Mountain View News Saturday, December 13, 2025 
1111 
SPORTS, FITNESS &SPORTS, FITNESS & 
HEALTHY LIVINGHEALTHY LIVING 
Mountain View News Saturday, December 13, 2025 
1111 
SPORTS, FITNESS &SPORTS, FITNESS & 
HEALTHY LIVINGHEALTHY LIVING 
HELP WITH SUGAR OVERLOAD 

UNLOCK YOUR LIFE 


BEFORE YOU RESOLVE: 

The Power of Taking Stock 

At this time of year, many of us feel compelled to reflect and 
look ahead to the new year. But before we embark on a program 
of improvement, it's essential to know where we are.
Establish your starting point before embarking on a new 
destination. 

Consider these four quadrants: health and well-being, love and

Lori A. Harris 

relationships, creativity and vocation, and time and money freedom. 
Together, these four quadrants make a life. 

It's tempting to jump straight into fixing what's wrong. But I invite you to approach this 
differently, from a place of appreciation and curiosity, without judgment. Research in 
positive psychology shows that starting from appreciation rather than deficit activates 
different neural pathways, ones associated with possibility rather than threat. According 
to Dr. Kristin Neff, practicing self-compassion is a more effective and sustainable approach 
to behavior change than harsh self-criticism. 

Let's first notice what's good. What simply is. 

Health and Wellbeing

As you consider your health, what's the starting point? What are the numbers, your energy 
level, your sleep quality, your physical vitality? What would you love to change? 
Why do you want that? How do you think it would improve your life? Who would you 
be with that change? 

Love and Relationships

Who are the people who matter most to you? Where are those relationships thriving?
Where do you feel connected, seen, valued? And where might you be yearning for deeper 
intimacy or more authentic connection? 

The 85-year Grant Study (part of the Harvard Study of Adult Development) is one of the 
longest longitudinal studies ever, revealed that close relationships are the most significant 
factor for long-term happiness, health, and longevity, more so than wealth or fame, 
the longest study on human happiness, found that the quality of our relationships is the 
single strongest predictor of life satisfaction and longevity. Not money. Not career success. 
The depth and authenticity of our connections. 

What would it look like to invest more intentionally in the relationships that sustain you? 

Creativity and Vocation

Are you doing work that lights you up? Does your vocation allow you to express your 
gifts? Or are you going through the motions, feeling that gap between your potential and 
your daily reality? What would you love to create, contribute, or become known for? 

What's one step toward that vision? 

Time and Money Freedom

Money, it's easy to want more, but why? Do you know your current numbers? What 
would more money actually do for you? 

Behavioral economist Dan Ariely's research reveals something surprising: most people 
overestimate the income needed for happiness. More money eventually yields a diminishing 
return on happiness and is not associated with joy. Factors beyond money, such 
as meaningful work, pride, ownership, and social connections, are crucial for motivation 
and a lasting sense of fulfillment. Do you know what your dream life actually costs? You 
might find you're closer than you think. 

And time, how are you spending it? Are you trading time for money in ways that no longer 
serve you? Where could you reclaim hours for what truly matters? 

The Practice 

This week, take 30 minutes with a journal and assess each quadrant honestly. Not harshly, 
not with shame, just truthfully. Write down what's working. Write down what you'd 
love to shift. Notice where you feel alive and where you feel stuck. 

You cannot transform what you will not face. And you cannot celebrate progress if you 
never acknowledge where you started. 

Your starting point is not your failure. It's your foundation. 

Lori A. Harris is an Integrative Change Coach, Life Mastery Consultant, and host of Unlock 
Your Life with Lori Harris. Learn more at loriaharris.com. Ready to design your year with 
intention? You can reach her at Lori@loriaharris to explore coaching or join an upcoming 
workshop. 


The holidays arrive with lights, music, family… and sugar. 
Lots of sugar. It seems like every table has something sweet 
calling your name. Cookies, pies, fudge, hot cocoa, candy 
canes—even people who usually eat healthy find themselves 
surrounded. And if you’re someone who doesn’t normally 
eat much sugar, those treats can hit you a lot harder than 

you expect. 

Sugar isn’t “good” or “bad.” It’s simply a powerful ingredient 
that affects your body in several real, measurable ways.
When you suddenly eat more sugar than you’re used to, 
your body reacts right away—physically, mentally, and even 
emotionally. The good news? Once you understand these 
reactions, you can still enjoy holiday food without feeling 
awful afterward. 

When you eat something sugary, your blood sugar rises fast, 

giving you a quick burst of energy. You might feel excited, 

chatty, or like you could wrap every present in record 
time. But soon after, your pancreas releases insulin to bring sugar down. If you’re not used to 
sugar, your blood sugar can drop quickly, leaving you tired, irritable, low in mood, foggy in the 
brain, and even hungry despite just having eaten. This spike and crash is simple biology, not 
imagination. It’s why a few bites of dessert can feel like a full-on sugar ride for your body. 

Sugar can also make your emotions swing. It triggers the release of dopamine, the “feel-good” 
chemical in your brain, which is why that cookie tastes so amazing. But when blood sugar drops, 
that good feeling fades, leaving anxiety, restlessness, sadness, or trouble concentrating. If you 
rarely eat sugar, these mood swings can feel especially intense. Sugar can also create addictive-
like cravings. Your brain isn’t used to the dopamine surges, so one cookie can feel like you need 
five. While sugar isn’t addictive in the same way as drugs, these cravings are real and explain whyit’s easy to overdo it during the holidays. Even just walking past a tray of fudge can trigger that 
“I want one more” feeling. 

A sudden sugar load can also trigger temporary inflammation, leaving you puffy, stiff, or 
achy. You might notice that your fingers feel a little swollen or your joints feel tight. Sugar can 
also upset digestion. Your gut bacteria may get confused, and extra sugar pulls water into the 
intestines, which can cause bloating, gas, or irregularity. Even people with healthy digestion can 
feel off after a big sugar day. On top of that, high sugar can slightly reduce the activity of certain 
white blood cells for a few hours, so your immune system takes a temporary pause. 

Energy levels follow a roller-coaster pattern. The sugar boost is borrowed energy, and when it 
crashes, your brain seeks a fast fix which is usually more sugar. That’s why one cookie can turn 
into a few more. It’s not weak willpower; it’s your body trying to restore energy quickly. Eating 
sugar late in the day can also disrupt sleep, raising cortisol and interfering with melatonin. 
Blood sugar drops at night can even wake you up, which is why you might toss and turn after a 
holiday party. 

You may notice other physical signs as well. Sugar pulls water from tissues to help balance 
blood glucose, making you thirsty and increasing bathroom trips. Rapid blood sugar changes 
and temporary dehydration can trigger headaches, sometimes with light sensitivity or pressure 
around the eyes. Sugar also triggers insulin, which tells the kidneys to hold sodium. Sodium 
holds water, which can cause temporary puffiness in the face, hands, and fingers—the tight-ringfeeling you may wake up to is water retention, not sudden weight gain. 

So, what can you do? The holidays are meant to be enjoyed. Knowing how sugar affects your 
body helps you be more conscious of what you eat while still indulging. Savor your favorite 
treats but be aware. Being mindful of what you are putting in your mouth can save you hundreds 
of calories. How often are we so busy talking to others that we don’t even taste what we just ate? 
Then, because we don’t remember tasting it, we eat more! 

One day of sugar won’t ruin your health. So go ahead, have that cookie, sip that cocoa, or nibble 
that fudge. Just give your body a little extra care, and you’ll enjoy the season while avoiding the 
sugar shock. And remember, understanding your body’s response is empowering. Once you 
know how sugar affects your mood, energy, digestion, and even sleep, you can make smarter 
choices that let you enjoy holiday treats without paying a steep price the next day. All that sugar 
may just not be worth it. 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com
ALL THINGS by Jeff Brown 

BODY COMPONENTS THAT WORK AS ONE: 
A LIVING SYSTEM BEYOND IMAGINATION 

The human body is one of the most complex systems 
in the known universe—a living, breathing 
network of parts that work together with astonishing 
precision. Scientists estimate that an adult human 
body contains about 30 trillion human cells, 
though the exact number changes depending on 
age, size, sex, and health. The majority of these cells 
are red blood cells—around 25 trillion of them— 
constantly traveling through your bloodstream to 
deliver oxygen. About 2 trillion cells are other types 
of blood cells that protect you from infections and 
help repair damage. The remaining 3 trillion cells 
make up everything else: your organs, muscles, 
skin, bones, and connective tissues.
Even more astonishing is that you are not made of 
human cells alone. About 38 trillion bacteria live in 
and on your body, mostly in your gut. This microbiome 
helps digest food, produce essential vitamins, 
train your immune system, and even influence 
your mood and mental health. In a very real sense, 
you are a cooperative ecosystem. Inside your skull, 
roughly 170 billion brain cells (neurons) communicate 
using tiny electrical signals, forming thoughts, 
memories, emotions—and consciousness itself, one 
of the greatest mysteries science has yet to fully 
explain.
Supporting all of this is your skeleton, made up of 
206 bones. These bones are carefully arranged: 22 
in the head, 6 in the middle ear, 1 in the throat, 26 in 
the spine, 25 in the thorax, 4 in the shoulder girdle,
6 in the arms, 54 in the hands, 2 in the pelvic girdle,
8 in the legs, and 52 in the feet. Together, they protect 
vital organs, allow movement, store minerals, 
and even produce blood cells inside bone marrow.
Your body is also covered in hair—between 80,000 
and 150,000 hairs on the average human head 
alone(unless bald). Every strand grows, sheds, and 

regrows according to 
genetic instructions 
written deep inside 
your cells.
Water is the body’s 
most abundant ingredient. 
Adult men 
are about 60% water,
adult women 50– 
55%, children 65–75%, and infants up to 80% water. 
This water allows nutrients, oxygen, hormones, and 
waste to move efficiently, regulates temperature, 
and enables nearly every chemical reaction that 
keeps you alive.
Your circulatory system is a masterpiece of engineering. 
The body contains millions of blood 
vessels, including thousands of arteries and veins 
and billions of microscopic capillaries. If laid end 
to end, these vessels would stretch about 60,000miles, enough to circle the Earth more than twice. 
Through this vast highway system, blood reaches 
nearly every cell.
At the smallest scale, the human body is built from 
about 7 octillion atoms(27 zeros), assembled into 
countless molecules—mostly water. These atoms 
form a living electrical system, where tiny electrical 
impulses control muscle movement, heartbeat, sensation, 
and thought. None of this would be possible 
without essential chemical elements like oxygen, 
carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, potassium,
iron, and dozens of trace elements.Also what is 
consciousness? 
Layered on top of this are hormones, neurotransmitters, 
proteins, fats, vitamins, fascia, muscles, organs, 
and the extracellular matrix—the “glue” that 
holds everything together. Every breath, step, and 
thought is the result of millions of systems working 
in perfect coordination. The human body is not 
just alive—it is a synchronized miracle of biology, 
chemistry, electricity, and cooperation.