Aging Gracefully

Are you happy? Have you ever considered that you can choose happiness as the emotional response to whatever you are dealing with? When we take a look at our emotional lives, we find that positive emotions, such as joy and happiness, actually send out chemicals that support the brain's longevity.  Stress and the negative emotions we relate with it, fear, anger, and sadness, take a toll on the body and the brain.  In this episode, we explore the impact that all types of emotions have on our brain health. Give it a listen; you might just face your day a little lighter emotionally. 

Every day provides new opportunities to invest in your own cognitive abilities. Recent studies show that our brains, given the proper environment, continue to grow new cells and adapt themselves to fulfill new, different, and challenging tasks. Listen and learn how to create the best environment to support the buffer between your brain and the effects of the passage of time.

Keeping your brain young and flexible is goal we all share and it is something we can support through our daily choices.  We've all heard of "brain foods" but how about "brain actions"?  In this podcast, we talk about research that explains how what we do will have direct action on how the brain ages.  Join us to learn something new and keep your brain young! 

Does "you are what you eat" apply to your brain? In this, the first of a five part series, Maintain Your Brain, we look at the impact of diet on brain health and longevity.  No matter how old you are, you can keep your brain acting young with an understanding of how your food choices can impact its health. 

The web page might claim to be user-friendly, but what if you are the user and it doesn't seem so friendly? In this episode we discuss the wonders and hassles of the technology that has grown up with us. We've gone from landlines to smart phones, from pen and paper to computer marvels. The question is, how do we keep up? 

 

Do your memories sometimes make you cringe or cry? Welcome to the human race! At this point on the journey, it's natural to stop and look back at where you've been. It's also natural to see, among the good stuff, some things you wish you hadn't done, and others you wish you had. Here we discuss the top regrets that most of us have, and how to frame them in a way that supports and encourages you.

It all seems so real and permanent -- but is it, really? In this episode we explore how realizing, and continuing to remember, that it's all passing can make us lighter, happier, with less of the tendency to take ourselves (and aging) too seriously. 

Let's get real: sometimes aging feels scary or painful or exhausting. Here we examine those times when we're not quite up to par physically and/or emotionally. We look at the part aging plays in those moments, and -- thankfully -- we discuss ways to address those less-than-stellar experiences.

 A long life is a good thing if we can stay healthy and vital for the duration!  In this episode, we look at the Blue Zones, those areas around the world where people are living, happily and healthily, to well over 100. We explore the nine essential ingredients that may contribute to their longevity -- and ours, if we choose to add them into our lives. Happy hint: One of them includes wine! 

Words matter. Our language can uplift us or leave us feeling low.  In this episode, we explore the language that is used around aging, to us as we navigate the world and by us as we talk to ourselves and others. We consider the words we choose and examine their positive or negative impact.  As you listen, you may even be challenged to re-evaluate your own language of aging.