Blog

The Broad Reach of Ageism and Its Adverse Effects

The Broad Reach of Ageism and Its Adverse Effects
What is ageism? Ageism refers to stereotype, prejudice and discrimination against people based on their age. Unlike racial or sexual stereotypes that are typically frowned upon, ageism is socially condoned and institutionalized in the US and other countries. The combination of negative age-related stereotypes and discrimination can make ageism a chronic stressor for older people.…
more

How Much Alcohol Is Too Much?

How Much Alcohol Is Too Much?
Current guidelines may be too high The relationships between alcohol consumption and aspects of health are sometimes controversial. In fact, many longitudinal studies show that low to moderate alcohol intake predicts reduced risk of premature death and cardiovascular disease. Governmental agencies and other organizations recommend upper limits for weekly or daily alcohol consumption. Recent studies…
more

Benefits of Informal Helping

Benefits of Informal Helping
Who benefits from informal helping? Given the rising proportion of older people in the US and the documented health benefits of social support, one might think that providing social support to older people would be a sensible way to extend their life span. But might the benefit of social support arise primarily from giving rather…
more

Legumes Can Improve Your Health

Legumes Can Improve Your Health
Legumes as human food The legume plant family supplies a major fraction of the world’s human food, second only to members of the grass family, such as wheat, corn, and oats. Pulses include legumes that humans eat as dried seeds, including beans, peas, and lentils. Unfortunately, over the last 100 years, pulse consumption has declined…
more