Psychological or mental health is thought to encompass intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual well-being. These four dimensions of health are highly interrelated, and also have an effect on our physical health.
To review – intellectual health deals with how we think, make decisions, and problem solve. Emotional health is about understanding, expressing and/or controlling your emotions. Social health is concerned with our relationships with others. Spiritual health is about finding your purpose in life and acting in a way that is consistent with your beliefs and values.
What are some things you like to do to improve these dimensions of your health?
Here are some ideas to improve your mental wellness.
Consider this question: How have the causes of death changed in the last 100 years?
Consider this question: Why have the causes of death changed in the last 100 years?
Even more recently, we have had a resurgence of infectious diseases and COVID-19 has become the third leading cause of death in the US. What health behaviors can mitigate the spread of infectious illnesses? What policies can help to prevent deaths?
There are many reasons to feel stress, whether good or bad. The stress process often has a harmful effect on our bodies. But there are many things we can do to manage our stress.
What are your favorite ways to manage your stress? What do you like to do, eat, read, create to unwind and take a breather during your day?
You may have heard people talk about organic food or GMO’s and wondered whether you should change your habits. To make sense of all the labels and controversies, we will define these terms.
Processed food is an expansive category that spans from minimally processed foods that have been made easier to eat or store (e.g. pasteurization, fermentation, refrigeration) to ultra-processed foods (typically ready-to-eat foods that may have lower nutrient density like sugary beverages). However, it is not correct to say that all processed foods are bad for us. In many cases, processing can make a food safer, help foods last longer and prevent spoilage, and even add nutrients to foods. In some cases, especially for people who have limited time and money, processed foods can improve their nutrient intake. To know which processed foods are right for you, make sure to read the labels on foods you buy. https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/processed-foods/
Organically produced food has a legal meaning according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In general, that means fruits and vegetables that have been produced without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and meats, seafood and dairy produced with organic feed and without the use of hormones. In order to display the USDA certified organic logo, the company has to undergo a review by the USDA to ensure compliance with the rules.
From USDA.gov
For consumers, it is usually clear that organically produced food is more expensive. But is it better for our health? Organic foods do contain fewer pesticide residues when tested (though still below safety thresholds), but studies have found different results when it comes to nutrition – some studies have found no differences in nutrient levels, while others have found higher amounts of antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids – https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/organic-food/art-20043880. This question is yet to be resolved.
The acronym GMO stands for genetically modified organisms. Farmers have genetically modified many crops by the process of artificial selection for hundreds of years. However, science has now allowed faster genetic modification by allowing genes to be inserted or deleted in the lab. The purpose for this is usually to provide more yield for crops, resist pests and common plant diseases and thus require less pesticide use, and boost nutritional value. A law passed in 2016 has made it mandatory to label products produced with GMO crops – in the US most corn, soybean and cotton crops are GMOs (many others may also be produced using GM seeds). All foods produced in this way have to pass Food and Drug Administration clearance in order to be sold. Research has not shown there to be any health issues from eating GMO foods – https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/23/well/eat/are-gmo-foods-safe.html.
While GMO foods are widely considered to be safe, some controversies have arisen based on how the companies that own patents for GM seeds have chosen to enforce their intellectual property – through suing small farmers. Another concern about GMOs is that insertion of other genes into crops may cause allergies – this has yet to be seen in humans or animals.
Local food is generally food that has been produced or grown in close proximity to where people live, but definitions vary. The 2008 Farm Act defined it as being grown within 400 miles of your location, but many people consider 100 miles to make more sense. Local food is often sold in farmer’s markets, through community supported agriculture, or in small local stands and may be produced on urban farms. Some argue that because local food has to travel fewer miles during distribution, that this reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 and methane), can help slow climate change. While it’s true that emissions are reduced be eating more locally, a greater impact on climate change would be to switch to a vegetarian or semi-vegetarian diet. https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/09/04/how-green-is-local-food/
What about the word “natural”? Surely foods that are natural are going to be better for our health! In legal terms, the word natural does not have any definition, so any type of food, including highly processed food, can be labeled natural.
What have you heard about these types of food? Remember, food choice is personal and everyone has to eat! Try to meet your nutritional needs with what works for you.
Many people in the United States are not getting the recommended amount of physical activity. Studies show that even small amounts of physical activity can increase people’s health. So why is it so hard to move more?
There are individual reasons and barriers to getting more exercise or physical activity. Schedules tend to be busy, people may not know how to exercise correctly and be intimidated, or your motivation may slack when there are other things to do. What other barriers stand in your way?
There are also structural reasons why exercising may not easy for people – no gyms or affordable places to exercise in the neighborhood, poor infrastructure with no parks or playgrounds, no bike lanes, and other environmental factors can impact our ability to exercise. Read more here – https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2015/05/opportunities-abound-moving-around.
One way we can overcome our obstacles is by first understanding what they are, and then thinking of ways to overcome them. Comment below with ideas of how to increase your physical activity throughout the day that are realistic to your situation.
Pick a health-related topic and find a website that explains it. Answer the following questions: • Who sponsors/pays for the site, and what is their mission? • Can you tell when the site was last updated and who was the author of the site (if any)? • To what extent does the website distinguish between facts and opinions? Are there supporting documents or are there links to information on other sites? • Does the site use understandable language? • Is the website clear and easy to use/navigate? Is the information comprehensive? • Is the information reputable, accurate, current, and interesting? Does it ask for any personal information? Can you tell how the information on the site is selected? • Would you recommend this site to others and why?
We all have to seek professional healthcare sometime. But how do we find a healthcare provider we really like and trust?
Think about a good experience you’ve had at the doctor’s office, urgent care, or hospital. What stood out to you as a good quality for your healthcare provider?
Think of a bad experience. What did you find frustrating? What would you change, if you could?
Building a relationship and trust with your healthcare provider can take time. Think of the first visit as a way to determine whether you might be a good fit. Observe the organization at the office and the communication style of people who work there. And after the appointment, reflect on how it went and what could have gone better. We all deserve a healthcare provider who will listen to us and help us, so if you are not satisfied, it is fine to look for someone else.
Obesity and overweight in the United States have been on the rise for many years. Remember, this is measured using BMI, which is a population measure. Be cautious when interpreting this number in your personal life. It is not always an accurate indicator of your body composition or your health.
What are some reasons that people in the US have become more obese? What has changed in the past 20+ years? What are some individual and societal factors contributing to these trends?
Total greenhouse gas emissions by economic sector, 2022
A large proportion of emissions come from cars, trucks, buses, planes and other transportation. Over 90% of these vehicles use petroleum-based fuels. Changes to these trends like more hybrid and electric vehicles, and more efficient public transportation, can help lower emissions.
The second largest section is electricity use, especially for industry and in buildings. Most of the electricity in the United States is still produced by burning fossil fuels, though the share of those sources is decreasing over time. Renewable sources include wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and hydro energy, and they now provide about 21% of all energy generation in the US. Read more here – https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.php?page=electricity_in_the_united_states. It is vital that citizens make a switch to these renewable sources when they can, but also that they lobby for reforms that lead to more renewable energy generation.
From US Energy Administration
A few other changes in our personal behavior can help reduce emissions. One, switching to a more plant-based diet can help reduce demand for meat production and shrink that section of the farming industry, which is a much bigger polluter and emitter than producing plant-based foods. This can help with your health, as well as decrease the over-fishing of the oceans, which threatens the ocean food web. Also, this can help with deforestation, since many forests are removed to make way for cattle.
Getting more energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs can help reduce your household’s emissions. Setting your thermostat for slightly higher temperatures in the summers and lower in the winters can help with household energy consumption. But most importantly of all, it is important for us to support policy makers and politicians who understand and want to mitigate the effects of climate change.
