P.J. Skerret addresses the physical benefits of laughter in the Harvard Health Blog: “From brain scans and other tests, neuroscientists are compiling evidence that laughter triggers chemical responses in the brain that lead to feelings of pleasure and a sense …
Foods that Promote Happiness: Tips from Dr. Mao
Dr. Maoshing Ni offers nutritional advice for boosting your mood in Yahoo Health’s January 21 post, Foods that Promote Happiness. Some excerpts: Eat folate-rich foods (i.e., leafy greens, oranges, fortified whole grains): “Folate, also know as folic acid, is a …
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Stress and Environmental Influences
I just started a new class, “Newsworthy Topics in Contemporary Life Sciences,” with Dr. William J. Anderson (senior lecturer in stem cell and regenerative biology at Harvard University). Much of my argument for the use of holistic treatments in addressing …
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Rise in Young Adult Prescriptions
Science Daily’s article, “Prescriptions for Teens and Young Adults on the Rise” documents some alarming statistics: “The study found that between 1994 and 2007, prescription rates for controlled medications nearly doubled from 8.3 to 16.1 percent among young adults and …
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Nature vs. Nutrition: Phenylketonuria (PKU)
What role does nature (versus nurture) play in the development and treatment of depression and obesity? While researchers have made great strides in identifying a number of biological underpinnings affecting both conditions, it is important to maintain a balanced view. …
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Principles of Stress
The following quotes, from Abnormal Psychology (Butcher, Hooley and Mineka), outline the basic mechanisms of the human stress-response: “When we experience or perceive challenges to our physical or emotional well-being that exceed our coping resources and abilities, the psychological condition …
