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Humans have always had a complicated relationship with weather. Ancient cultures prayed and made offerings to gods in hopes of receiving conditions conducive to growing crops. Adverse weather, then, w…
Humans have always h…
Humans have always had a complicated relationship with weather. Ancient cultures prayed and made offerings to gods in hopes of receiving conditions conducive to growing crops. Adverse weather, then, was often interpreted as displeasure on behalf of those same beings—a punishment for failing to observe proper rituals. It doesn’t take a history scholar to understand this impulse. Weather, now as then, is both an enemy and ally. On one hand, it provides everything from the raw material for food—sunlight driving photosynthesis, wind the primary method of plants spreading their seeds—to …
Sometimes, writing about art and theater feels a lot like falling down the proverbial rabbit hole as I try to find the angle to write about wandering through a haunted-theater immersive experience, ge…
Sometimes, writing a…
Sometimes, writing about art and theater feels a lot like falling down the proverbial rabbit hole as I try to find the angle to write about wandering through a haunted-theater immersive experience, getting splashed in a Halloween horror show in the basement of a spaghetti emporium, sweating through a DIY D&D in a comic shop, savoring (har har!) Sweeney Todd’s enraged high notes, and trying to quiet my howling dog in a public house. I’ve found myself in some odd and awkward scenarios. To update the metaphor, writing this column is a lot like drunk-clicking through an endless algorithm o…
Jessie Hanson
January 8, 2020
As a young adult, I taught multiple fitness classes and played recreational soccer. At that time in my life that much physical activity was not only desired, it was a great way to expend my abundant…
As a young adult, I …
As a young adult, I taught multiple fitness classes and played recreational soccer. At that time in my life that much physical activity was not only desired, it was a great way to expend my abundant energy. As I’ve aged, I’ve noticed shifts in my physical activity levels and preferences. You may have noticed that, as you age, your interests have shifted as well. Changes in your activity level and interests are normal. As we age, there are some activities that become more difficult or risky. For example, if you were a wrestler in your youth, you are not likely able to tolerate the …
Andrea Groth
April 25, 2024
Scientific evidence has been growing that indicates when our need for social relationships is not met, we fall apart mentally and even physically. An article from Psychology Today proclaimed “Soci…
Scientific evidence …
Scientific evidence has been growing that indicates when our need for social relationships is not met, we fall apart mentally and even physically. An article from Psychology Today proclaimed “Social connection improves physical health and psychological well-being. One telling study showed that lack of social connection is a greater detriment to health than obesity, smoking and high blood pressure. On the flip side, strong social connection leads to a 50% increased chance of longevity.” Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, a book by Robert Putnam, discusses th…
Andrea Groth
April 23, 2024
Sea greens, also known as sea vegetables, are a group of foods in the seaweed family, that grow in the ocean. If you eat Japanese food you may be familiar with some sea greens – nori, the dark green…
Sea greens, also kno…
Sea greens, also known as sea vegetables, are a group of foods in the seaweed family, that grow in the ocean. If you eat Japanese food you may be familiar with some sea greens – nori, the dark green wrapper on your sushi, or kombu, a common ingredient in miso soup. If you think you’ve never had seaweed, think again! Agar, a gelatinous substance that comes from red seaweed is used as a thickener in many foods. Sea vegetables are some of the most nutrient-packed foods on earth, packed with fiber vitamins and minerals. They are beneficial to us because they slow the aging process by promot…
Andrea Groth
April 21, 2024
Camping helps us refresh our mind and soul. There’s nothing better than seeing the wilderness wake up as the sun lights up the sky! Camping requires some preparation to keep you warm, safe, and h…
Camping helps us ref…
Camping helps us refresh our mind and soul. There’s nothing better than seeing the wilderness wake up as the sun lights up the sky! Camping requires some preparation to keep you warm, safe, and healthy. If you are planning a camping trip this year, keep in mind these essential health and safety tips. Assess your fitness level. If you are planning a particularly strenuous trip, make sure you are fit enough to withstand the strain of the journey. You may want to consider working with a fitness professional before you go on a particularly strenuous trip, especially if you aren’t physi…
Andrea Groth
April 20, 2024
Sugar is both a delightful treat and the bane of our existence because, while it is delicious, it also seems to be addictive. Scientific evidence is mounting to suggest that too much added sugar in ou…
Sugar is both a deli…
Sugar is both a delightful treat and the bane of our existence because, while it is delicious, it also seems to be addictive. Scientific evidence is mounting to suggest that too much added sugar in our diets could lead to true addiction. Sugar is linked to addiction because when we eat it, dopamine and opioids are released into the bloodstream. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that creates a reward associated with addictive behavior. Once dopamine is released into the system, it gives us a pleasurable “high.” Why do we crave sugar? The main natural source of sugar is fruit. Thousands of y…
Andrea Groth
April 15, 2024
Are you putting off until tomorrow what you could be doing today? If that’s you, it might not be just a personality trait. A study of over 250 men’s and women’s brain scans revealed that a br…
Are you putting off …
Are you putting off until tomorrow what you could be doing today? If that’s you, it might not be just a personality trait. A study of over 250 men’s and women’s brain scans revealed that a brain region involved in motivation tends to be larger among people who put things off, while communication between that part of the brain and another involved in taking action appeared to be weaker. This study is the first to scan the brain to identify a neural basis for procrastination. Participants in the study were between the ages of 18 and 35 with no history of neurological or psychiatric d…
Andrea Groth
April 14, 2024
Dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins are neurotransmitters that regulate our happiness. A neurotransmitter is a messenger of neurologic information from one cell to another. Being in a po…
Dopamine, serotonin,…
Dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins are neurotransmitters that regulate our happiness. A neurotransmitter is a messenger of neurologic information from one cell to another. Being in a positive mental state has significant impact on our motivation, productivity, and wellbeing. Did you know you can intentionally cause neurotransmitters to flow? Let’s take a look at each one and how you can activate them to make yourself happy. Dopamine motivates us to take action toward goals, desires, and needs, and gives a surge of reinforcing pleasure when achieving them. Procrastination…
Andrea Groth
April 3, 2024
Moving in together is a big change! Now you’ll see one another all the time, and find out about all of your partner’s warts. Before you cohabitate with your significant other, here are a few thi…
Moving in together i…
Moving in together is a big change! Now you’ll see one another all the time, and find out about all of your partner’s warts. Before you cohabitate with your significant other, here are a few things to think about. Make a budget and decide who pays for what. Finances are one of the big reasons couples break up, so tackling it before it becomes a problem can help you both save major headaches down the road. Are you moving to your partner’s place, or are you buying or renting a new space? Are you splitting utilities, rent and other expenses equally? Do you have a savings account …
Andrea Groth
February 26, 2024
When I was young, my mother went to the beauty salon to get a wash and set every week. In between salon visits, my mother did not wash her hair. These days, Americans seem to be almost obsessed wi…
When I was young, my…
When I was young, my mother went to the beauty salon to get a wash and set every week. In between salon visits, my mother did not wash her hair. These days, Americans seem to be almost obsessed with being clean, showering one or more times per day and washing their hair daily or almost daily. To be sure, there are circumstances when washing daily is warranted. If you have a job that is dirty or causes you to be exposed to toxins or disease, or if you are intensely physically active on a daily basis, you probably need to shower daily. For many of us, particularly in Colorado where th…
Andrea Groth
February 25, 2024
The word inflammation is derived from a Latin word meaning "to kindle" or "to ignite". Inflammation is part of your immune system, the body's attempt at self-protection, and is designed to remove …
The word inflammatio…
The word inflammation is derived from a Latin word meaning "to kindle" or "to ignite". Inflammation is part of your immune system, the body's attempt at self-protection, and is designed to remove harmful stimuli and begin the healing process. There are two kinds of inflammation, acute and chronic. Acute inflammation starts rapidly and quickly becomes severe, and includes symptoms such as pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function. Injury, irritation such as a sore throat, surgery, and even exercise, are examples of acute inflammation. Without inflammation, infections, wounds…
Andrea Groth
February 22, 2024
Eighty percent of all people use plants as medicine to treat everything from digestive distress and fever to muscle pain and asthma, according to the World Health Organization. Did you know that eatin…
Eighty percent of al…
Eighty percent of all people use plants as medicine to treat everything from digestive distress and fever to muscle pain and asthma, according to the World Health Organization. Did you know that eating spices like garlic, ginger or paprika can reduce the number of free radicals in your body? Free radicals are organic molecules responsible for aging, tissue damage, and possibly some diseases. These molecules are very unstable and look to bond with other molecules, destroying their health and further continuing the damaging process. Antioxidants, found in many spices and herbs, are molecules tha…
Andrea Groth
February 21, 2024
Topophilia is a strong emotional pull to a special place. Research says that people experience intense feelings of well-being, contentment, and belonging from places that evoke positive memories far…
Topophilia is a stro…
Topophilia is a strong emotional pull to a special place. Research says that people experience intense feelings of well-being, contentment, and belonging from places that evoke positive memories far more than treasured objects such as photographs or wedding rings. Why is contentment important to our well-being? Happiness is about being able to make the most of the good times – but also to cope effectively with the inevitable bad times, in order to experience the best possible overall life. Happiness actually leads to a wide range of benefits for our performance, health, relationships,…
Andrea Groth
February 20, 2024
Planning a camping trip requires thought and preparation. After ticking off the items on your gear checklist, take some time to think about some other important checklist items before you pitch your…
Planning a camping t…
Planning a camping trip requires thought and preparation. After ticking off the items on your gear checklist, take some time to think about some other important checklist items before you pitch your tent. Taking Fido? If you are taking your dog on a camping trip, don’t forget these things to make the trip safe and healthy for him. Dog first aid kit. Just like you, your dog may have a minor emergency. Consider butterfly bandages, tweezers and a muzzle. Make sure your dog’s tags and microchip are up to date. Know basic facts about dog first aid, like when to induce vomiting an…
Andrea Groth
February 18, 2024
People often struggle to find ways to preserve health and happiness when they live in stress-inducing urban environments. Recent research suggests parks have a unique capacity to enhance physical heal…
People often struggl…
People often struggle to find ways to preserve health and happiness when they live in stress-inducing urban environments. Recent research suggests parks have a unique capacity to enhance physical health and foster a sense of community for city dwellers. A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine and the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, used information from the Gallup-Healthways Well-being Index, the U.S. sensus Bureau, and a variety of other sources and combined this analysis with city-level data on park quantity, quality and accessib…
Andrea Groth
February 16, 2024
Are you a glass half-full person? In other words, are you hopeful and confident about the future? If so, you might be healthier than your friends who believe that the worst will happen. Many stud…
Are you a glass half…
Are you a glass half-full person? In other words, are you hopeful and confident about the future? If so, you might be healthier than your friends who believe that the worst will happen. Many studies have reported that optimism influences health. Among the findings: Highly pessimistic men were three times more likely to develop hypertension. People with positive emotions had lower blood pressures. The most pessimistic men were more than twice as likely to develop heart disease compared with the most optimistic. It is hard to know if optimism is the result of good he…
Andrea Groth
February 15, 2024
From birth to death, one of the most important parts of being human is the need for physical contact. Did you know that a firm hug can make you feel less negative emotion? Scientists found that get…
From birth to death,…
From birth to death, one of the most important parts of being human is the need for physical contact. Did you know that a firm hug can make you feel less negative emotion? Scientists found that getting a hug on the day of a conflict was linked to a slight rise in positive emotions and a comparable drop in negative ones, and appeared to linger into the following day. Evidence suggests that close physical contact — such as a hug — can play a part in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, blood pressure, stress, loneliness, aggression, anxiety and depression. When you hug someone…
Andrea Groth
February 14, 2024
We are busy! Competing for our time is a constant stream of notifications, emails, and texts, endless errands, work and family. Matching the hectic pace of living means that we might have bad eating h…
We are busy! Competi…
We are busy! Competing for our time is a constant stream of notifications, emails, and texts, endless errands, work and family. Matching the hectic pace of living means that we might have bad eating habits. A growing body of research suggests that our bodies function optimally when we align our eating patterns with our circadian rhythms, the internal 24-hour cycles that tell our bodies when to wake up, when to eat, when to fall asleep. Studies show that chronically disrupting this rhythm — by eating late meals or nibbling on midnight snacks, for example — could be a recipe for weigh…
Andrea Groth
February 13, 2024
Coconut is a unique fruit because it is available year-round rather than during a season. While loosely referred to as a fruit, a coconut is actually a drupe. A drupe is a fruit that contains a seed…
Coconut is a unique …
Coconut is a unique fruit because it is available year-round rather than during a season. While loosely referred to as a fruit, a coconut is actually a drupe. A drupe is a fruit that contains a seed. Also called a stone fruit, other drupes include plums, cherries, almonds, and olives. Botanically speaking, a coconut can be a fruit, a nut, and a seed. Coconut has been denoted with many benefits, some controversial. For example, coconut oil has been touted as a good fat for cooking. It is high in healthy fats that can boost fat burning and provide your body and brain with quick energy. …
Andrea Groth
February 12, 2024
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