“Moderation in all things, including moderation.” This advice for living a balanced life is perfect in theory. In practice, however, too many of us eat too much, have too many drinks or otherwise overindulge on a regular basis. There is a constant battle between our knowledge of what is good for our health, and our all-too-human pleasure-seeking tendencies. Can we draw on our determination and resourcefulness to help smart decisions win the battle more frequently?

In this wellness center, you will see visualizations showing the impact of overdoing it—with sugar, alcohol, drugs and more-on our physical health. You will also learn how we can rev up our our natural mechanisms for maintaining balance to get back on the right track. Use these special features to get the most out this wellness center:

• The chapter listing at the left shows the range of subtopics that we will explore in this health center.


• The key visualizations from each chapter appear in our carousel of small pictures, above. Clicking on each one will enlarge it so you can view the content for the related chapter.


• On the main images, buttons may launch short videos, graphics and interactive features.


• A feature called "Take Three Steps" in some chapters gives you three simple actions to take in order to begin improving your well-being right away.


• Also, rolling over the red arrows on the images reveals more interactive content.


• Finally, the photos, graphics and icons in the text labeled “Read More” link to additional content and interactive experiences. Click away!

We hope you find all of “The 9 Visual Rules of Wellness” to be informative and compelling.

Everything In Moderation

How can you stop yourself from overeating, drinking too much, taking wild risks? It isn't as simple as knowing what is and isn't good for you in the long run. The parts of your brain that handle logic and decision-making can be at odds with the parts of your brain that propel you to seek instant pleasure and happiness. Knowing how your brain does this work can help you figure out how to switch from excessive behaviors to (mostly) healthful choices.

TAKE A MODERATE APPROACH VIDEOS

CHAPTER 1 (currently viewing) Everything In Moderation Different parts of the brain spur you to make responsible decisions, or indulge in excess. VIEW VIDEO

CHAPTER 4 Leptin Controls Appetite The hormone leptin tells your body when you have had enough to eat. VIEW VIDEO

CHAPTER 6 Hooked On Sugar We have a natural urge for sweetness, but we can kick the habit. VIEW VIDEO

CHAPTER 9 Apple-Shaped Vs. Pear-Shaped Everyone stores fat, but how much and where we store it makes a big difference to our health. VIEW VIDEO

CHAPTER 10 What Is Inflammation? Overweight and obese people are more likely to suffer from chronic inflammation. VIEW VIDEO

CHAPTER 12 The Complexities Of Addiction Addiction has physical, psychological and social components. VIEW VIDEO

CHAPTER 16 Obesity Is Toxic How do obese people develop insulin resistance and diabetes? VIEW VIDEO