Pollyanna was not an optimist and why optimism is the best strategy
All that most people know about Pollyanna is that calling someone that name is not a good thing. It is an effective way to discourage someone from undertaking something overly optimistic. The reference dismisses optimism as a way to support health and happiness and build success. But few people Read More...
How to help your body help itself
David Servan-Schreiber | November 2008 issue I have cancer. I was diagnosed with a brain tumor for the first time 15 years ago. After surgery and chemotherapy, I asked my oncologist for advice. What should I do to lead a healthy life and what precautions could I take to avoid a relapse? Read More...
Optimism 2.0
How an optimistic outlook can help improve your state of health, not just your state of mind. Mary Desmond Pinkowish | September 2010 issue Admit it. Secretly you think optimistic people are just a little annoying—their constant, insufferable smiling; the way they’re always looking on the Read More...
Lighten up!
Should we stay out of the summer sun? Not at all, according to a growing group of physicians. Sunlight can be good for you. Ana Karadarevic | September 2010 issue We’ve been hearing about the dangers of sun exposure for decades. Yet people still swarm to outdoor cafés, parks and beaches during Read More...
Hands-on healing
Craniosacral therapy, a form of light massage, may be controversial, but many patients are convinced of its benefits. Ana Karadarevic and Jessica Wapner | July/August 2010 issue We need more than multinationals to achieve economic Read More...
Your brain is a rain forest
People with conditions like ADHD, dyslexia and mood disorders are routinely labeled "disabled". But differences among brains are as enriching—and essential—as differences among plants and animals. Welcome to the new field of neurodiversity. Thomas Armstrong | April/May 2010 issue Imagine for a Read More...
Harmful chemicals we can do without
Companies need to start caring as much about human health as they do about profits. Amy Domini | April/May 2010 issue When I was a child, my parents gave me a “science kit” that contained samples of rocks, minerals and metals. It was wonderful. I’d pull out a sample of quartz and memorize Read More...
The power of hope
Freeing yourself from fear helps build the physical strength needed to fight disease and engage fully with life. David Servan-Schreiber | April/May 2010 issue I received a moving letter from a friend. “Big shock in October: breast cancer. Eighteen months of treatment. I’ll spare you the Read More...
Forget finicky food
Instead of scanning labels, give the kids some authentic home cooking. Elbrich Fennema | April/May 2010 issue It’s really not fair to label kids as finicky eaters if lactose makes them break out or preservatives make them itch. We should, instead, focus on finicky food. All things considered, Read More...
“Cultural activities improve mental health”
Sweden has recently launched a pilot project to help patients suffering from chronic depression; stress; anxiety; or back, shoulder and neck pain by prescribing cultural activities. Karin Berg, project manager at Capio clinic in Helsingborg, which hosts the trials, explains. Marco Visscher | Read More...