The Aging Mask- A Lifestyle Medicine Podcast

Abracadabra: I Create as I Speak

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051222/fan_mail/new] Hi. Welcome back to the Aging Mask Podcast. A lifestyle medicine podcast where together we  explore lifestyle, wellness, and our everyday choices that shape the way we age. I am Joanne Demers Your weekly wellness companion. Thank you for listening. What do you think of  when I say Abracadabra? Do you immediately think of a magician standing on stage waiving his wand, and performing magic?   A word used to represent magic, mystery, & entertainment? Or did you immediately think of the famous abracadabra song  by Steve Miller-who used the word to express something spellbound or irresistible? Either way, most of us do associate the word abracadabra with magic, mystery and entertainment.  BUT what if I told you that long before magicians and musicians  borrowed the word- Abracadabra carried a much deeper meaning?  For centuries , Abracadabra was actually associated with the power of language and the belief that words possess influence & power. Abracadabra means … “ I create as I speak.” Think about that.. “I create as I speak. Not create in a magical sense. But create through beliefs. Through perception Through identity And through our everyday choices. Whether we realize it or not, we are constantly creating something with our words. We are creating stories and expectations, and we are creating limitations or possibilities. We are creating the way we see ourselves and the way we move through the world. Think about it this way… Before we become anything we speak about it first. Our words are not just sounds coming out of our mouths but forces that help shape our beliefs, our actions, our confidence, our relationships and ultimately our lives.   So today, we are going to explore abracadabra not as magic, and not lyrics, but as a reminder that what we repeatedly speak, our words, Influence the person we become. It’s funny think about words. Words don’t weigh anything You can’t hold them in your hands You can’t measure them on a scale Yet, words have the power to change the course of your life. Now, does science prove that we can magically create our lives simply by speaking something out loud? NO. BUT. It does show that the stories we repeatedly tell ourselves influence how we think, how we act, and how we respond to challenges. What gives words their power is not their sound, but the impact they have on our mind. The words we use internally shape the direction we move in.  Overtime, our words influence our confidence, motivation and our willingness to engage with challenge or change. This is not because words directly produce outcomes- but because they contribute to our internal mindset that determines whether we approach life with avoidance or engagement. Words help you create the person who will either moves forward toward possibility,  or away from it. Pursue the outcome or avoid it. I don’t think most of us realize how often we predict  our own future with the words we use. The words we speak determine whether we move toward something, or away from something. Possibility Matters- Possibility matters because when we believe growth is possible, we tend to take action. ·   We try ·   We practice ·   We learn And ·   We improve Our words become the doorway through which action enters.. a lot of us unknowingly close that door to action before we even take the first step. Every day we are speaking something over our lives. A possibility Or A limitation. A door opening Or a door closing. And more often than not. We dont realize which one we are choosing until years down the road -when we look back and see where those words have taken us. Now, let me be clear.. when I say “words create our reality”- it’s not about magical thinking, we can’t simple sayabracadabra and make it appear or disappear… *words don’t change the weather *they don’t erase challenges *And words don’t magically make life easy. But our words definitely influence how we experience the world around us. Words influence thought Thought influences behavior and Behavior influences outcomes Abracadabra, “I create as I speak”. Maybe the real meaning isn’t  that words magically create our lives. Maybe, it’s that our words help create the person who creates our life. And that person is You. Please, please understand that words possess power, a lot of power. And even more than words, repetition is powerful. I think a lot of us underestimate how powerful repeated words really are. What we repeatedly say becomes what we repeatedly believe, and what we repeatedly believe, influences what we repeatedly do. And overtime, repetition shapes our perceptions, influences our expectations, and reinforces the stories we tell ourselves about who we are  and what is possible. Our mind pays attention to what it hears all the time. And  once your mind absorbs  repetition, especially emotional repetition, your brain listens, your nervous system listens, your relationship listens, kids  listen, and even your body listens -then your mind & body respond to the emotional environment you created by your words. It is a fact that our thoughts, attitude, and perceptions influence our stress levels, our motivation and our overall well-being. It is a fact that our thoughts, attitude, and perceptions influence our stress levels, our motivation and our overall well-being. Every day we are speaking ourselves toward growth or toward limitation. So keep in mind.. that whatever we hear repeatedly begins to feel familiar, and whatever feels familiar to us begins to feel true. This is why awareness matters. One of the biggest lessons hidden inside the idea of abracadabra is awareness. Most of us are completely unaware of the words that are coming out of our mouths. Maybe, we think they are harmless, funny, self-deprecating, but as they get repeated over and over again- they begin to shape how we see ourselves. One of the most valuable skills we can develop is becoming aware of our words. So many people speak on auto pilot so they don’t realize how often they criticize themselves- how often they predict failure. Being aware of your words allows you to take a second and ask: is that true? Or is this just simply a story I’ve been repeating? Sometimes we just become so familiar with our own language  that we stop hearing it. Being aware helps you listen again. If abracadabra  means  “ I create as I speak “-Awareness is the moment we begin listening to what we are creating. Another powerful aspect of words are their ability to shape identity. I think this is a very important part of today’s topic. Identity is powerful.- it may be the most powerful thing words create. and words are one of the primary ways identity is formed and reinforced. The words we repeat become the stories we believe.  The stories we believe become the identities we carry. And the identities we carry help shape the lives we live. Before I wrap up.. I have something for you to think about. Now you know that your words are building your future self, what kind of person are you creating? Are you creating courage or fear? Possibility or limitation? Growth or stagnation? Hope or defeat? Remember: everyday whether you realize it or not, you are speaking something over your life, you are rehearsing a story and  reinforcing your identity. Abracadabra. “I create as I speak.”  is  our reminder that words  matter. not through magic.  But through.. The words we speak to ourselves  The words we speak to others The words we repeat every day. They all matter. They create our identity and they unknowingly help build other peoples identities. While words may not create a magical reality, they absolutely help shape the way we experience it. Remember Words create identity And Identity creates action And action creates a future. So notice the words you repeat  and  Notice the labels you carry. I have personally witnessed the power behind the word “abracadabra, and it has made me more aware of one simple fact: What we repeatedly speak- we do create- and begin to live. The takeaway for today is:  Abracadabra is not just a word. It’s a reminder  of the power of words.   So, just a friendly reminder.. Be aware of the words coming out of your mouth. Enjoy! Joanne Demers The Aging Mask- A Lifestyle Medicine Podcast (949) 236-1529 Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theagingmask

Spider Veins & Varicose Veins: Webs, Branches, and Rope

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051222/fan_mail/new] Hi. Welcome back to the Aging Mask Podcast. A Lifestyle Medicine Podcast that explores Lifestyle, Wellness, and our Everyday Choices that shape the way we Age. I am Joanne Demers. Your weekly wellness companion.  Thank you for listening. Today, we are talking about veins, not just veins, but spider veins and varicose veins. Those not always tiny, red, blue purple or bulging veins that seem to just pop up out of nowhere.  If you have ever looked at your legs and wondered why you have these veins, you are not alone.  You are definitely not alone. Spider Veins and Varicose veins are just another itemon the long list of things we compare about ourselves. And since they have made the list of comparables, I thought it would be fun to explain them. Admittingly, there is one thing that I do appreciate about spider and varicose veins…the good news.. they are  equal opportunity employers… they affect Men and Women.  BUT, there is bad news; They are more common in women. Veins are blood vessels whose sole responsibility is to carry blood back to your heart. All veins carry blood back to your heart, but the veins in our legs have one of  the hardest jobs in your body as they must constantly work against gravity to move blood upward, which is one reason spider and varicose veins are more common on your legs. In order to do this, veins contain tiny one- way valves; think of them as little doors- they open to allow blood upward and close to prevent your blood from falling backward, pretty cool, huh? When these valves work properly, your blood flows efficiently- but when they weaken, blood begins to pool, and that is where the problem starts. Overtime, that increased pressure can stretch your vein walls and contribute to the development of spider and varicose veins. Now, these are more  terms that we use interchangeably, but Spider Veins and Varicose Veins are not the same.  Both of them are linked to increased pressure inside the veins, but the difference is where that pressure occurs, and how severe it becomes. Spider veins are the tiny veins you see. They sit close to the surface of your skin, and they look like: Spider webs Tree branches Or some can look like cracks under your skin. Spider veins they are usually- red, purple or blue. They are typically flat, and for the most part they do not ,and will not ,cause you any physical discomfort. Varicose Veins… are bigger veins that have become stretched out overtime. When the little valves inside stop working as well as they should, blood pools in the vein, causing it to get bigger, twist, and sometimes bulge out beneath your skin looking like rope.  Unlike spider veins, which are mostly just a cosmetic concern, varicose veins can sometimes cause symptoms like: Aching, throbbing, swelling, leg fatigue or discomfort which tends to worsen after long periods of sitting or standing. That said, not all people with  varicose veins experience symptoms. Some people have very visible veins with no discomfort at all. PS) you might find relief in this:  Spider Veins don’t typically morph into varicose veins. Spider Veins are not baby Varicose Veins. There isn’t just one cause. Most of the time, spider veins and varicose veins develop from a combination of pressure, time and biology. The most common causes of increased pressure in your veins is : *If you stand to long-  anyone who spends hours upright without a lot of  movement – this places strain on your veins.  *If you sit to long- today we do a lot of sitting- hours and hours sitting at a desk, in cars, and airplanes- these all reduce healthy circulation. *if you have excess body weight- more weight means more pressure on the veins in  your lower legs- this means Your veins have to work harder to push the blood back up  to the heart, and that constant strain can contribute to the weakening of those tiny one way valves inside the veins)the doors)- and when those valves no longer close properly, blood starts to pool, increasing the pressure- and leading to varicose veins. *Hormonal changes- can affect the elasticity of the veins. Hormonal changes make the vein walls more relaxed and prone to stretching,  and these changes make it harder for the veins and their tiny valves to function as efficiently as before. We want our veins to be flexible, but not overly stretched. Think of  a rubber band- a new- healthy rubberband stretches then returns to its original shape. An old or overused rubberband stretches- but it doesn’t bounce back the same- this is the same thing that happens to our veins. Aging As we age. ·   Our vein walls become less elastic ·   Our valves weaken ·   And years of gravity and pressure accumulate- so spider and varicose veins become more common with age. When it comes to the cause of Spider and varicose veins.. The biggest factor of all.. is genetics. Most of the time veins arrive because  of genetics. Some people inherit stronger vein walls and more efficient valves. And other people inherit veins that are more susceptible to stretching and pressure over time. Every BODY is different- You can lead an almost identical lifestyle to your sibling- and still have completely different vein patterns. You may develop spider veins and varicose veins, while they have none at all. This is an important reminder that veins are not always  reflection of what you’re doing-  or not doing-  Sometimes they are just genetics...end of story. The biggest misconception about spider and varicose veins is that they are just a cosmetic issue, sometimes they are… Sometimes ..they are just visible reminders of hormones, pregnancy, genetics and aging…. But sometimes they are a message from your circulation asking for attention. Being we can’t change genes, and we definitely can’t stop aging, And we aren’t able to control every vein that appears, we can take steps to  support our body and the veinsthat carry us through life.. By supporting our circulation through movement, maintaining a healthy weight, staying hydrated, healthy habits, and early intervention when a problem arises. Of all the non-invasive tools available, compression socks are highly recommended- because they are one of the few things that actually help “symptoms”. They  work by gently squeezing your legs, with the greatest amount of pressure around your ankle -and then give gradually less pressure as they move up your leg.  Compression socks provide support to the veins themselves. The gentle pressure helps prevent  blood from pooling in your lower legs, reduces swelling, and helps the veins move blood back upwards towards your heart. With a lot of products out there comes the promise of miraculous results is there, but it’s a lie. There isn’t a cream, lotion or potion that will eliminate or repair established or damagedveins. Creams and lotions  may: Improve skin appearance Reduce temporary swelling And soothe any discomfort  you may have. There are no foods out there that remove spider & varicose veins either- BUT there are certain foods that support blood vessel health. IF you focus on eating: Berries Citrus fruits Leafy greens Beets Nuts and seeds And beans. These all contain compounds that support healthy circulation and connective tissues. And of course lots of water. Hydration is beneficial to veins too. Being hydrated will NOT erase spider veins or varicose veins it does support healthy circulation. Our blood is largely made up of water, so staying hydrated helps your circulatory system function efficiently. Hydration also supports healthy muscle function, including your calf muscles. Water is just another habit that supports  vein health, again, not a cure, but definitely a foundation. Drinking Turmeric Tea- which is anti-inflammatory And  Ginger Tea-  which supports circulation But again, these supporters can’t  eliminate established  spider or varicose veins. Before I say goodbye- I have some take away food for thought for you. Some traditions say that varicose veins symbolically represent feeling unsupported, stuck, burdened, or unable to move forward- feeling like you are living a lie and not living up to your full potential. Too much stress ,pressure and responsibility. And  you may be carrying such a big load that your legs can no longer support you. varicose veins are a symbol of carrying too much for too long… At the end of the day, your legs carry you through every stage of life. So. Maybe, this is reason enough to appreciate them, support them and keep them moving. Enjoy! Joanne Demers The Aging Mask- A Lifestyle Medicine Podcast (949)236-1529 Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theagingmask

Patience: Emotional Strength in an Impatient World

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051222/fan_mail/new] Today’s episode is on something I have been trying to work on for years, and honestly, I still struggle with it every day.  And that is the art of “Patience”. And I am not even going to pretend I have mastered this art because I absolutely. have. not. In fact, I am the most impatient person  I have ever met…and I am not joking. I have been struggling with patience for as long as I can remember. And yet somehow.. there is still not a day that goes by where I am not battling impatience in some area of my life. And the ironic part is.. Life has tried to teach me patience so many times, and in so many ways, but apparently I am a very slow learner when it comes to this lesson. What I have realized though, is that impatience does not just create  frustration, it creates stress, It affects relationships. It affects our mental state. It affects how we treat other people. And honestly, how we treat ourselves. And the older I get, I know that impatience has caused me far more damage than patience ever would have. I will tell you that  the most important lesson I have learned to date, is that.. patience is not just about waiting. It’s about how we behave while we wait.  I think it’s important to define patience. Patience: Is the ability to accept or tolerate delay, difficultly, inconvenience, or discomfort, without becoming anxious or irritable. It involves remaining calm and composed while waiting  for a desired outcome, enduring hardship, or dealing with challenging people or situations. Sounds simple. That is, until life starts testing it. Patients isn’t really tested when things are going our way. Patience is not just a personality trait, it is a mix of biology, psychology, life experience and environment  all working together. For a face paced mind, waiting doesn’t feel neutral, its feels uncomfortable. Almost like something is wrong that needs to be fixed.  When someone is living in a state of chronic stress, anxiety or overwhelm the nervous system is already under a lot of pressure, and in that state, even the smallest delays  or inconveniences feel amplified. A calm nervous system naturally has more space to tolerate waiting. And Another major factor is ‘learned behavior” We inherit emotional responses from our environment growing up. If you were raised in a fast paced, reactive, or high pressure environment, impatience can become a default response, we learn that urgency equals control. That speed equals safety. And that waiting equals discomfort. And overtime , that becomes automatic. Our brains are built around dopamine, the chemical involved in motivation and reward. When we repeatedly experience instant rewards our brain starts to expect instant outcomes. Overtime, delayed gratification feels more uncomfortable, not because we are weak, but because the brain has been trained toward instant satisfaction. And finally, Life Experience plays a huge role in patience. Some people develop patience through repetition- through our fitness, parenting, long term goals , healing, or situations where  we  learn that rushing doesn’t help. They may not have had as many experiences that have required long term waiting or emotional endurance. So when you combine all of this together;  temperament, stress levels, learned behaviors, brain conditioning, and life experience, you start to see why patients varies so much from person to person. NOT TO WORRY-Patience isn’t fixed. Even if someone is naturally more reactive  or fast paced, patience can still be strengthened overtime, Not perfectly. And by no means overnight. But gradually, through awareness, lifestyle changes and practice. Now, Patience is influenced by biology, environment, and stress and life experience. Impatience  comes from wanting certainty, movement, results and answers. When things feel unclear, delayed or out of our control, our minds naturally want resolution. It wants things to move forward. It wants closure. It wants speed. And our brain wants certaintyinstead of waiting in uncertainty. This is where impatience starts to build. But environment matters here  too. We now live in a time where almost everything is “instant satisfaction”. *instant entertainment *Instant communication *instant shopping And  *instant answers We barely have to wait for anything anymore. Even patient people are loving instant satisfaction. And overtime , I think that changes us psychologically. It lowers our tolerance for waiting, for effort, for uncertainty and even for boredom. The things that matter most, like  relationships, health, career growth, healing and trust, they all require time, repetition, and emotional endurance. Everything that once required patience, connection, effort, and emotional presence are now competing against instant forms of stimulation… even areas like intimacy and relationships, there are now forms of stimulation that offer immediate reward without the same emotional depth, connection, communication or patients that real human intimacy requires.. One huge example of this is pornography.  From a psychological perspective, pornography offers immediate reward with very little patience required. “Real intimacy is slooooower, and it requires all the things: But having instant stimulation(in this case) trains the brain differently. And honestly, I don’t think this only applies to porn- I think applies to modern life in general. We are constantly overstimulated and conditioned to expect speed. So when real life moves slower than technology does.. frustration shows itself. And when that happens across so many parts of your life , patience naturally becomes harder to sustain. Our brains are slowly losing tolerance for delayed results. Now that we are constantly surrounded by environments that encourage urgency, instant gratification, instant satisfaction, and emotional reactivity. I honestly think impatience is becoming a habit  for a lot of people, and they just assume it’s part of their personality. I do believe  that impatience can absolutely become habitual, because again, our brain learns thru repetition. *The more we rush *The more we react emotionally *The more we expect immediate movement, answers and results. The more our brain begins treating urgency as normal. Eventually impatience stops being an occasional reaction  and becomes an automatic response. You stop tolerating discomfort.. You stop allowing things to unfold naturally. Instead, everything starts feeling like it needs to happen NOW. And overtime, impatience slowly shapes  the way we move through life. We get everywhere faster *We get angry faster *Frustrated faster And we get Judgmental & lose empathy  faster.. because now our nervous system is conditioned  to constant urgency. And the hard part is that life reinforces this habit constantly. We don’t really practice waiting anymore so we are losing our tolerance for slowness, which actually makes impatience dangerous as a habit- because now it feels normal.  I have noticed how impatience has woven itself into our everyday life- not just in me, but everywhere around me . People interrupt constantly They react before thinking  We seem to be practicing  reactivity and not patience, and remember ; whatever we practice we strengthen. The good news is that if impatience can become a habit, patience can too. Impatience is stressful. Not just emotionally but physically too. Patience may be one of the hardest emotional skills to develop in this life. Our world is constantly pushing speed, urgency, instant gratification, and overstimulation. And overtime, that pressure affects our minds, our nervous systems, our relationships and our overall wellbeing. We are all becoming less tolerant of waiting, discomfort, uncertainty, inconvenience, and slowness- and  This is  exactly why patience  matters more than ever. We need to fight for patience again- it’s worth it. *Maybe we need to slow down a little. *Take better care of our bodies *Reduce your constant overstimulation * sleep better * practice emotional restraint * allow people to move differently than we do. * and we need to learn to tolerate inconvenience without immediately reacting. And maybe, most importantly, remembering that not everything meaningful in life is supposed to happen instantly. In many ways , patience may actually be one of the strongest forms of emotionally control left in a world that is constantly trying to speed us up. And while it may never be mastered, it can absolutely be practiced, one reaction at a time. And remember… patience is not weakness. -And Impatience does far more damages to us than the waiting itself. Enjoy! Joanne Demers The Aging Mask- A Lifestyle Medicine Podcast (949)236-1529 Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theagingmask

Everybody is a Role Model to Somebody

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051222/fan_mail/new] Today’s class is on role models. I want you to know this true fact.. “Everybody is a role model to somebody”. That means YOU are a role model to someone whether you realize it or not. Your behavior is always  being observed, and not just by kids, or somebody you are close too, but by friends, coworkers, family and even strangers. *Someone out there is watching the way you speak. *How you handle stressful situations *the way  you treat people  * How you take care of yourself * And watching the way you show up in everyday life. Here is the important part of that; most of the time, you  don’t even know who you are influencing. Someone is learning from you without ever telling you. And Maybe. Just maybe. YOU are learning from somebody in the exact same way. This is what makes this topic of role models so interesting, because role models aren’t  just something that you look for, they are something YOU are. You are a role model every day to somebody. A Role Model is simply someone whose behavior influences another person That’s it. The funny thing is, a role model may never even know they impacted you. Just like YOU may never know how much you impacted somebody. When we hear the words “role model” most of us immediately think of celebrities, athletes or public figures. But personally.. I don’t think that’s where the strongest role models usually come from… I think that the strongest role models are people we know  in real life. I just think that You can better judge someone’s character when you are a witness to how they live every day. Sure, It’s really easy to admire someone from a distance, especially online. But the truth is; you only see curated moments, you don’t fully know how they really live when the cameras are off. And I think that matters.. because a true role model is not just someone who looks successful.. its someone whose  character aligns with the image they present. That’s why I think it’s important to look close to home. Your real life. I’m sure There are incredible role models inside your own family- friend groups- your workplace and maybe your local community.  They may be  people who will never become famous, but, they live with integrity, do the right thing consistently, and they do this without needing attention, praise, or recognition for it. These are the people worth learning from the most. And Role Models are not just people we admire, they are people whose behavior shapes the way we think, act and live. A REAL Role Model talks the talk… and walks the walk. I thinks it’s also really important to  recognize that a role model and a mentor are not exactly the same thing. We sometimes use these two words interchangeably, but there is a difference. -A mentor guides you, teaches you and advises you. They teach with words- A Mentorteaches Intentionally -A Role Model is different… A role model teaches you through action. They teach thru Behavior, choices, and through the way they live.  A Role Model  teaches unintentional.  We may never officially be asked to mentor someone in our lifetime, BUT  our behavior will still leave a lasting impression on somebody else. Honestly. That’s kind of crazy. This should really make us stop and think about: How we handle our emotions,  and how we care for ourselves mentally, physically and emotionally. Because all of this teaches someone, something. If you talk about fitness and health, but you cut corners when things get tough or inconvenient, people notice that too. But the opposite is also true.  When you  show consistency, discipline, honesty and self-respect in how you live people notice that as well. Your actions give others permission to improve their own lives…. And that’s so powerful. And honestly alittle scary too. Because  it means that the way we live doesn’t  just affect us… good habits tend to  create a ripple effect. That may sound like a lot of pressure.. but here’s the thing.. you don’t need to be perfect…  Being a role model, does NOT mean being perfect. Most of the time, just being honestcan teach more than appearing  perfect. Be mindful that someone is always watching, and sometimes that  awareness alone will push you to live and behave better. Because The people we view as “perfect” can feel unreachable… but real people relate to real people… No false advertisement…. just imperfect authenticity. * So admitting mistakes…. *Taking accountability *Trying again *Learning  *And Growing. That’s influence. A healthy role model isn’t someone who never falls. Its someone who learns, grows, and gets back up.I think  that’s important  to remember because sometimes we avoid leadership or influence because we  think   "We are not perfect enough” But that doesn’t mean we can’t still positively impact someone else.  I want to quickly Circle back to social media. Of course I have to bring in Social Media. Social media has completely changed the way we find role models. You don’t need to be famous anymore for people to observe your life.  And I think this brings up the important question of... "What are people out there promoting without realizing it"? Are they encouraging: Happiness Health Growth  Friendship and  Support.. Or… are they normalizing comparison, Negativity, Drama, competition,  And ..Constant validation seeking? Because being a role model isn’t only about what you say or do directly, it’s about what you normalize. And I think the younger generation especially absorb all of it.  They are finding influence in the virtual world every day. Which is why it’s  so important to stay mindful of the kind of energy, behavior, and lifestyle we consistently put out into the world. And honestly.. Today, I think we all need to be careful about choosing role models based on appearance, popularity, and online influence. I also don’t necessarily think a role model has to be the same gender as you. A good role model is a good role model. Core traits like integrity, honesty consistency, kindness, accountability, discipline, and emotional regulation matter far more than gender. That being said.. Men and women move through the world differently, and because of that, there can be value in learning from people who share similar lived experiences. Sometimes people of the same sex may naturally model certain things more closely- how to navigate relationships, responsibilities, boundaries, confidence, different pressures in life and masculinity and femininity. And  I think that relatability can matter.  But at the end of the day.. being a role model is less about gender and more about how someone lives- that’s what we truly learn from. One thing I personally really respect is  “ Quiet Leadership”. People who live well without constantly  announcing it. *People who keep their word *Treat others fairly and with respect(if earned *manage their emotions * take care of their physical and mental health * and they always choose to do the right thing- even when it’s the harder thing to do. And nobody knows… except me… I know… because I am watching. To me, those are the role models that  leave the biggest & lasting  impression. They aren’t loud, and not performing, they are just quietly in the background being a genuinely good human being. My all-time favorite saying is: “Money talks and Wealth Whispers” For me, I think the best Role Models whisper too. Maybe that’s why role models matter more than we realize. This is probably the biggest take away from today’s class on Role Models.. You never know truly know who is being impacted by your behavior.. Someone may see.. *your discipline * your patience *Your kindness and generosity *And your resilience And silently think to themselves... “If they can do it, I can do it too”. Sometimes people learn from us and never tell us, and honestly, that’s why I think character matters. Again, Not because we need to be perfect. And not because we are out to impress people, but because our  “everyday choices”shape the environment around us. At the end of the day, there is no wishing you were a role model to someone. Because you already are. Somewhere, somebody is always watching you. So, set a great example. Live quietly. Do your absolute best . And always choose to do the right thing even when you think nobody’s watching. That’s all for today.  Thank you for listening. Until next week. Live in gratitude, and go live your best day yet! Enjoy Joanne Demers The Aging Mask Podcast- A Lifestyle Medicine Podcast (949) 236-1529 Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theagingmask

Parasites: Guests You Don't Want to Host

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051222/fan_mail/new] At the most basic level, a parasite is an organism that lives in or on another living organism- called  the host, and relies on the host for survival.  Parasites survive in or on a host by taking nutrients and  resources from the host body, which can interfere with normal bodily functions. Parasites may live in the digestive system, blood, in or on the skin or other tissues depending on the type, and can range from microscopic single celled organisms-to larger worm like organisms- to external parasites like lice or mites. When a parasite is present and actively affecting  the body, it is considered a parasitic infection. Now, Infection only occurs when the parasite successfully enters your body, survives, and begins to live and establish itself in your body in a way that starts to affect you physically. It’s important to note here that not every parasite leads to infection, and not every infection causes major symptoms, and a lot of parasitic infections are treatable when they are properly identified, meaning, medically identified. Parasites are typically introduced into your body through specific types of exposure- not ever randomly. One of the most common ways is through Consuming contaminated food or water.  We used to think nothing of drinking out of the hose- but today you don’t because of the dense population, our water has more contamination from sewage, industry, and agriculture.  So, drinking water today needs to be treated, processed and filtered to help prevent contamination  from harmful organisms- like bacteria, viruses, and parasites from entering our bodies. Some parasites can also be picked up through soil exposure. In some parts of the world walking barefoot outdoors can expose you to certain types of parasites, especially in environments where sanitation is limited. There are 3 main types of parasites that are most often talked about: *Protozoa- these are microscopic, single celled parasites- meaning they are made up of just one cell that does everything  needed for survival; getting energy, moving, reproducing and responding to its environment. *Helminths- Are  larger, worm like parasites. They are multicellular organisms, which means they are made up of a lot of cells and each one has a different job in order to keep it alive.   Ectoparasites-  These are external -they live on the outside of your body rather than inside.These parasites are lice and mites.  The truth is .. Yes, they exist. Yes, they can affect your body. NO. They are not something everyone is dealing with. No. having a parasite doesn’t require you to panic or go to extreme measures to get rid of it. There is no single symptom that automatically points to a parasite, there are symptoms associated with parasites that overlap with other health issues; digestive issues, stress, food sensitivities, nutrient deficiencies , or just plain illness, so it can be hard to tell. The goal is not to overthink it. The goal is  Awareness, not anxiety. It’s Understanding how your body works, how exposure happens, and when to seek proper evaluation if something feels off.  And like most things health wise,  its less about drastic action, and more about consistent  support. And really, it all comes back to: Supporting your body.   Supporting your gut. Enjoy! Joanne Demers The Aging Mask - A Lifestyle Medicine Podcast (949)236-1529 Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theagingmask