John Aaron Wellness

Children of the ‘80s have to thank Olivia Newton-John. She taught the whole world how to get physical and let her hear your body talk. Exercise in any form can be a great stress-buster. Exercise can help do wonders for the body. The World Health Organization says that lack of physical activity is the leading cause of chronic diseases. Now, we can also include stress, anxiety and potentially harmful mental conditions to the mix. Virtually all forms of exercise from simple walking, yoga to crossfit training have a value to relieve the body from stress. A little exercise can go a long way towards having a stress-free and happier life. Why worry about stress? Stress is a natural thing that happens in our body. It is beneficial until it becomes too much. Stress is in our DNA and we don’t have the ability to turn it off and on. It is the body’s natural reaction to a fight-or-flee response. Continued stress or presence of stress hormones in the body causes health problems. Some chronic di...

We thrive under pressure. In fact, evolution dictates that the survival of our species relied on facing life challenges, adapting, and then overcoming those obstacles. Thereby arriving  to where we are today. But, today things are different. No longer something physical like a Saber-toothed Lion we can run from, stress is invisible, ever present and just as deadly as it ever was. Let’s step back for a moment. Did you know that evolution has given you three brains: the lizard brain, the dog brain, and the human brain (Reptilian Complex, Limbic System, and Neocortex)? Each one marks a progression of sorts. The lizard brain is of basic instinct and need: purely selfish. However, about 100-million years ago mammals came into existence and with them came the Limbic System. A second brain the covers the first. Suddenly, emotions were introduced. Mammals were able to experience loyalty, jealousy, compassion, etc. More recently, say 100-thousand years ago, the precursor to humans; ...

Be honest about this: Sometimes, don't you just want to "smack" someone? Throw your hands up, say "screw it" and begin a life long love affair with the grudge of your choice? Lord knows there have been times when I may have not only thought this, but have actually been guilty of it. Is this you, too? I'm not proud of those moments. In fact, I'm embarrassed and ashamed of my past behavior sometimes. I'm sure you can empathize with me. What I've discovered is that most grudges that I've made were usually a result of misunderstanding; a failure to grasp the true reality of the moment. I could swear the offender meant one thing when they really meant another; harmlessly. Or, perhaps, rumor informed me that they said something that in reality was never even said at all. What I've learned from this is that even if it is all true, grudges do more harm than good. While a hot-headed reaction may feel appropriate (and really good for a brie...

There's no doubt about it; your body and mind are directly linked. What you think about has a clear effect on your health and vice versa. In fact, there’s a fascinating study that suggests that the mind-body connection is quite powerful. Publishing their findings in the online journal Health Psychology, researchers at Yale University focused on ghrelin levels in the body to determine how thoughts affect the body's response to food. Ghrelin is also known as the "hunger" hormone. It sends a signal to your brain that makes you want to eat. If your body's ghrelin levels are high, you'll tend to overeat... even if you are already feeling full. Likewise, low ghrelin levels are associated with feelings of satiety and not needing to eat more. Typically, ghrelin levels increase before meals and decrease after eating. The researchers recruited volunteers and divided them into two groups: Group 1 - received a milkshake that they were told was a 620-calorie ...

You've had a rough day and the only thing that could possibly help you feel better is a tub of ice cream. Or so you think. In actuality, there’s a little voice inside your head that says, “Hey you! Gorging yourself on double-dutch chocolate chip ice cream isn't going to do you any good right now or in the future.” I know… I’ve been guilty of strangling that little voice to silence, too. We all know that while in the comfort of your own home, it's easy to eat whatever you want whenever you want. And, being human, giving into these urges on occasion can be psychologically beneficial. However, it is extremely important to learn to identify what causes you to eat unhealthy foods or unhealthy amounts of food. That would be the first step in the process of modifying your behavior when you are confronted with your “comfort food” trigger. If coming home from work is usually followed by an hour on the couch, with a large bag of Dorito’s chips in hand, then perhaps it’s time to re-co...

If one is the loneliest number, "No" is the loneliest word. However, if you're going to exist on planet Earth, you've got to learn how to use this tiny word - even when the person asking the question is your friend. Here's how to get a better handle on "No." Nip it in the bud. Good ol' Barney Fife was onto something when he coined this classic phrase. Giving an immediate "No," when you know the answer is "No" is the best way to go about giving a negative response. You're nipping the question in the bud. Promising that you may be able to catch a movie or have time to play softball after work - when you know you can't - only makes the "No" seem that much worse. So as soon as you know your answer will be "No," let it out! Reserve it for rare, special occasions . If you're truly someone's friend, this one should be a no-brainer. You enjoy spending time with your friends and helping them ou...

If you've ever experienced a migraine headache, you have one more life goal than those who haven't. That goal? To never have a migraine again. However, to meet that goal, you have to be well aware of the triggers that set you on the painful path to a migraine. Since some of the most common triggers are those things you put in your mouth, you may want to keep reading to find out what foods and drinks you should avoid to keep migraines from getting inside your head. In your day-to-day routine, you probably come across a lot of potential migraine triggers. From peanut butter and sour cream to raspberries and pizza, nearly every food can be a trigger. Some, however, are more common than others. In most cases, a food-induced migraine begins to rear its ugly head within 20 or 30 minutes of consuming the food or drink. To avoid migraines, consider avoiding the following foods and drinks that are known to cause migraine headaches: coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, and other foods...

Give up? It's acne. But are you armed with the right tools to fight it off? They're bumpy, red splotches on your picture-perfect skin. But you don't have to put up with them anymore! Or do you? If you are not sure what to believe about acne and what it takes to get rid of it for good, you're not alone. The good news is you won't be in the dark for much longer. Think back on all the chocolate you didn't eat in an effort to avoid unsightly acne? Didn't help, did it? That's because foods such as chocolate, pizza, and fried chicken don't put your skin at increased risk for acne. Granted, these foods aren't always the best choice for your overall health, but they're not going to give you a pepperoni face. So what causes it? Good question. Sadly, there isn't one factor that causes every pimple on every face. However, the process for every zit is the same. First, the body's oil glands kick into gear. As you probably guessed, this usual...