How do we keep happy and healthy as we get older?
In the deep fall don’t you imagine the leaves think how comfortable it will be to touch the earth instead of the nothingness of the air and the endless freshets of wind? And don’t you think the trees, especially those with mossy hollows, are beginning to think of the birds that will come – six,... Continue Reading →
A brief hug with a loved one reduces cortisol and helps women face stressful situations, says research. Social forms of touch are used in all cultures and have important functions in everyday life; shaking hands, greeting, demonstrating love and affection, or consoling and soothing. Previous research has found forms of touch such as massage or... Continue Reading →
Simple physical activity supports cognitive abilities in later life, says study. We know staying in shape as we age is vital for our physical and emotional health. Keeping active also helps our brain to function better. Marissa Gogniat and colleagues from Georgia University designed a study to measure the effect of physical activity on cognitive... Continue Reading →
“ The chances of each of us coming into existence are infinitesimally small, and even though we shall die someday, we should count ourselves fantastically lucky to get our decades in the sun.” ~ Richard Dawkins
Time spent in the natural world influences what we eat, says study. In our virtual world, nesting in front of computer screens means fewer people are spending time outside disconnecting from nature, and that's bad news for our health. Doctors in some countries are prescribing nature-based therapies to improve the health of their patients and... Continue Reading →
According to a new study, humans have in-built wisdom, selecting foods containing specific nutrients that benefit health. Whilst other animals have innate intelligence when selecting the right foods to meet their nutritional needs, very little is known about what drives human food choices. Scientists widely believe that human dietary choices evolved to prioritise high energy... Continue Reading →
Optimism doesn't influence how older men deal with negative situations, but it can help avoid everyday stresses, says research. A growing number of scientific studies have found a sunny outlook has benefits beyond enhancing our mood. For example, more optimistic people tend to live longer and experience better health than those with a more pessimistic... Continue Reading →
The immune system may be a significant pathway explaining how nature and the body work jointly to fight disease, says research. We all know roaming through woods, countryside or paddling in the sea is good for our wellbeing. Research has discovered that spending time in natural environments protects against chronic illnesses such as depression, diabetes,... Continue Reading →
Smiling is infectious, you catch it like the flu, When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too. I passed around the corner and someone saw me grin. When he smiled, I realised I’d passed it on to him. I thought about that smile, then I realised its worth. A single smile, just like... Continue Reading →
"We may think we are nurturing our garden, but of course it's our garden that is really nurturing us", said the British biographer Jenny Uglow, and she could be right. In England, 64% of people aged 45-64 report spending some of their free time tending a garden. Ask them why and a typical response might... Continue Reading →
Afternoon of Life 