by admin | Jan 6, 2021 | health |
I hope you are well. We have weathered a lot in the past nine months—from the loss of life to the disappearance of jobs and livelihoods. We have been called upon to use our powers of discipline, acceptance, and fortitude to withstand the restrictions that have been imposed on our lives. And we have adapted and soldiered on. For many people the Pandemic has given them time to reflect about their lives, and to focus on what is really important to them.¹ I believe it has inspired a new reverence for the fragility of life. With the transiency of life as a theme and as the New Year approaches, which is a time of new beginnings, I feel impelled to write about a subject that I feel has more primacy and urgency. I had promised to write about the Gut, Part 2. I will address the Gut in a subsequent Newsletter. The focus of this Newsletter will be about “Ikigai” and how it can affect your health, well-being and ultimately your life. Ikigai (pronounced “Ickee Guy”) is the Japanese term for one’s reason for being, or as they say in French, Raison d’être. Knowing one’s Ikigai can help us embrace life more fully. In their book, Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles state that Ikigai may be one of the factors that contributes to Japanese longevity, especially the Centenarians who live in Okinawa. ⁽²⁾ ⁽³⁾ Research has shown that having meaning and purpose in life can increase psychological well-being. In fact, it “can aid in overcoming stress, depression, anxiety, and...
by admin | Nov 18, 2020 | health |
As I mentioned in my Newsletter yesterday, I just finished my first book, “Don’t Mess with Stress ™–A Simple Guide to Managing Stress, Optimizing Health, and Making the World a Better Place.” It has taken me several years to get it done, with many starts and stops, and I am proud that it is completed! The thesis behind the book is that when people feel good about themselves, mind and body, they are apt to be nicer to others. I believe this fosters a “pay it forward” mentality, which can ultimately make the world a better place. My book, with its recommendations and tools, is designed to help you feel and be your best, especially during these challenging times. If you are so moved, would you please purchase the paperback or e-book on Amazon especially TODAY, as it will count to make it a best seller, and feel free to pass it on to your friends, family, acquaintances, and anyone who you feel might benefit from it, especially during the holidays. The e-book is priced very low just for a few days, to make it more available to people. Here is the link to Amazon. Thank you so much for your help and support! With warm regards, Dr. Jill Click Here to Order My...
by admin | Nov 18, 2020 | health |
I hope all is well with you and yours. As I write this Newsletter, Covid-19 cases are increasing on top of a challenging political landscape. And as I have written about in past Newsletters, it takes resilience and stress hardiness to thrive during these times. To deal best with this stress, I always recommend that you follow the Don’t Mess with Stress ™ core four lifestyle behaviors—Diet, Meditate, Walk (Move, Exercise, Dance), and Sleep and also have social connection when possible. Recently, I have seen in my patients an increase in stress-related gastrointestinal tract conditions. People are having more heartburn, and others are having more lower gastrointestinal symptoms like constipation and/or diarrhea, what Western Medicine often calls Irritable Bowel Syndrome. For this edition of the Newsletter I am going to focus on a condition called Gastroesophageal Reflux or GERD. In the December Newsletter I will focus on the lower GI tract. During this time, I must confess that I have had some symptoms of GERD. GERD happens when the food and acid from the stomach come up through a valve called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). Normally this sphincter or valve is closed after we eat, so food won’t come back up. One of the causes of GERD is an anatomical issue such as a hiatal hernia, where part of the stomach is pushed up through the diaphragm, the thin piece of muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen. People are either born with a hiatal hernia or they can develop it. Another major cause of GERD is when the LES loosens and the food and acid...
by admin | Sep 23, 2020 | health |
I hope you had a great summer. I know that we are still in prevention mode, and that our lives are not the same as they were 6 to 7 months ago. We are traversing life with restrictions on our freedom because of the Covid crisis, as well as facing issues with our political system and climate change. The unknowns of all of this is causing tremendous stress and impacting the mental and physical health of many of us. It is a time that requires significant emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual fortitude to not only survive but to thrive. In this month’s Newsletter, I underscore the basics of building resilience and suggest an additional factor than can enhance your immunity this fall and in general. A recent research article stated that, “studies have shown that a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, balanced nutrition, quality sleep and a strong connection with (their) families and communities are all associated with a boost to the immune system.” ¹ That’s where the basics of my “Don’t Mess with Stress™” program come in. I have discussed these four core components and supplement recommendations for prevention in prior newsletters. Please see www.drjillbaron.com/blog for more information. This fall we need to withstand the stressors of life including infections like Covid. Research is showing that everything in the body is connected from our brain to our nervous system, our immune system, and our gut. So what and how we think, eat, move, sleep, and pause, can affect our health. Hence the term, “Psychoneuroimmunity.” The Don’t Mess with Stress™ Core Components and Your Psychoneuroimmunity: Diet: Have an anti-inflammatory, Mediterranean...
by admin | Aug 13, 2020 | health |
I hope you are enjoying the beginning of summer and that you are staying safe and healthy. This edition of the Newsletter is about Brain Health and how to optimize it. Having mental, emotional, and physical fitness is the key to not only a healthy, happy, and vital life, but also the wonderful combination of factors that give you the Energy to live your life. As research continues to emerge, we are learning that a healthy lifestyle is the basis of optimal health of your body, especially the brain. In my upcoming book, Don’t Mess with Stress!™—A Simple Guide to Managing Stress, Optimizing Health, and Having FUN in the Process, I outline what I believe is the core foundation for health—Diet, Meditate, Walk (move, exercise, dance), and Sleep. These 4 factors greatly affect your memory and brain health, with the goal of reducing and avoiding chronic inflammation, and strengthening the immune system. Chronic Inflammation results from the body fighting its own cells and not turning off. We find this in most diseases, including the brain, where inflammation can cause memory loss and dementia including Alzheimer’s disease.¹ In this Newsletter I am going to focus on 2 aspects of the Don’t Mess with Stress!™ program, Diet and Exercise, and show you how they can positively enhance your brain. Diet—The cornerstone of a diet to prevent and treat dementia is anti-inflammatory. The Mediterranean Diet and the “DASH” Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) both contain “omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and polyphenols” ² which have been shown to decrease brain inflammation. Another diet currently being advocated to treat dementia and early stage...
