Pursuit of Happiness- Definition: Happiness is an abstract concept which can mean many things to many people. For our purposes here, let’s say that happiness is simply “contentment”.

Since Pursuit can be defined as the act of pursuing or chasing, the pursuit of happiness is merely chasing contentment.

We’re all familiar that food is a popular “drug” used for many who are in pursuit of happiness. That’s the reason so many turn to sugar laden foods in an attempt to temporarily elevate their mood. However, there are healthy ways to use food to elevate your mood!

In an issue of Woman’s World (Volume XXIX Number 4, January 2008), according to Susan Kleiner, Ph.D. R.D., author of The Good Mood Diet: Feel Great While You Lose Weight, one way to flip on your happiness switch is to munch on popcorn!  It seems chewing crunchy foods help to stimulate a nerve that tells the brain to release a rush of mood altering chemicals.

Other ways to use food to achieve happiness in the article include starting your day with a glass of citrus juice (Orange Juice or Grapefruit Juice).  Turns out that vitamin C helps to lower the stress hormone cortisol and just one glass of OJ or Grapefruit juice is just enough to tame this stressful hormone.

Another tip is to sniff cinnamon!  Seems that cinnamon and vanilla scents also help to release feel good chemicals in our brains.  (Now you know why the smell of freshly baked cookies elevates your mood!)

While food can be used to lift your mood, probably the most important habit to acquire in the pursuit of happiness is to get enough sleep. Research abounds that not getting adequate sleep throws off the brain’s ability to regulate mood.

Get plenty of rest, eat healthy and stay away from refined sugar and you’ll find yourself well on your way to finding contentment and happiness.

If you’ve been how to lose stubborn fat that seems to resist diet and exercise, take heart!!! Researchers have found a link between the liver and stubborn fat and stubborn belly fat.

Researchers have been pursuing the study of leptins and how they affect the body’s ability to boost metabolism and shed fat. They have identified a metabolic switch that appears to tell the body to store or burn fat. HHMI Research’s article Identifies Enzyme Involved in Fat Storage:

In an article published in the July 12, 2002, issue of the journal Science , Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator Jeffrey M. Friedman and his colleagues reported that the hormone leptin represses a liver enzyme called stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1). SCD-1 catalyzes the production of monounsaturated fats from fatty acids in the liver and other tissues. Genetically obese ( ob/ob ) mice are overweight and show low levels of fat metabolism. In the absence of leptin, the level of SCD-1 rises and more fat is stored in the liver.

Researchers have LONG known that healthy liver function is a key to burning fat and losing weight. However, you’ll notice that while this finding was published nearly 6 years ago, you haven’t heard much about it.

The Science A Go Go blog reports in Fat Storage Enzyme Identified

The results, said Friedman, demonstrate that SCD-1 is a key to leptin-regulated fat metabolism in the liver. However, he said that additional studies would be needed to understand how the enzyme is regulated and whether it plays a role in other tissues and whether there exist other leptin-regulates additional fat metabolism pathways.

While SCD-1 could be a potential target for obesity drugs that would promote fat-burning by reducing level of SCD-1, Friedman expressed caution about the potential side effects of such drugs.

Subsequent studies have shown that our battle of the bulge may have its root in high-carb diets. In the article Waistline growth on high-carb diets linked to liver gene the University of Wisconsin reports:

“It looks like the SCD gene in the liver is responsible for causing weight gain in response to a high-carbohydrate diet, because when we take away the gene’s activity the animals no longer gain the weight,” says Ntambi. “These findings are telling us that the liver is a key tissue in mediating weight gain induced by excess carbohydrates.”

According to Ann Lousie Gittleman, author of Fat Flush Plan and Get the Sugar Out in the 5-19-08 edition of First Magazine,  simply add the juice of 1/2 lemon in 10 oz of warm water every morning.  At night before you go to bed, drink a cup of Parsley Tea.  This one two punch can help restore healthy liver function in as quickly as two weeks according to Gittleman.

You’re probably familiar with Probiotics… beneficial bacteria that help give a boost to your immune system. These good bacteria are thought to act like anti-aging warriors in your digestive system.

As a result, probiotics are being added to foods such as yogurt and cereal in addition to being offered a nutritional supplement. Your doctor may recommend taking Probiotic supplement if you’ve recently completed a course of antibiotics.

Check out the selection of Probiotics offered at eVitamins.

However while the benefits of Probiotics on intestinal health is well documented, there are a rising number of products that offer Probiotics as a TOPICAL treatment because they’re good for your skin.  It seems that probiotics act not only as anti-aging warriors in your digestive system but they can also fight aging where it shows the most: on your face!

As a result, there are a few breakthrough beauty products which include probiotics.  Two of the hottest products are:

• VERATTIVA EYE CARE SERUM
  This probiotic skin treatment contains a probiotic and ceramide complex, and natural oils (Babassu, Jojoba, Karite, Avocado).
• Bioelements Probotix Anti Age Serum (1 oz)
  This is an intense overnight treatment that stimulates the production of collagen and elastin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. From early to mature skin, it eliminates evidence of skin irritation with an advanced formula of probiotic actives and hydrating ingredients.

According to dermatologist Dr. David McDaniel,of Eastern Virginia Medical School in the October 2007 issue of Prevention Magazine:

“[These topical probiotic treatments] seem to work like decoys to block irritants such as pollution from causing inflammation and accelerating skin aging.”

Probiotics are anti-aging warriors good for your outsides as well as your insides.