything you can to stay healthy.

Final Thoughts on Living in an Off-Balance World

Although you may feel a bit off during these times, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s only temporary. Pretty soon, things will be back to normal. Although normal may have a new definition, it won’t be so different that you experience a complete life shock.

This means that if you follow the tips listed above from Dr. Berns-Zare plus the additional information, you can get yourself back on track. In fact, these tips can help you even if there was not a pandemic. More than anything, try to remain positive. Positive thinking goes a long way when it comes to living a balanced life.

Do You Accidentally Signal Negative Vibes? 14 Habits to Change

February 18, 2021 by Sarah Barkley

Even if you are a nice person, people may misunderstand you if you send negative vibes. The way you behave plays a big part in how people feel about you, even if your behavior is unintentional. Your negative habits could stop people from approaching you or getting to know you, preventing you from reaching your goals.

There are behaviors that you may not even realize give off negative vibes. Your posture, facial expressions, and eye contact can signal negativity if you don’t find a remedy. It can affect your career and relationships and prevent you from meeting new people or finding new opportunities.

If you think that you might be accidentally signaling negative vibes, you can make a change. Being in control of your vibes is important if you want to succeed and be heard. All that you have to learn which habits are giving negative vibes and then stop those habits.

This doesn’t mean you should put what others think above your desires or needs. Instead, it means you should only change your habits that cause negative energy.

Fourteen Habits to Change if You Accidentally Send Negative Vibes

Read about these habits so that you can work on making a positive change or two. You will be pleasantly surprised at how others begin to respond to you.

1. Looking Everywhere Except at the Speaker or Avoiding Eye Contact

If you look at everything else around you while speaking, you are letting off negative vibes. Likewise, if someone is trying to make eye contact with you and you keep looking away, it’s a bad sign.

These behaviors cause people to think that you don’t care about them or what they are saying. Sometimes, people will think that you are looking for something better or more enjoyable. No one wants to feel like they aren’t good enough for your attention so that they will move on.

You must be aware of how you are behaving, and make sure to look at others and make eye contact. This allows others to connect with you and feel like you are trustworthy.

2. Fidgeting

While fidgeting may seem harmless, it is one of the habits that give negative energy. Continually tapping, jiggling, wiggling, or bouncing your knees is not only annoying, but it can make others think that something is off.

This habit can make you seem self-conscious, nervous, and unempowered. People tend to avoid others who are like this, so it could be causing people to stay away from you.

3. Being Distracted or Seeming Like You Aren’t Present

One massive behavior that sends negative signals is seeming distracted. If you aren’t giving people your attention, they will feel disconnected from you. Avoid constantly checking your phone when you are in the presence of others to prevent sending negative signals.

Being distracted by other things tells people that they aren’t important to you. Even thinking of all the other things that you have to do later can cause negativity. Focus on being in the moment so that you don’t seem disinterested or disengaged.

4. Slouching

Slouching around is comfortable sometimes, but you should avoid it in social or professional situations. When you slouch, it gives off vibes that you lack confidence or are tired or insecure. None of those vibes are ones that you want to give, so try improving your posture.

Sit up straight or stand tall, and keep your neck extended and your shoulders back. You will feel more confident and give off positive vibes instead of negative ones.

5. Crossing Your Arms or Facing Your Body Away

Crossing your arms may not seem like a big deal, but it makes you seem closed off. Sometimes, it might even make you appear angry or defensive.

Plus, crossing your arms can make you seem insecure or scared. No matter how people portray this behavior, it is always in a negative way. Try to avoid it and do something different with your hands and arms, instead.

The way you point your body is another sign to others about how you are feeling. If you face your body away from them and point your feet away, you send negative energy.

The direction your body is facing will tell others whether you want to talk to them or not. Make sure you are sending the right message instead of pushing people you like away.

6. Repeated Sighing, Scowling, or Frowning

When you keep sighing when you’re with other people, it sends negative signals. It will make it seem like you are angry, upset, or anxious. Repeated sighing will also make people think that you don’t like them or what they are saying.

If you scowl while you concentrate, this might be a habit you want to break. People don’t like to be around those who never smile or are always scowling. It sends a message that you want others to stay away from you.

Avoid making people feel like they aren’t valued by stopping these harmful habits. You may not realize that you are sighing or scowling often, so make sure to pay attention and correct it.

7. Messing with Your Clothes or Doodling

Continually messing with your clothes tells people that you are uncomfortable, insecure, or anxious. This behavior will make it seem like you want to be anywhere else.

Likewise, doodling can give the same impression that you’d rather be somewhere else. It creates the illusion that you are bored and disinterested in those around you.

8. Not Listening to Others or Ignoring Messages

When other people are talking to you, it is rude to ignore them. Even still, it happens all the time, and many of those who do it don’t realize that they are. Ensure you are fully engaged when people talk to you and try not to let your mind wander.

Ignoring messages or emails falls into this category, as well. It is still rude to ignore people who have sent a message, even if they aren’t there in person. The other people will feel like you were dismissing them and disinterested in communication.

9. Bad Grooming Habits

When you look messy, people assume that you are not in a good place mentally. The way you dress and take care of yourself tell people so much about you. It sends nonverbal messages to those who don’t know you and gives those who do know you a clue about your mindset.

Take care of yourself all of the time, and keep yourself looking presentable. This will send positive vibes, and you can then attract positivity.

10. Your Space is a Mess

When your home or office space is disorganized and cluttered, people will get negative vibes from you. They will begin to think that you won’t be dependable or able to stick to a schedule. It seems crazy that this conclusion is made based on your physical space, but it happens often.

11. Being Too Sarcastic

While there is nothing wrong with some sarcasm in your life, too much of it is a bad thing. Sarcasm can make people feel like you are mocking or making fun of them, even if you say that isn’t your intention. It can make things tense and uncomfortable, too, which could make other people avoid you.

12. Not Expressing Your Emotions

Sometimes you might hide your emotions so that you can be polite or keep things comfortable. Hiding your emotions causes negative vibes, though, because it doesn’t give others a chance to know you. People must pick up on your emotional cues, or they could think you are angry or upset when you aren’t.

To avoid this problem, express your emotions no matter what. You don’t have to go overboard, but say what is on your mind or speak up when you become upset. This lets people get to know the real you so that they will feel more comfortable.

13. Being Overly Shy

You can’t always control if you are shy or not, but you can control how you let it affect you. If you allow your shyness to stand in the way in social situations, it will push people away. People may think that you are angry or disinterested when that isn’t the case at all.

Even when you are feeling shy, put yourself out there. Smile at others, wave at people, and engage in conversation.

14. Saying ‘Sorry’ too Much

When you apologize too often, it can signal negative vibes. It could make you seem insecure or unsure of what you are saying, and it takes power away from your words. Try to avoid apologizing for every little thing and save the phrase for when it is necessary.

Final Thoughts on Identifying the Habits to Change to Stop Sending Negative Vibes

You likely don’t want to send negative vibes, but some of your habits could be causing you to do so. Don’t let your behavior give unintentional vibes, or it could impact your relationships, career, and other parts of your life.

Pay attention to your behaviors and work on changing some of your habits. When you do, you will likely notice that people come around and talk to you more often.

8 Behaviors That Will Make Others Feel Safer Around You

February 18, 2021 by Lakeisha Ethans

Most people want to be welcoming to others. It’s natural to want to be friendly and want to help others feel comfortable about you. Simply put, being liked is a pretty great feeling, and making others feel happy when they’re around you is rewarding.

But it’s not always easy to put people at ease. Some people take longer to warm up to others than most, and it can feel pretty awkward if you don’t know how to handle it. Here are 8 behaviors that will make others feel safer around you.

1. Start With Common Ground

Common ground is a great way to begin bonding. It’s why you often connect with new people by talking about your mutual friends, for example. When you’re meeting others for the first time and want to make them feel comfortable and safe talking to you, begin by trying to find common ground.

For example, you can talk about these things:

Where you’re both from; you’ll have more to talk about if you grew up in a similar area and went to similar places as kids
The music you like; studies indicate that shared music taste can increase interpersonal connections and have positive effects on others’ perceptions
Places you’ve traveled to; most people like talking about their travel experiences and will be happier to talk about somewhere you’ve also been to
What sports teams you support; there’s an innate camaraderie among sports fans!
Shows, movies, books, or other media you’ve consumed. There are lots of things to discuss when it comes to media you both enjoy
Current events; most people are somewhat aware of recent events, and you can bond over neutral ones.
Any potentially unusual questions about preferences, you’d be surprised how discussing favorite ice cream flavors or lucky numbers can lead to common ground.

You know what to start with – but what shouldn’t you start with? Try to avoid personal, political, or controversial topics unless you’re with someone who you know enjoys such discussion.

2. Be Confident

Confidence can be intimidating, but it can also make others feel safe around you. Being able to show from the beginning that you’re a confident person tells other people that you have your stuff together and have things under control. This may help them feel safer or more comfortable. You can behave confidently when you first meet someone by:

Making eye contact when speaking or listening, in balance
Shaking hands with a firm grip
Standing tall and with a positive posture
Smiling in a genuine manner
Initiating a greeting where possible
Introducing yourself clearly and asking for their name too
Maintaining an open stance (don’t cross your legs or hide your face in your hands)

Of course, it’s possible to overdo it. You can step from confidence to arrogance by accident, and that will work against you. So remember to maintain a balance – you want to be confident, not cocky, and still be pleasant and friendly to those you meet.

3. Smile

Smiling is a great way to make someone feel safe and comfortable. It’s the universal feel-good sign. This is because:

Smiling is infectious, so when you smile, other people automatically smile too, even when they don’t necessarily want to
Smiling boosts positive thinking, not just the other way around, so encouraging others to smile will help them feel safer around you
A lack of a smile can often signal that something may be wrong, subconsciously worrying those around you

This doesn’t mean you have to force a smile when you don’t feel like it, of course. It’s often the genuine features of a smile that make people feel comfortable, after all. But making an effort to be pleasant and positive around others is going to help them feel safer!

4. Slow Down

Have you ever found yourself standing awkwardly by as someone’s words tumble out of their mouth a mile a minute, ruining your ability you comprehend them? It’s hard to feel comfortable around someone you can’t understand this way, as you may not know how to stop or slow them down.

This concept applies to you. Yes, it’s wonderful to see how passionate people can get when talking about things they love, but it comes on very strong when you’re newly meeting someone. It can overwhelm them if you go off the rails too quickly. Here are some ways your speed may be affecting things:

You might get excited when you have a spark with others, causing you to talk quickly or intensely.
You may mumble or have trouble speaking clearly or loudly, meaning that going too fast effectively makes it very hard for anyone to hear your message.
Perhaps you may provide a lot of information at one point without slowing down, causing others to feel overwhelmed and panicked.
You may become difficult to understand the faster you go, and others may not feel comfortable trying to ask you to repeat yourself.

Slow your speech, restrict the most intense of your hand movements, and relax. Pause to ask questions, include others in your conversation, and take a breath, and others will feel much safer listening to you.

If you have a disorder that tends to manifest in overexcited speech or intensity, you may find it difficult to slow down or even notice when you’re going fast to begin with. Asking others to inform you if they need you to repeat yourself or if they’re having trouble keeping up can help you stay aware. It also tells the people you’re talking to that you value open honesty and want them to understand you, which will help them feel safer and like they can trust you.

5. Mirroring

Mirroring is a rather interesting and somewhat sneaky way to encourage others to feel safe and comfortable, both around you and in general. It involves the act of subtly mimicking an individual’s actions and posture through body language, which will relax them even though they don’t know why.

There’s a balance to be struck, and mirroring too much usually puts people off. But in general, mirroring will encourage others to feel more positive around you. Here are some tips and steps to follow to mirror others and help them feel safer around you.

· Face Them

You can’t mirror someone very well if you don’t face them. After all, mirrors work best when you’re looking at them directly!

· Build A Connection

Indicate that you are listening by making eye contact and nodding when the other person speaks. Show that you are interested in understanding them and genuinely do try – mirroring works best when you truly show genuine interest.

· Match Their Verbal Components

How is the other person speaking? What tone are they using? What kind of language? And at what pace? When you speak, try to imitate their general speed and style of voice and use appropriate vocabulary to the conversation.

· Match Positive Gestures

Subtly, pick a couple of gestures every so often to mimic. Do this without showing that you’re overtly copying them – make it casual! When they tap their chin, wait a few seconds, then copy the motion. When they shift their weight, shift yours too.

Mirroring is a careful practice. Some things will work against you, so don’t:

Exactly mimic everything they do; that’s too much and will be obvious.
Mimic negative gestures, like crossing arms; this habit will perpetuate an atmosphere of negativity.
Fake interest in the other person; people are more insightful than you think, mostly subconsciously.
Over-focus on mirroring to the point you become stressed or unable to listen; that defeats the purpose.

6. Be Thoughtful

Being thoughtful is a surefire way to showcase that you’re a safe person to be around, and actions speak louder than words. When you indicate that you are aware of and compassionate for the people around you, they’ll naturally adopt more positive thinking toward you. Here are some examples of ways to be thoughtful:

Compliment them on something notable in a genuine way; if you notice and like their shoes, say so, or if you admire their strength, point it out
Take note of any needs they may have, especially if you’re in a hosting position; offer them what they may be too uncomfortable asking for
Ask how they’re feeling or about themselves, and genuinely show interest in their answer; let others know that you care enough to listen

7. Engage In Storytelling

Storytelling engages people and is a useful way to spark conversation, especially among quieter people or those who don’t know what to say. It gives you a great jumping-off point for future topics of discussion, too.

You can try one of the following conversation starters:

Tell a true story that happened to you; try to opt for lighthearted or funny tales instead of serious or dark ones
Tell jokes that you’ve learned, especially those that are a little longer and engaging
Talk about a cool story, show, or movie you’ve seen recently and tell others why you like it
Collect stories from others and pass them on the new people
Talk about a news story you’ve read recently; again, try to opt for cheerful ones!

The kind of story you choose to tell tells others something about you. For example, talking about something embarrassing that happened to you shows those with you that you’re comfortable making fun of yourself.

8. Use First Names

While it doesn’t apply to all situations, in most more casual settings, you’ll have the ability to choose between someone’s first or last name when addressing someone. As long as the other person is okay with that, it would be best if you tried to use first names to create a more straightforward, safer-feeling atmosphere.

Think about it. You’re more likely to have your attention grabbed by someone saying your first name than your last one. On top of that, you’re more likely to react with a festive mood when someone uses your given name, whereas your last name being used denotes formality or, sometimes, even aggression.

Final Thoughts On Some Behaviors That Will Make Others Feel Safer Around You

Making others feel safe is a huge asset to your social life. It helps you network, make new connections, build stronger bonds, and solidify yourself with a positive impression. Still, it can take practice, so work on these 8 behaviors to make others feel safer around you!

13 Habits Make It Easier For You to Lead A More Fulfilling Life

February 18, 2021 by Lakeisha Ethans

Do you have good intentions? How do you look at the world? Are you a cynical pessimist, a cheerful optimist, or something in between? Did you know that your answers to these questions may determine if you believe you have a fulfilling life?

The reality is that being a more positive person with good motivations and genuine goals can allow for a better and happier living experience. Here are 13 ways positive intentions help you lead a fulfilling life.

1. You Are More Persistent

When you have positive intentions, you are confident in your desires. This allows you to be more persistent because you trust where you’re coming from and know your intent is genuine. You can face any number of problems and keep going because you trust in your desires.

The persistence that comes with positive intention is typically learned and is a result of increased optimism. The more positive thinking you employ in your everyday life, the more likely you will face any challenges head-on and feel you live a more fulfilling life.

2. You Believe In Yourself More

You know what your positive intentions are. And you know the real motivation of your actions. This provides you with a sure-footedness that allows you to feel more confident in yourself. You believe in yourself because your intentions let you:

Focus on where you want to be, not what you lack
Avoid the stress that comes with second-guessing yourself
Work on yourself in earnest and improve over time
See reality for what it is instead of drenching it in gray
Trust yourself, your abilities, your thoughts, and your motivations

3. You Have A Better Attitude

When your intentions are right, it shows on your face and shines from your heart. More important, it manifests in your behavior. Your attitude becomes kinder and more pleasant. You see the good in the world around you because you come from a place of good intentions yourself. You:

Perceive the world in a more positive light
Attract good things because of the good you bring to the world
Enjoy a happier life that focuses on the better things
They are much more optimistic in general
Appreciate the little things that others may overlook

4. Your Health Is Improved in a Fulfulling Life

Did you know those positive intentions can make your health better? Once again, this comes down to the fact that those with this outlook on life and on themselves tend to be less pessimistic, and studies say that’s related to all kinds of health benefits, including:

Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
Higher immunity and a more robust immune system
Greater chance of survival from cancer

5. You’re Less Afraid Of Failure

Failure is a normal part of life, but it’s something that many fear to some degree. The idea of all your efforts and invested resources resulting in anything that isn’t successful is a scary thought. But when you have positive intentions, you’re not as frightened of that prospect. Sure, it’s still something problematic, but you’re braver for it. This is because:

You believe in your abilities and your desire, so you want to try even though there are risks
You understand that you must be willing to try to get anywhere in life, even if the result is failure
You’re willing to and even eager to learn from mistakes so you can grow and improve as a person
You are wise about handling risks and balancing pros and cons because you aren’t drowning in negativity

6. Your Mental Health Improves

It’s easy to see the connection between intentions and psychological state. Thinking well of yourself and the world and going through life with good motivation is a surefire way to ensure better mental health. If you don’t currently have those intentions, learning to adopt them will work wonders for your well-being!

The act of retraining your brain to have different intentions is a form of cognitive therapy. It’s such a useful skill that a paradigm shift to positive connotation can be as effective (or even more so) for treating clinical depression as common antidepressant medications. It is believed that these results are genuinely long-lasting, too!

7. You Have More Achievements

It can be tough to see how the simple act of coming forward with good intentions may earn you more achievements, but all you need to do is put together the facts we’ve learned about the magic of positive choices so far. All of them combined to allow for a higher chance of achieving what you set out to do. For example:

Your persistence lets you endure difficulties, enabling you to reach goals even when the path is rocky
A belief in yourself allows you to feel confident in taking on challenges
Your lack of fear of failure helps you to embrace the unknown and the uncertain, thus keeping you happier during rough waters
You generally have a better mood, which allows you to attract positive results and handle stressful situations with improved emotional regulation
You are more grateful for failure, as it will enable you to learn new lessons more quickly, and you actively seek new things to learn

8. You Enjoy A More Positive Social Life

Having positive intentions means you attract positive people. Think about all the people you enjoy spending time with. They’re probably not grumpy complainers who frequently behave like they hate everything! People gravitate towards positive individuals. This allows for:

Stronger relationships and bonds
A close social circle that you can trust and rely on
Many new and unique perspectives to learn from
A positive environment that is contagious
Higher satisfaction with interpersonal relationships

However, there is a minor downside you need to be aware of. Negative people may also gravitate towards you to feed off your good intentions or even take advantage of you. Remember, having good intentions doesn’t mean being naive, and it’s okay to set social boundaries while maintaining your genuine intent.

9. You’re Less Stressed Out

Having good intentions can reduce stress levels, both from everyday tasks and from tough rare challenges. Once again, to see the connection, we must turn our minds back to the other benefits of positive intentions. For example:

You believe in yourself and have higher self-esteem, so you have more faith in the coming of good things and brighter days ahead
You view setbacks as opportunities to learn and grown and don’t become hung up on the stress of them
You’re more comfortable with risk-taking and are therefore less susceptible to stress that may come from uncomfortable situations
You are better at managing stress as you know how to maintain a positive environment and are good at regulating emotions
You have a healthy response to stress thanks to optimism

10. You May Live Longer if You Live a Fulfilling Life

It is believed that those with positive thinking may enjoy a longer life, according to the research of all kinds. This may be due to many different factors, from the physical benefits of good intentions to the possibility that those with good intentions are less likely to fall into unhealthy habits.

Overall, while more research is necessary into this general concept, it’s generally accepted that optimism and other forms of happy ways of looking at the world lend themselves to a longer and healthier life.

11. You Are More Resilient

Resilience refers to the ability to deal with problems, pain, difficulties, and even trauma. It’s a simple fact that even those with the best intentions will go through trials and tribulations. Some will even be entirely outside of their control.

But if you have good intentions, you are less likely to fall to pieces. Sure, you are human, and you will grieve and experience strong negative emotions, but you will also know that you are healthy. You will not wallow for too long and eventually find your ability to cope and stand powerfully through these difficulties.

Positive thinking is a crucial factor in resilience. Without it, you will not be able to find solutions, learn from the issues you’ve faced, seek help, or handle trauma in healthy ways. Instead of repressing what you feel, you will focus on what you can do to rise again and lead a fulfilling life.

12. You Enjoy The Little Things In Life

With the rush of daily activity, it’s easy to overlook the tiny details that decorate daily. Noticing the little things in life is something those with positive intentions do easily. They set out to find happiness and beauty in the world around them, so they notice more things. They are not obsessed with:

Social media fame
Physical possessions
Symbols of wealth
The latest fads and trends
Gaining power

Instead, those with good intentions know that gratitude is the way to go. They take joy in their favorite foods and drinks, the beauty of nature and the colors they love, and even just the fact that they get to wake up every morning.

This doesn’t mean that someone with positive intentions only wants the bare necessities. Instead, it means that they don’t need a lot to feel fulfilled, as their true happiness is found in more everyday experiences that others may overlook.

13. You Are More Likely To Have Positive Habits

One of the best ways to live a fulfilling life is by maintaining positive intentions, as these intentions allow you to have good habits. Your goals are all about doing well, and you know that you must take care of yourself first to do that. Someone with good intentions will:

Eat more healthily
Sleep a sufficient amount
Make wiser decisions with partnerships and intimacy
Avoid vices and substance abuse
Exercise more
Be more in tune with their body’s needs
Rest as much as they need to
Not overwork themselves

Studies have shown that the healthy patterns of those with good intentions often translate to the opposite of a “deadly cycle” – a virtuous cycle, if you will! The healthy behaviors they perform lend themselves to feelings of fulfillment, which increase their good intentions, making them more eager to serve healthy habits again!

Final Thoughts On Some Positive Intentions That Help In Leading A Fulfilling Life

If you want to lead a fulfilling life, you must start from within. The way you see the world and yourself plays a significant role in how much happiness you find along the way. So start finding ways to shift your perspective towards the good, and you’ll find that fulfillment comes to see you.

10 Tricep Exercises That Give You Great Looking Arms

February 18, 2021 by Power of Positivity

Would you like to build big, strong upper arms that you’d be proud to show off? You don’t even have to belong to a gym to do them. Yes, you can have the body you’ve dreamed of and the arms that look amazing bulging out of any shirt. All you need is some hard work with these tricep exercises, a protein-enriched diet, and some motivation.

Ten Tricep Exercises You’ll Want to Try.

Are you ready to begin? Here are the ten most common tricep exercises that will help you build the body you long for.

1. The Big Dipper

If you have a sturdy chair, you have all you need for one of these triceps exercises. Although intensive, you can modify dips by altering your knees and feet position. This beginner dip is more manageable because your knees are bent, and your feet are closer together. You will need a sturdy chair to do this maneuver.

• Doing The Maneuver:

Sit on the chair with your knees bent and your feet together on the floor. Keep your hips close to the chair with your hands just outside.
Now, use your hands to lift your body from the chair and lower yourself until your elbows are bent at about a 90-degree angle. Remember to keep your hips close to the front of the chair. Your shoulders should be down while your abs feel the pull.
Bring your body back to the starting position and do two or thee sets. Try to do five to ten repetitions. As you get more experience with the dip, you can put your feet away to intensify the workout.

2. Kickback

Do you want to build some impressive triceps? Kickbacks are a great way to strengthen them using a dumbbell. While your shoulder keeps your upper arm in place, your forearm moves behind you to raise and lower the weight. You will need a platform and a dumbbell that has a comfortable weight for you.

• Doing The Maneuver:

Put your left foot on the step or platform and place your left forearm on your thigh. This position will give you proper back support.
Next, grab the dumbbell in your right hand and raise your elbow until it’s level with your torso. This is the starting position. Keeping your upper arm against your body is essential while doing a kickback.
Stretch your right arm behind you with the weight as you contract your triceps.
Smoothly lower the weight until your forearm is at a 90-degree angle and then back to the starting position to complete a set.
Try to do two to three sets of five to ten reps. Rest a few minutes, reverse, and do the same steps for your left side.

3. Overhead Tricep Lift

It’s fascinating how other muscles work in tandem when you focus on building your upper arm strength. This classic exercise engages muscles in not only your arm but also your abdominal area.

You can also do this triceps exercise if you need a less intense workout. You will need a dumbbell, an exercise ball, and a chair that’s comfortable for you.

• Doing The Maneuver:

First, sit in a sturdy chair or on an exercise ball. Grab the dumbbell with both hands and lift it over your head.
While your elbows point forward and your upper arms close to your ears, lower the weight smoothly behind your head until your elbows are at an approximate 90-degree angle. Be careful to use your abs to keep your back stabilized.
Bring your arms back up until the weight is again overhead in the starting position.
Try at least three sets of five to ten reps.

4. Pushdown

While this is one of the joint tricep exercises done on a cable machine, you can still do pushdowns virtually at home with a resistance band. Just place the band around a sturdy doorknob and tie a knot in it about halfway down.

If you do have a cable machine, use your rope attachment. You will need a large resistance band or the device.

• Doing The Maneuver:

For the starting position, stand in front of your resistance band and hold each handle with your hands. Your elbows should be close to your torso and bent at a 90-degree angle. If you’re using a cable machine with a rope attachment, hold near the knotted ends and assume the same starting position.
Next, bring your hands toward the floor while extending your arms and stretching the band slightly on both sides. Do the same step if you are using a cable machine. Bring your forearms back to the start position.
Aim for three sets of five to ten repetitions.

5. Skull Crusher

This is one of the triceps exercises that gets its name for obvious reasons. It uses an appropriate weight barbell that uses gravity to engage your upper arm and torso muscles. Do skull crushers on a bench or an exercise mat. You will need a barbell with appropriate weight and a weight bench or an exercise mat.

• Doing The Maneuver:

While lying comfortably on a bench or an exercise mat, grasp the barbell with each hand about a shoulder’s distance apart. Many barbells have convenient grips that are spaced appropriately.
Start by lifting the barbell over your head with your palms facing up and your thumbs against your index fingers.
Smoothly lower the weight by bending your elbows until they reach about a 90-degree angle.
Engage your upper arm muscles to straighten your arms back into the starting position. Avoid locking your elbows or shoulders. Do three sets of five to ten reps.

6. Dumbbell Floor Lift

When you are lifting separate dumbbell weights rather than a barbell, your upper arm muscles work harder to keep the weight correctly distributed. You can also use kettlebells if you have them. It’s like a bench press without the bench. You will need two dumbbells or kettlebells at an appropriate weight.

• Doing The Maneuver:

Lie comfortably flat on your back on an exercise mat. A dumbbell or kettlebell should be at each hand.
Next, grasp the weights in each hand and bring them smoothly over your head. Bend your arms to get the weights back to the starting position.
Pause, then bring the weights back overhead. Try to do three sets of five to ten repetitions.
As you advance, you can increase the weight in manageable increments.

7. Weighted Pushups

Before you consider this exercise as less effective than a classic pushup, think again. The weights give your more range of motion and more tension. Your upper arm muscles will see definite results. You will need two barbells with appropriate weight.

• Doing The Maneuver:

Lie flat on your tummy comfortably on the exercise mat. Place a barbell at each side. Keep your heels toward the ceiling and point your toes against the mat.
Grasp the barbells and have your shoulders pointed out. Engage your arm muscles to press against the weights to push your body up until your arms are straight. Try to keep your whole body straight.
Bring your body back to the starting position. Do three or four sets at five to twelve reps.

8. One Arm Weight Lift

Use this exercise to focus on one upper arm at a time. You can use a dumbbell or kettlebell. This is a useful way to get used to working your arms at the same time. You will need a dumbbell or kettlebell of the appropriate weight.

• Doing The Maneuver:

Lie flat on your back on the exercise mat with a weight on your left side.
Grasp the weight with your left hand. Bend your elbow at a 90-degree angle and raise the weight. Be sure to keep your shoulder and upper arm close to your body and flat on the mat.
Raise the weight straight into the air, then bring it down smoothly to the starting position.
Try three sets of five to ten repetitions. Then, switch to your right arm and repeat the steps.

9. Plank Up-Downs

Here’s another of the triceps exercises that you can do at home. A high plank is almost like the starting position of a pushup. To modify the activity, stretch your feet a little farther apart, and it will be more comfortable. You will need an exercise mat to do this maneuver.

• Doing The Maneuver:

Lie flat on your tummy and raise your body until your palms are flat and aligned with your shoulder. Your legs should be extended behind you with your feet on tiptoes. This is called the high plank, and it’s the starting position.
Next, lower your left arm until your forearm is on the mat, then do the same with your right arm. This second position is called the forearm plank.
Now, move your left hand back to the mat while extending your arm. Do the same with your right to come back into the starting position.
Try to keep your lower body still and straight while doing two or three sets of five to ten reps.

10. Diamond Tricep Pushup

This diamond maybe your upper arm muscles’ best friend. It is probably one of the most challenging triceps exercises because it uses all the arm muscles. It also resembles regular pushups with a boost.

• Doing The Maneuver:

Start like a regular pushup with your palms flat, your body straight, and toes against the mat.
Bring your hands together to form a triangle with your thumbs and index fingers.
Lower your chest to the mat by bending your elbows and straightening your arms to return to the starting position. Aim for five to ten reps.

Final Thoughts on Mastering These Tricep Exercises

You can incorporate these ten tricep exercises into your daily workout routine. Remember to drink water, eat protein, and cut out sugar for the best results. If you experience any pain, stop what you’re doing immediately.

Iowa State University Scientists Say “Eat More Cheese” for Brain Health

February 18, 2021 by Kristen Lawrence

According to new findings by Iowa State University researchers, eating cheese may protect against age-related neurodegenerative diseases later in life. They also discovered that red wine helped improve cognitive functioning.

The November 2020 issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease published this groundbreaking research.

Auriel Willette, an assistant professor in Food Science and Human Nutrition at Iowa State, led the research. Brandon Klinedinst, a Neuroscience Ph.D. candidate, working in the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, collaborated on the study. The research leads to large-scale analyses that link specific foods to better cognitive functioning later in life. The research team gathered data from 1,787 older adults in the UK (aged 46-77, at the end of the study).

They collected the data through the UK Biobank, a large-scale biomedical database and research resource. It contains in-depth genetic and health information from 500,000 UK participants. Approved researchers worldwide researching both common and deadly diseases can access the database.

The participants completed a touchscreen questionnaire called a Fluid Intelligence Test (FIT) at baseline for the study. This data was collected between 2006 and 2010. They also took part in two subsequent assessments conducted from 2012-13 and 2015-16. The FIT questionnaire gives the researchers an idea of a person’s mental keenness.

Eating habits that the team assessed

The research team also asked participants questions about their food and alcohol intake at baseline and two follow-up sessions. The Food Frequency Questionnaire asked participants about their consumption of various foods, which included the following:

fresh fruit
dried fruit
raw vegetables and salads
cooked vegetables
oily fish and lean fish
processed meat
poultry
beef
lamb
pork
cheese
bread
cereal
tea and coffee
beer and cider
red wine and white wine
champagne and liquor

Here are four of the main takeaways from the study:

More than all other foods, researchers found that cheese protected against age-related cognitive decline, even in the elderly.
Daily consumption of alcohol, specifically red wine, improved cognitive function.
Eating lamb each week, but not other types of red meat improved cognitive ability in the long-term.
Most people know that eating too much salt can cause health issues. Individuals already predisposed to Alzheimer’s should watch salt intake to lower the risk of developing cognitive problems.

“I was pleasantly surprised that our results suggest that responsibly eating cheese and drinking red wine daily are not just good for helping us cope with our current COVID-19 pandemic, but perhaps also dealing with an increasingly complex world that never seems to slow down,” Willette said. “While we took into account whether this was just due to what well-off people eat and drink, randomized clinical trials are needed to determine if making easy changes in our diet could help our brains in significant ways.”

Klinedinst added, “Depending on the genetic factors you carry. Some individuals seem to be more protected from the effects of Alzheimer’s, while others seem to be at greater risk. That said, I believe the right food choices can prevent the disease and cognitive decline altogether. Perhaps the silver bullet we’re looking for is upgrading how we eat. Knowing what that entails contributes to a better understanding of Alzheimer’s and put this disease in a reverse trajectory.”

Other benefits of eating cheese regularly–and why you should pair it with a glass of red wine

Here are other compelling reasons to add a little more cheese to your diet.

can protect against cavities
contains high amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin K2, which helps coagulate blood
contains calcium and protein, which help build strong bones and muscles
lowers inflammation due to conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which may also prevent heart disease and obesity
lowers blood pressure due to the high calcium levels
contains glutathione, an antioxidant that boosts brain health
protects blood vessels
improves gut bacteria

The primary benefits of drinking red wine

Grabbing a glass of red wine as the study suggests? Here are some potential benefits.

lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke, and early death
reduces the risk of cancer
lowers the risk of depression
improves insulin sensitivity
reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes in women
contains high antioxidant levels
lowers bad cholesterol

Both cheese and red wine have been shown to decrease the risk of cognitive disease. Below, we’ll go over a few more ways to protect against Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other neurodegenerative illnesses.

Lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s and other cognitive diseases

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, here are a few preventative measures you can take:

1. Make sure to get regular exercise.

Get regular cardiovascular exercise that elevates your heart rate and increases blood flow to the brain and body. Scienctists note a link between physical activity and lowered risk of cognitive decline, according to the National Institue on Aging.

2. Eat a diet low in sugar and high in heart-healthy fats.

The DASH diet and Mediterranean diet, in particular, have been shown to lower the risk of Alzheimer’s.

The DASH diet includes vegetables, fruits, fat-free or low-fat dairy products, whole grains, fish, poultry, beans, seeds, nuts, and vegetable oils. It also advises limiting sodium, desserts, sugary beverages, and red meats.

A Mediterranean diet includes low amounts of red meat. It emphasizes whole grains, fruits and vegetables, fish and shellfish, and healthy fats like nuts and olive oil.

3. Get enough sleep.

Sleep deprivation can cause problems with memory and thought processing in the long-term.

4. Keep your brain active.

Doing crossword puzzles and brain games, building something, or even reading a book will stimulate your brain.

5. Maintain social connections.

Some studies have shown that keeping socially active may protect your brain. Experts at the National Institute on Aging believe that socializing helps strengthen connections between nerve cells in the brain.

Final thoughts: eating cheese and drinking red wine can help prevent cognitive decline

In a groundbreaking study, Iowa State University scientists proved that cheese and red wine could impact cognitive acuity. Among all the foods in the questionnaire, cheese seemed to protect against age-related cognitive decline the most. This research will hopefully lead to other studies about the exact mechanisms behind why cheese improves brain functioning.

So if you don’t already eat cheese, you may want to reconsider long-term brain health. Of course, you should always choose humane, grass-fed, and organic whenever possible.

12 Signs Your Chest Pain May Reveal Something More Serious

February 18, 2021 by Power of Positivity

Chest pain is always a cause for alarm. If you are looking for immediate information or help, call 911.

However, if you are here for general information on the topic, please continue.

Even if you feel it’s caused by a condition such as acid reflux or stress, it still needs to be evaluated. Panic and gastric upset can cause you to feel weird sensations near your heart. And again…it is never something that you should ignore.

It’s hard for an untrained person to know the difference between a heart attack and pulled muscle in this area. So that’s why it’s essential to watch the other signs and symptoms that your body gives you. Even the medical community needs machines and various other testing methods to see if your heart is in danger, but you can identify these signs to know you need help.

Twelve Signs Your Chest Pain Is Serious

With deductibles and copays being at astronomical levels these days, it’s understandable that you don’t want to run to the doctor every time something feels off. However, if you have chest pain associated with any of the following symptoms, you need to seek medical treatment.

1. Dizziness

Dizziness can occur for many reasons, and it’s usually hard to pinpoint the exact cause. However, if you have chest pains and dizziness together, then it could be a sign that your heart is not getting blood to your brain. If your heart is not pumping correctly to circulate your blood, you can experience dizziness, among other things.

Dizziness is one of those alarming signs, and when accompanied by other concerning symptoms, it should be evaluated.

2. Pain Radiating Down Your Arms

It was once believed that a heart attack’s classic sign was pain radiating from the chest down the left arm. However, according to Heart Healthy, the pain can be in either arm. Did you know that arm pain is more common, and women’s are much more common than pangs in the chest?

The reason why the left arm is usually involved is because of its proximity to the heart. However, when arteries are clogged and blood flow diminished, these uncomfortable sensations can occur almost anywhere.

3. Irregular Heartbeats

Irregular heartbeats are a broad category that can include many sensations. Some may feel like their heart is doing flip flops, others may feel as if it’s skipping beats, and another may notice that their heart is beating too fast. Any irregularities with the cardiac rhythm should be evaluated.

Conditions like A-Fib can be deadly if not caught in time. A-fib is an arrhythmia that causes a rhythm disorder. According to the National Institute of Health, those with A-fib are at a greater risk of developing a heart attack or stroke. Yet, many don’t know they have this condition until it becomes severe.

Any irregularities in the heart rhythm are cause for analysis. While anxiety and stress can cause some beating abnormalities, anything that messes with your rhythm should be taken seriously.

4. Extreme Fatigue

There are many reasons why you might feel extreme fatigue, but when it accompanies pains in your chest area, it’s a cause for alarm. When the heart is having problems getting blood flow to all your major organs, it can directly impact your body and how you feel.

Blood supplies oxygen to the body, and without that oxygen at adequate levels, you cannot function properly. Before a heart attack, many people experience such fatigue that walking from one room to another exhausts them. Fatigue can be a benign condition, or it can be a sign of a severe issue.

5. Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are two other classic symptoms that you might experience with the common cold and flu or with a heart attack. These sensations can be caused by an issue of a buildup of fluid around your gut. According to Heart Failure Matters, a congestive heart failure can cause fluid to build up in your chest cavity.

This fluid can make you nauseous and want to avoid eating. You may also experience problems with digestion. While nausea and vomiting aren’t overly concerned, if it appears with chest pains, it should be evaluated.

6. Chest Heaviness

If you ever feel like an elephant is sitting on your chest, it’s maybe a medical emergency. Discomfort in the chest is described differently by each person; however, when you have sensations that feel so heavy like something is physically sitting on you, it can be severe.

One of the classic signs of obstructive coronary artery disease is feeling chest heaviness upon exertion. If you exercise and get this feeling, even walking up a flight of stairs can point to heart trouble. The key is to see if this sensation is alleviated by rest or if it continues regardless of what you’re doing.

According to BUOY Health, there are 23 reasons why you might be experiencing chest discomfort, and most of them warrant emergency medical care.

7. Shortness of Breath

Many reasons cause shortness of breath. A few related to the heart can be inadequate blood and oxygen flow from a blockage or fluid built up in the area. Keep in mind that being short of breath can also accompany seasonal allergies, anxiety disorders, and lung conditions.

The key to telling whether this is a heart matter is to see if it accompanies any of the other signs listed here or you have severe chest discomfort with it.

8. Confusion

If there’s a blockage in your heart that prevents the blood from getting to the brain, you may have confusion or disorientation. Your brain needs oxygen and blood to function, and when levels fall below the normal realms, you can experience all sorts of weird sensations.

However, when one of the arteries are full of plaque and causing blood flow to slow, the brain is a great distance to reach with impaired functionality.

9. Cold Sweats

Sweating is a symptom that occurs with many medical conditions. However, it’s an issue caused by the symptomatic nervous system when the “fight or flight” response is engaged. Your body knows that you’re in trouble, and it will react accordingly.

The key is that it gives you signs and symptoms to know to get help. It’s common to feel an increase of anxiety when things aren’t right in your system, but you need to be able to identify when it’s just anxiety and when it warrants further investigation. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell between the two, but it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your health.

10. Jaw, Back, Neck, and Shoulder Pain

You know that pain from inadequate blood flow can radiate down both arms, but did you know that it can radiate to your jaw, back, neck, and shoulders too? According to The Cleveland Clinic, women are more likely to experience these symptoms than men. It’s also common for people to brush off jaw pain as dental issues rather than heart symptoms.

However, strange pain that radiates from the chest to other areas of the body is always a cause for alarm.

11. Gastric Upset

Nausea and vomiting aren’t the only gastric conditions that can occur when the heart is in danger. It’s not uncommon for stomach acids to churn and make their way into the chest area. You can feel belly pain from the acids or heartburn.

This is where it gets tricky, especially when a person suffers from GERD or other conditions that cause these sensations. You might think it’s just some indigestion after a meal, but it may be way more dangerous.

12. Sleep Disturbances

A relatively new symptom that has come to the forefront of heart issues is sleep disturbances. It could be that your insomnia is coming from your heart and not your racing mind. Strangely enough, there have been studies conducted on this very matter.

According to Medical Health Tests, the people survey proved that you could have sleep disturbances up to a month before the event. Since many heart attacks happen while you’re asleep, could your body be trying to wake you up to get help?

Final Thoughts on Understanding When Chest Pains Lead to Something Move Severe

While most people think that having chest pains is the classic sign of heart trouble, you can be in the middle of a heart attack and have no symptoms at all. Silent heart attacks occur about 45 percent of the time, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

Researchers evaluated 9,500 who had experienced heart attacks. Their data produced many shocking things, but many heart attacks occur without warning was one scary thought. Thankfully, most of these severe events do give you warning signs.

The sooner you get help, the better your chances of surviving. Heart attacks have all sorts of degrees in severity, but they can be stopped in their tracks. If you notice any of these symptoms and accompany chest pain, then it’s always better to err on the side of caution than to do nothing. Getting help might be the one thing that saves your life.

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