Jumping off a bridge is certainly taking a risk and it appears that risk taking is actually good for you. Science has shown that risk taking is actually healthy. Author Kayt Sukel takes a look at how risk taking can improve your health in her new book The Art of Risk Taking. Kayt joins Mark Alyn on Late Night Health to discuss her adventurous life and how risk taking has always been a major part of living for her.

While not advocating Bungee jumping for everyone, Kayt does say risk is a major part of life. Just walking across the street there is the possibility of being hit by a bus. Staying in doors and never leaving your home involves the risk of your roof falling down on you. Kayt relays a story about being with a friend when a car crashed into the front of the house. As we've said, risk is simply part of life.

The idea is to take risks that work to your advantage and actually your enhance life. Mark and Kayt discuss risk taking that can be the difference between missing out and making it big. To understand how to take risk, you need to set a personal definition. Everybody has a different view of what risk is all about.

Teenagers are more apt to risk, because it's part of learning and growing up. Older folk may not risk financially like they did when they were younger. Women, when not financial in nature, may be bigger risk takers than men.

Combining science with stories of risk takers, Kayt helps people reshape their lives by examining their lives and assessing how risk can work to make their lives better.

Kayt admits her risk taking has slowed down. As a mom (her biggest risk) she doesn't do the adventurous travel and extreme sports she once enjoyed.

air date: 7/29/16