Smart Ways to Stay Strong and Healthy Right Now
By Sandy Schroeder
If the quarantine feels like a real curveball that causes you to strike out, you are in good company. Most of my friends and family members agree. These are tough times to stay healthy and remain upbeat, but there are good answers.
Dr. Adria Schmedhorst talks about the problem in EasyHealthOptions.com and offers several great ways to hit a few home runs and keep right on running.
Boost your mental and physical health with these tips.
Find out how much nuts can do for you - Ditch all of those chips and keep trying the many variety of nuts to find the ones you love. Start with almonds and walnuts and keep going to boost your heart and brain health. A recent study on walnuts found people eating walnuts as part of a low-fat diet reduced blood pressure better than the ones who just ate the low-fat diet. Add peanut and almond butter too. Serve diced walnuts on your salads and fill your treat bowls with nuts and dried fruit mixes.
Discover fermented foods such as sauerkraut or kimchi - Researchers tell us the brain talks to the gut, which explains why stress and other feelings can influence your gastrointestinal complaints. They say the gut can also impact the brain. They recommend using fermented foods and drinks to keep your gut balanced. Sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, kombucha and tempeh may help you think more clearly, reduce constipation and cholesterol, and boost your immune system.
Start fresh with lemon water - Doctors and researchers say a glass of warm lemon water will keep you hydrated as you get a big boost of Vitamin C and keep your digestion and immune system in prime shape. It may help you avoid kidney stones, reduce blood pressure and lose weight too.
Hide the sugar bowl - Right now comfort foods such as cookies, ice cream, and donuts are especially tempting, but they can easily undermine your physical and mental health. Refined sugar has been linked to fatigue, insomnia, poor memories, irritability and depression. Reach for honey, berries, strawberries, and fruit loaves or whole fruit jellies instead.
Sleep cool - Turn down the heat at night to rest better, boost weight loss, and fight diabetes. Researchers recommend setting the thermostat at 66 degrees at night to increase levels of brown fat, lower blood glucose and up metabolism.
Stay in touch with your buddies - Call, text, email, use Skype or send old-fashioned handmade cards with small gifts. Do whatever it takes to cheer up your friends and family. You will feel better and so will they.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Downers Grove, Ill.