Have you ever heard the saying that age is a state of mind? Well, researchers are working on proving that. Two studies suggest that having a positive attitude leads to a healthier, higher quality of life.
In separate projects, different researchers discovered a scientific link between optimism and mental and physical health in older people.
Researchers suggest that the mind determines how quickly and dramatically people age. This is because good emotions can alter chemical balances. Over a seven-year period, investigators measured weight loss, exhaustion, walking speed and grip strength of about 1,500 older Mexican-Americans who were in good physical health at the start of the study. Results showed that those with more positive outlooks were significantly less likely to become frail.
However, they note more research needs to be done to confirm this link.
In the second study, a research team found a link between optimism and memory performance in older people, even when compared to other age groups.
About 153 subjects of varying ages were asked to take part in memory tests after being exposed to positive and negative words about aging. When prefaced with negative stereotypes, older participants had much lower scores on the tests than when primed with affirming stereotypes.
Researchers conclude that if society had a better view of the aging population, then older people would be less likely to fulfill negative stereotypes.
BBC News September 12, 2004
Dr. Mercola's Comments: Lately, I've been finding conventional medicine is starting to come around to my way of thinking. That's why I was pleased to read the above studies supporting the strong link between physical health and emotional health. Finally, researchers are starting to make the connection between the healing process and emotional health. If you read my newsletter, you know how much I believe the spirit within us works in concert with our bodies to strengthen the whole person. And that negative thoughts and emotions eventually hurt your body in some way. Tools to help you keep a positive outlook include: Journaling Meditation Prayer EFT -- This is one way to get your emotions back on the right track. The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a psychological acupressure method that I routinely use in my practice and most highly recommend to optimize your emotional health. Insight CD -- Listening to this special audio selection will nourish your spiritual mind, help reduce stress and negative feelings. Ultimately, we choose our mental state by how we deal with things in our lives. Optimism plays a large role in our overall health, and taking care of our physical health goes hand in hand with our mental health. In fact, a positive mental attitude can help you cope with or even avoid health issues such as: Arthritis Recovery from Surgery Autoimmune diseases Heart Disease Addictions Menopause Symptoms I can't say often enough that emotional health is absolutely essential to your physical health and healing. No matter how devoted you are to the proper diet and exercise, you will not achieve your body's ideal healing and preventative powers if emotional barriers stand in your way. I am also very excited about exploring the addition of bioidentical hormones to supplement levels to optimal ranges that one might produce during their 20s and 30s. I have been studying this recently and hope to be posting articles expanding on this concept in the near future. Related Articles: The Six Foundations of Healing, Part II Positive Thoughts Work as Well as Drugs How to Develop a Prosperity Consciousness People Avoid Socializing With Pessimists Optimism Can Ward Off Stress The Four Steps to a Super Attitude Share this article Previous Article Next Article Loading Please Wait Community Comments (0) Post Your Subcomment (2000 Characters only.) Characters remaining: * Please enter your comment! Edit Your Comment (2000 Characters only.) Characters remaining: * Please enter your comment! Comment deleted violating the aspect of our terms of use Thanks for sharing your feedback! If your feedback doesn't appear right away, please be patient as it may take a few minutes to publish - or longer if the blogger is moderating comments. Share this article Previous Article Next Article
Lately, I've been finding conventional medicine is starting to come around to my way of thinking. That's why I was pleased to read the above studies supporting the strong link between physical health and emotional health.
Finally, researchers are starting to make the connection between the healing process and emotional health. If you read my newsletter, you know how much I believe the spirit within us works in concert with our bodies to strengthen the whole person. And that negative thoughts and emotions eventually hurt your body in some way.
Tools to help you keep a positive outlook include:
Journaling
Meditation
Prayer
EFT -- This is one way to get your emotions back on the right track. The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a psychological acupressure method that I routinely use in my practice and most highly recommend to optimize your emotional health.
Insight CD -- Listening to this special audio selection will nourish your spiritual mind, help reduce stress and negative feelings.
Ultimately, we choose our mental state by how we deal with things in our lives. Optimism plays a large role in our overall health, and taking care of our physical health goes hand in hand with our mental health.
In fact, a positive mental attitude can help you cope with or even avoid health issues such as:
I can't say often enough that emotional health is absolutely essential to your physical health and healing. No matter how devoted you are to the proper diet and exercise, you will not achieve your body's ideal healing and preventative powers if emotional barriers stand in your way.
I am also very excited about exploring the addition of bioidentical hormones to supplement levels to optimal ranges that one might produce during their 20s and 30s. I have been studying this recently and hope to be posting articles expanding on this concept in the near future.
Related Articles:
The Six Foundations of Healing, Part II Positive Thoughts Work as Well as Drugs How to Develop a Prosperity Consciousness People Avoid Socializing With Pessimists Optimism Can Ward Off Stress The Four Steps to a Super Attitude
The Six Foundations of Healing, Part II
Positive Thoughts Work as Well as Drugs
How to Develop a Prosperity Consciousness
People Avoid Socializing With Pessimists
Optimism Can Ward Off Stress
The Four Steps to a Super Attitude