This is no surprise to me:  middle aged adults who are more optimistic have better health.  More specifically, according to investigators at Harvard University, these adults showed higher serum antioxidant levels than their less optimistic peers.

Why is this important?  Antioxidants benefit your health by cleaning free radicals out of your bloodstream. They have a range of health benefits.  Some studies have shown that antioxidants reduce the signs of aging by minimizing wrinkles and preserving the texture of the skin. They can even protect your skin from sun damage, and reduce the incidence of sunburn.

Although antioxidants aren’t proven to treat any conditions, research has shown that antioxidants have also been implicated in the prevention of a number of degenerative, age-related diseases, including:

• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease
• Cognitive impairment
• Immune dysfunction
• Cataracts
• Macular degeneration
• Alzheimer’s disease

The Harvard study was published in the January issue of Psychosomatic Medicine.  According to study investigator Julia K. Boehm, PhD., “Increasing research suggests that positive psychological functioning such as being optimistic or having purpose in life may be good for health.  Antioxidants are good examples of positive functioning because they help to inhibit other molecules from producing free radicals that damage cells and contribute to disease.”

Dr. Alexandra J. Fiocco, from the Department of Psychology, Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada commented, “This study confirms that having a positive predisposition is associated with making healthier life choices [and] shows that this is not only evidenced by subjective self-reports of health behaviors but can also be objectively shown by way of biological measures.”

As evidenced by this and other studies, optimism plays a vital role in health.  And this is one of the reasons I created the POWER Optimism program.  Regardless of how optimistic you are, you can increase your optimism by as much as 50% when you apply the tools and techniques of POWER Optimism.  Invest in yourself with the POWER Optimism book and CD!  You’re worth it!!!

 

Source: Medscape.com