How positive thinking can improve your health

This Week's Tip How positive thinking can improve your health Optimism comes from the Latin word optimus, meaning "best," which describes how an optimistic person is always looking for the best in any situation and expecting good things to happen. Optimism is the tendency to believe, expect or hope that things will turn out well. Even if something bad happens, like the loss of a job, or an unfortunate medical diagnosis. Research shows that optimism may be good for my physical health too—optimists are sick less and live longer than pessimists. Apparently, a positive outlook on life strengthens the immune system (and the body's defenses against illness), cardiovascular system (optimists have fewer heart attacks), and the body's ability to handle stress. So how can you reap the benefits of a positive outlook, even when you tend to view the glass as half empty? 7 Good Reasons to Smile Today More Tips for a Healthy Heart   Heart Friendly Recipe Mediterranean Chicken with Orzo Parsley and capers add flavor to this veggie-packed, heart-healthy dish. Get the Recipe See More Healthy Heart Recipes Nutritional Info Servings Per Recipe: 4  Amount Per Serving  Calories: 337.7 Total Fat: 4.1 g Cholesterol: 70.2 mg Sodium: 451.5 mg Total Carbs: 39.3 g   Dietary Fiber: 3.4 g Protein: 34 g View full nutritional breakdown of Mediterranean Chicken with Orzo by ingredient     From Our Healthy Heart Community Chaneg one letter to make a new word (Team Forum) NEW GAME: Two words... change one. (Team Forum) More Forum Posts...       Was this e-mail forwarded to you by a friend? Join the mailing list. Change your e-mail address   You get 1 SparkPoint for reading today's email.   You received this email because you signed up for one of SparkPeople's email newsletters. To unsubscribe please do not reply to this message. Instead, you can use this link to unsubscribe from this newsletter. To remove yourself by postal mail, send a letter or postcard with your email address to: SparkPeople.com, 310 Culvert Street Suite 301, Cincinnati, OH 45202 SparkPeople.com offers general information and is for educational purposes only. sparkpeople.com is not a prescription system and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should consult your health-care provider before starting any nutrition or fitness program, and should consult with your provider about any concerns or questions. © 1999-2014 SparkPeople, All Rights Reserved | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy