Category: Health

  • 8 amazing health benefits of mushrooms

    8 amazing health benefits of mushrooms

    8 amazing health benefits of mushrooms

    A delicious food that is functional too

    Whether added to a salad, soup, or stir-fry, or taken in supplement form, there are a myriad of ways to add mushrooms to your diet—and why not? In addition to mushrooms’ delicious taste, their polyphenol, polysaccharide (a specialized type of carbohydrate), vitamin, and mineral contents can provide you with a bounty of health benefits.

    1. Boost immune system

    Research has shown that mushrooms help to stimulate the activity of microphages—white blood cells within the immune system—to help fight off foreign bodies more effectively. At the same time, anti-inflammatory effects of mushrooms can work to enhance the immune system’s overall efficiency.

    2. Fight inflammation

    Rich in antioxidants, mushrooms offer significant anti-inflammatory effects. Research indicates that eating mushrooms regularly can help reduce inflammation associated with the development of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and arthritis.

    3. Offer anti-cancer properties

    Polysaccharides, contained in mushrooms, have been found to induce apoptosis—cancer cell death. Further, anti-inflammatory effects of mushrooms can help reduce chronic inflammation that can lead to the development of cancer.

    4. May help fight diabetes

    Mushrooms have been found to help lower blood sugar levels. Their bioactive metabolites, such as their polysaccharides and proteins, have been found to work as successful anti-hyperglycemic agents in diabetes treatment studies. Still, more research is needed to discern how mushrooms may be effectively used in the fight against diabetes.

    5. Support gut health

    Mushrooms can help support your gut health in two ways. First, they provide your body with prebiotics—nutrients that act as food for the beneficial bacteria in your gut. Second, mushrooms, such as cremini mushrooms, provide your system with helpful bacteria that can help populate your gut to improve your digestion and immune responses.

    6. Offer antifungal and antibacterial effects

    Mushrooms possess both antibacterial and antifungal compounds that help them survive, making them a natural source of antibiotics and antifungals that can be utilized by humans. Some mushrooms have been found to offer compounds with considerable activity against bacteria such as E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis.

    7. Protect the liver

    Some mushroom extracts have been found to provide liver-protecting properties. Study findings suggest that eating mushrooms on a regular basis can alleviate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). These findings are believed to be linked to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of mushrooms.

    8. Reduce allergies

    While mushrooms have been found to stimulate the immune system in certain circumstances, they have also been found to help suppress immune response in other instances—making them potentially beneficial in the battle against allergies. Beta-glucans, which are contained in mushrooms, have been found to help reduce the severity of symptoms in those with ragweed allergies by 52 percent when taken as a supplement.

    Article courtesy of Alive Magazine

  • Put your heart into it

    Put your heart into it

    Put your heart into it

    How our emotions affect our well-being

    More and more is being understood about the ways our hearts, minds, and contexts are interconnected. How we feel affects our health, and so, too, does our environment.

    Reuniting thoughts, feelings, and health

    “I believe it is important for one to realize that our thoughts and emotions, which are heavily connected, can impact our hearts,” explains Ashlene Crichlow, registered provisional psychologist. Whether directly or indirectly, Crichlow says that our thoughts and feelings affect all areas of our lives.

    The health science of emotion

    But how do emotions affect our heart physically? Naturopathic doctor Caroline Meyer says that “when the heart is in a state of coherence, its rhythm regulates and blood pressure lowers. In states of anxiety, worry, and anger, the heart becomes dysregulated, putting excess strain on this organ.”

    How we feel influences disease prevention, injury recovery, and longevity, and the specifics of this increasingly integrative science are compelling. Our feelings, thoughts, and somatic experiences are woven together in an interlinking, intercommunicating network.

    Research shows that our mind-heart-body system affects our immune system and overall well-being. High positive emotions promote healthy BMI and blood pressure, whereas low positive emotions increase the risk of heart disease.

    Heavy, healthy emotions

    “Of course, we have all experienced grief, heartache, sadness, anger, and fear,” affirms Meyer. “These emotional states, although temporary, can create psychological patterns that persist,” she adds, and, in turn, we might need to shift our behavior. Meyer explains that it’s important to attend to difficult emotions, rather than try to push them away.

    Contexts of emotional well-being

    It’s crucial to remember that environment, upbringing, and culture play a significant role in how one sees and interacts with the world.

    Crichlow says, “When an individual has experienced adversity, disconnect, or trauma, they might have a more pessimistic viewpoint and struggle with cognitive distortions that could negatively impact their overall well-being.”

    A helping hand for the heart

    Meyer encourages each one of us to support our well-being by remaining open and curious in our moment-to-moment awareness.

    “This is the key to balance and to health,” she says. “I recommend to all of my patients to check in with their heart, their emotional center, several times per day. Ask ‘How am I feeling?’ and ‘What do I need in this moment, heart?’”

    Should our emotions overwhelm our hearts and minds, Crichlow emphasizes the importance of both carving out time for joyful habits and pastimes as well as connecting with a “trusted mental health professional who can work on things like boundaries, coping, and acceptance that can contribute to one’s level of life satisfaction.”

    Healthy outlets for emotional release

    • Get physical, and use active well-being to uplift mood.
    • Tap into positive stress, which is called “eustress.”
    • Heal your heart with humor.
    • Immerse in nature to support your mental health.
    • Give voice to your emotions through creative expression.
    • Connect with others who make you feel good.
    • Spend time reflecting upon purpose and meaning.
  • 4 healthy food pairs

    4 healthy food pairs

    4 healthy food pairs

    These food duos are happy couples

    Heart health is important to us all. So, too, is good food. Food and heart health make a natural couple. Here are some more happy couples: food duos that, together, provide heart-healthy dividends.

    There are certain foods that, instead of taking a solo adventure to improve our heart health, instead, seem to perform better when set free to mingle. This is called food synergy: where the benefits of two or more foods eaten together can be greater than the sum of their parts. When working in unison, these foods amplify their nutritional benefits.

    Spinach and avocado

    Dark leafy greens such as spinach and kale are already nutritional heavy hitters, but if you really want to reap their rewards, make sure to fatten them up. Research shows that consuming foods such as kale, tomatoes, and carrots—good sources of carotenoid antioxidants including lycopene and beta carotene—with a dietary source of fat, such as avocado, can increase how much of these heart-friendly plant compounds we absorb.

    Turmeric and black pepper

    While turmeric is increasingly being studied for its heart-benefitting, lipid-lowering, and anti-inflammatory powers and a big reason why golden milk is trending, we don’t absorb its main bioactive compound, curcumin, into the bloodstream very well. The good news is that a chemical found in black pepper called piperine can greatly bolster our ability to take up curcumin. So, whenever you add the golden spice to curries, soups, sauces, and scrambled eggs, don’t forget to also include a few twists of the pepper grinder.

    Oats and berries

    Sure, a hunk of steak is a good source of iron, but you can also get the mineral from plant-based foods such as oats, beans, lentils, tofu, fortified cereals, and spinach. There’s a catch, though: only 2 to 20 percent of the iron found in plant foods, called non-heme iron, makes its way from your digestive tract into your blood. Mother Nature has provided an assist in the form of vitamin C (ascorbic acid)—present in edibles such as berries, bell pepper, tomatoes, broccoli, and citrus—which converts plant-based iron into a form that is more readily absorbed.

    Tea and lemon

    A recent study discovered that adults who consumed more green or black tea were, on average, more likely to have lower total and LDL (bad) cholesterol and higher HDL (good) cholesterol than those who didn’t consume tea. It might be that the potent antioxidants, including catechins, in green tea can improve your cholesterol profile. And it turns out you can make green tea even more of an antioxidant powerhouse by adding a squirt of lemon. Citrus juice can increase the amount of antioxidants in green tea that are available for the body to absorb by up to five-fold.

  • Find fitness joy

    Find fitness joy

    Find fitness joy

    You don’t need to choose function over fun

    By round of applause, who’s excited about their daily (or intended daily) workout? Crickets? But do you get excited about beach volleyball, pickleball, dancing, hiking …? Hobbies can be fun and physical!

    Fitness-life balance

    The buzzwords in today’s workplace include “work-life balance.” The phrase refers to the need for workers to have enough personal time outside of work so they are effective, engaged, and motivated workers while at work.

    The same balance is necessary for your workouts to be effective, when considering fitness and your life. In fact, the stakes are perhaps higher when it comes to your workout and fitness choices, because unfocused and disinterested workouts can result in injury.

    Find strength in sport and health in hobby

    It’s a commonly asked question: “What is the best exercise to keep you heathy?”

    Well, what do you think the answer is? CrossFit? Barre class? Yoga? High-intensity interval training? Low-impact steady-state training? The real answer is simple: the best exercise to keep you healthy is the exercise that you’ll actually do!

    There is a well-established and commonly understood connection between exercise and positive mental health. Less studied and understood is the significant positive correlation between positive mental health and exercise adherence. But, sure enough, it works both ways!

    This means that just as some people can spiral downward into negative mental and physical health, they can also lift themselves upward toward positive mental and physical health! The key is to find an activity that you enjoy doing and that still gives you bang for your buck.

    Healthiest hobbies

    Here’s a taste of some fun activities, caloric expenditure, and physical benefits (which, as we know, also carry mental health benefits).

    Gardening

    Gripping, bending, walking, lifting, stretching: gardening has it all, not to mention the mental benefits of taking care of plants, the mental exercise of planning over space and time, vitamin D, and fresh air. And you can burn a similar number of calories as you would at a fitness facility—“… there is a gym outside many a window,” as Sir Richard Thompson, past president of the Royal College of Physicians in London, UK, once said.

    Golf

    Depending on your sex, whether you walk or ride a golf cart, and how many holes you play (not to mention how many balls you have to go looking for), you can burn between 531 and 2,467 calories, on average, per 18 holes. Include hand-eye coordination, core strengthening, and “one-with-nature” benefits, and you’ve got one heck of a healthy hobby!

    Pickleball

    The average 65-year-old burns about 350 calories per 60-minute doubles match. Not only that, but cardiovascular conditioning, flexibility, and hand-eye coordination are all challenged in this most enjoyable tennis adaptation.

  • Inflammatory facts about heart health

    Inflammatory facts about heart health

    Inflammatory facts about heart health

    How inflammation affects cardiovascular disease

    When you think of inflammation, you might think of pain. But inflammation is a key contributor to a number of surprising conditions, including cardiovascular disease. Here’s how inflammation works, and what we can do about it.

    How inflammation works

    It is now known that inflammation plays an important role in cardiovascular disease. But how could inflammation be a cause of something that seems as uninflammatory as heart disease?

    According to naturopath and cardiologist Decker Weiss, NMD, FASA, inflammation plays both a general and a specific role. Generally, inflammation contributes to cardiovascular disease because inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and diabetes increase the risk of developing heart disease.

    Specifically, Weiss says, “… elevated insulin, elevated blood sugar, trans fats, and homocysteine irritate and inflame the endothelium, or the lining of our blood vessels, initiating the process of coronary artery disease.” So, inflammation can both initiate and accelerate heart disease.

    How nutritional heart helpers work

    Think of some of the ways garlic and dark chocolate can help your heart. Inflammation causes endothelial dysfunction, which leads to vascular disease and atherosclerosis.

    Garlic

    may help tamp down inflammation. So, supplementing with garlic could aid in improving endothelial function and vascular elasticity and, thus, play an important role in preventing cardiovascular disease.

    Dark chocolate

    may also help reduce inflammation, and it may also improve endothelial function, improving blood vessel function and dilation enough to seriously reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

    Diet, inflammation, and heart disease

    One of the most innovative studies on preventing heart disease started with two things we know—that inflammation causes heart disease and that diet causes inflammation—and asked whether diet could cause heart disease.

    The huge study found that diets that were higher in foods that cause inflammation were associated with a 38 percent higher risk of cardiovascular disease, 46 percent higher risk of coronary heart disease, and 28 percent higher risk of stroke.

    Inflammatory foods included red meat, processed meat, organ meat, refined carbohydrates, and sweetened beverages.

    Anti-inflammatory foods are heart healthy and include leafy green vegetables, dark yellow vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and tea.

    Supplements to consider

    Always check with your health care practitioner before trying out a new supplement. The following supplements have anti-inflammatory properties and may have a positive effect in preventing heart disease:

    • omega-3s
    • hawthorn
    • curcumin
    • ginkgo
    • olive leaf extract
    • pine bark extract
    • grapeseed extract
    • green tea
    • ginger
    • vitamins C and D
    • quercetin

    Foods for heart health

    FoodHeart-health benefitsNutrients
    soymay help significantly lower LDL (bad) cholesterolisoflavones
    nuts and seedsmay contribute to lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides and may help lower the risk of dying from cardiovascular diseasefiber; monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats
    extra-virgin olive oilcan help reduce the risk of coronary artery disease and improve cholesterolmonounsaturated fats; phenolic compounds
    flaxseedmay help lower blood pressureomega-3 EFAs; lignans

  • 5 steps to setting the best resolutions ever

    5 steps to setting the best resolutions ever

    5 steps to setting the best resolutions ever

    Find your way in 2023

    Many of us are wary about making New Year’s resolutions for fear that we may experience failure. But here’s an approach to change that involves designing your own path forward—one that puts your own dreams first.

    What do you want?

    From a young age, many of us got into the habit of doing what’s expected of us rather than following our own dreams. Getting an education, getting a marriage partner—even making resolutions—are things that we’re told we should do.

    No wonder we may occasionally feel like we don’t fit in or that we’re failing miserably at things that everyone else seems to do easily. You may be surprised how much easier your path becomes when it’s one you design yourself.

    1. Take time for self-reflection

    On a day when you’re feeling reasonably relaxed, find a time and place where you won’t be disturbed—even if that means hiding in the car or the bathroom.

    Take some deep breaths to release tension and clear your mind. Ask yourself what you want and simply notice what comes to you. You might get words, or a picture in your mind, or a feeling. Write down (or type) what comes to you with as much detail as possible.

    Build a home gym? Fabulous. Move across the country? Write it down. Start a business? Of course. Don’t let the critical voice in your head start debating you and telling you why you can’t do it.

    2. Set clear goals

    Vague goals, like taking better care of your health, provide very hazy guideposts, whereas the commitment to exercising twice a week or eating five servings of vegetables a day are clear, specific, and measurable.

    3. Set short-term and long-term goals

    If goalposts are too far away, people are more likely to procrastinate or avoid sticking to the plan, because they knew they had lots of future time to get things done.

    If there are too many strict short-term deadlines, however, a resolution-maker could feel like a failure for missing a mini-goal and throw in the towel. Creating stepping-stones toward the big goal makes room for set-backs while still moving forward.

    4. Set approach-oriented goals

    It seems that people who create approach-oriented goals are more successful than those who have avoidance-oriented goals.

    Approach-oriented goals energize emotions and behavior toward something you want (achieving good grades so that you can enjoy feeling competent).

    Avoidance-oriented goals , on the other hand, are those in which you move away from something you don’t want or you perceive as a punishment, threat, or risk to health (you make the decision to reduce your sugar intake, so you don’t have a heart attack).

    5. Find reliable support systems

    Rather than focusing blame on people who don’t give you what you need (and shifting energy from your goal), find a person or group who can be your cheer squad.

    Article Provided by Alive Magazine

  • Celiac disease, wheat allergy, or gluten intolerance?

    Celiac disease, wheat allergy, or gluten intolerance?

    Celiac disease, wheat allergy, or gluten intolerance?

    We explain it all for you

    Tested negative for celiac disease but still have a problem with gluten? Here’s an in-depth look at three types of gluten intolerance. Learn how to determine which condition you might have, and how to manage it going forward.

    What’s in a name?

    Gluten intolerance is an umbrella term encompassing three distinct conditions: celiac disease, wheat allergy and non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), all of which are triggered by different mechanisms.

    Although all three conditions benefit from eating a gluten-free (GF) diet, it’s important to understand which condition is the cause of your gluten woes, so you can customize your approach for rebuilding health in the long term.

    Wheat allergy

    Wheat allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction in the immune system against wheat as a whole, rather than the gluten protein specifically. If your symptoms only occur after ingesting wheat but not after ingesting other gluten-containing grains, like rye and barley, then wheat allergy may be the cause.

    Celiac disease

    Celiac disease occurs when environmental factors, such as viral infections and gut dysbiosis, trigger an autoimmune response upon the ingestion of gluten. Celiac disease can be triggered at any age. Gastrointestinal symptoms occur from the immune system attacking one’s own tissues. The disease can progress to become multisystemic, affecting major organs including the heart and liver.

    Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS)

    NCGS is a reaction against gluten that is neither a hypersensitivity reaction nor an autoimmune one. Some researchers suggest that NCGS originates in the innate immune system, but we haven’t yet determined the mechanism underlying the condition.

    Spot the symptoms

    Celiac disease, wheat allergy, and NCGS can all present with nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms, including bloating, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and flatulence. Based on digestive symptoms alone, it is difficult to differentiate between these conditions.

    Both NCGS and celiac disease are associated with other syndromes as well. NCGS is associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, dermatitis herpetiformis, psoriasis, and rheumatologic diseases.

    Celiac disease can cause or contribute to serious complications including autoimmune thyroiditis, peripheral neuropathy, epilepsy, infertility, osteoporosis, dermatological conditions, and ataxia (poor balance, coordination, and speech).

    Testing and diagnosis

    When you tell your doctor about your gluten-related symptoms, you may be given a referral to an allergist for testing. Your allergist will likely perform an in-office skin prick test and order blood work to measure wheat-specific IgE. Having a positive result from either of these tests indicates a wheat allergy.

    Receiving negative results from these two tests (no wheat allergy) usually begins the process of screening for celiac disease. Blood tests for celiac include immunoglobulins such as tissue transglutaminase IgA. If this is positive, then a confirmatory small intestinal biopsy is performed.

    Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is a diagnosis of exclusion, only reached following negative results for all the above tests.

    Treatment

    Wheat allergy

    Treatment for wheat allergy requires a wheat-free diet; it may also benefit from gluten-free, too, since many grains are cross-contaminated with wheat. It’s possible for a wheat allergy to subside with time after implementing a wheat-free diet, but allergy severity and duration are different for everyone.

    Celiac disease and NCGS

    These both require a gluten-free diet for treatment. In celiac disease, complete adherence to a gluten-free diet is crucial. Those with NCGS may be able to tolerate a small amount of gluten in the diet, but the amount of gluten and timing of its reintroduction are different for everyone and should be discussed with a healthcare provider.

    It’s also key for your treatment to address nutrient deficiencies that occur from digestive malabsorption, as well as ones that commonly occur from a gluten-free diet.

    Speak with your healthcare provider to treat extraintestinal symptoms of gluten intolerance, such as headache, neuropathy, brain fog, and anxiety. If you have celiac disease, remember to regularly screen for associated conditions, like autoimmune thyroiditis and osteoporosis.

    Article Provided by Alive Magazine

  • How the gut and the lungs are connected

    How the gut and the lungs are connected

    How the gut and the lungs are connected

    What you eat can keep your respiratory health in top shape

    There was a time when we assumed that the gut is for eating and lungs are for breathing. Not long ago, research revealed that they communicate, and that means that your choice of food may help lower your risk of respiratory illnesses.

    What is the gut-lung axis?

    Bacteria get into the lungs from your mouth, from the air you breathe, and from the gut, hence both environmental factors and your gut microbiota will affect respiratory health. Metabolites such as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) reach the lungs through the lymphatic system and blood circulation. They help reduce inflammation, repair the gut lining, and protect against lung infections.

    Though lungs have fewer bacteria than the gut, they are still a dynamic environment with ability to impact immunity.

    The gut-lung dialogue

    A healthy gut microbiome means better respiratory health and intact mucous layers in the gut and respiratory system. Gut dysbiosis (imbalance), on the other hand, increases the risk of asthma and allergies. Also, chronic respiratory illnesses occur more often in people with irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease.

    Antibiotic treatments, anti-ulcer, and anti-reflux medications affect the gut microbiota and can increase the risk of asthma, allergies, and upper respiratory infections.

    From the lung end, influenza and pneumonia can cause gut dysbiosis and can impact the renewal of intestinal cells.

    Microbiome 101

    Bacteria start colonizing the gut from birth, thriving as they feed on breastmilk prebiotic sugars. Then come solid foods, which further build the gut microbiome.

    Fiber and exposure to dirt help increase the diversity of bugs in our body microbiome, boosting overall health. Because the gut is not an isolated organ, any gut imbalance, or dysbiosis, will affect various parts of the body.

    Dysbiosis can occur at any age and for many reasons: environmental, unhealthy lifestyle, diet, and/or medication. The microbiome tends to become less robust as we age—yet another reason to maintain a fiber-rich diet.

    Supplements for digestive health

    Oral probiotics can reduce the severity of asthma attacks and allergy symptoms in children. They can also improve the gut barrier and reduce inflammation. However, given the multitude of options, consult with a health professional for best suited probiotic supplement.

    Meanwhile, munch on naturally fermented foods such as sauerkraut and kimchi regularly. They contain probiotic bacteria and prebiotics, plus vitamins and minerals formed during fermentation.

    Other supplements that may help include:

    • L-glutamine
    • Vitamin D
    • Vitamin C

    Check with your health care practitioner before taking a new supplement.

    Eating for trillions

    FoodsBenefits for our microbiomes
    legumessoluble and insoluble fiber; resistant starch
    flaxseedssoluble fiber
    chia seedssoluble fiber and mucilage
    fruitsoluble fiber; boosts respiratory health
    berriespolyphenols which impact gut microbiota directly or are metabolized into beneficial compounds
    leafy greenssoluble and insoluble fiber; complex carbohydrates that gut bacteria metabolize into pathogen-fighting compounds
    whole grainssoluble and insoluble fiber, resistant starch, and complex carbohydrates

    Article Provided by Alive Magazine

  • 6 ways to strengthen your natural immunity

    6 ways to strengthen your natural immunity

    6 ways to strengthen your natural immunity

    Simple lifestyle choices to keep you feeling good

    Fighting off germs is busy work for our immune systems, but we can make it easier on ourselves. Discover how small lifestyle choices can keep our immune systems ready for action—and make a big difference in our long-term health.

    According to Lisa Osborne, an assistant microbiology and immunology professor, there are simple things we can do to keep our immune systems strong. They come down to listening to what your mother told you growing up: “Activity, healthy diet, sunlight when you can get it. We know these are critical factors for mental health as well as physical health and supporting immune function,” she says. Osborne also strongly encourages vaccination.

    1. Eat well

    Healthy immunity starts on your plate. Focus on whole grains, fresh produce in an array of colors, and healthy proteins such as nuts and seeds to help your body produce infection-fighting white blood cells.

    2. Get moving

    Regular, moderate physical activity bolsters the immune system and its ability to fight off illnesses, including cold and flu viruses. According to the World Health Organization, adults should aim for 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise each week, with two sessions of strength training for best overall health.

    3. Get some sleep

    A good rule of thumb is to aim for at least seven hours of sleep each night. If you’re having trouble sleeping, set a consistent schedule, and avoid screens, alcohol, caffeine, and large meals before bed. If worry is keeping you awake, keep a notebook beside your bed to clear your head.

    4. Tackle stress

    Too much stress can disturb your immune response and lower your protection against infectious illnesses. To help lighten the load try meditation, yoga, or any form of movement.

    5. Prioritize your social life

    Perceived social isolation has been linked to impaired immunity and a whole host of other health issues. To combat loneliness, create and maintain meaningful social connections, stay in touch with loved ones, say yes to activities you enjoy, volunteer, or participate in book clubs or community groups.

    6. Consider supplements

    Check with your health care practitioner before taking a new supplement.

    vitamin Cmay help prevent and treat systemic and respiratory infections and help shorten colds
    vitamin Dmay help reduce the incidence of cold and flu, help control infections, and reduce inflammation
    magnesiumplays a key role in keeping the immune system strong
    zinchelps the immune system fight infections and heal wounds
    quercetinhelps stimulate the immune system and possesses antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic properties
    elderberriesmay reduce inflammation, lessen stress, and ease symptoms or reduce duration of cold and flu symptoms
    oil of oreganohas antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties

    Article Provided by Alive Magazine

  • How to reconnect with nature

    How to reconnect with nature

    How to reconnect with nature

    Discover the joy of the season

    Seasonal living offers a way to rekindle our relationships with nature. In the process, we can uncover the joy and beauty in the natural world hidden in plain sight all around us.

    What is seasonal living?

    Humans used to live in a way that was innately more in touch with the seasons; indeed, many people around the world still do. Living in a way that is consciously connected to the seasons can be an intentional lifestyle choice through mindful daily practices.

    Benefits of seasonal living may include

    • improved mood and reduced stress due to spending time in nature
    • increased feelings of interconnectedness with the natural world and our place in it
    • the chance to slow down, reflect, and live in a more mindful, intentional way

    Seasonal living, every day

    There are myriad ways to live seasonally, and as always, it’s important to do what works for you. Here are a few ideas to help inspire you.

    Your kitchen

    Choosing local and seasonal food is one way in which we can eat in a more eco-friendly way, support our communities, and foster relationships with local farmers and food businesses.

    Simply start incorporating more locally grown in-season foods when possible, whether it’s from your own little garden or a store. Ask questions and chat with vendors at your local farmers’ market or the produce experts at your local health food store to learn more about the foods and how to cook them, as well as how they’re grown or produced.

    You can also incorporate mindfulness and gratitude practices into your mealtimes. Sunshine, water, and soil nourish the plants that, in turn, nourish us. Before eating, reflect on your food, its journey to your dinner plate, and the resources involved.

    Your decor

    Bring the outdoors in by incorporating some of the following suggestions.

    • houseplants
    • local, seasonal flowers
    • natural materials, such as acorns, chestnuts, pinecones, feathers, or driftwood
    • opening the windows for fresh air
    • making a seasonal garland with leaves or flowers

    Your daily routine

    Ask yourself: how can I fit in more time in nature? Maybe wander into your yard or outdoor space in the morning to feel the dew on your toes and listen to the birds, or in the evening to smell the cool air and see the moon. Notice how these experiences change through the year. You may also wish to practice yoga or meditate outside on a regular basis.

    Your celebrations

    Celebrating the changing of seasons can be a joyful and meaningful addition to any holidays you currently celebrate. Many people observe such dates as the autumnal equinox, the winter solstice, the spring equinox, and the summer solstice with nature-based celebrations. Celebrations can be communal (such as hosting a family dinner party or taking part in a community event) or individual (such as a walk in the woods or some quiet meditation or journaling).

    Article Provided by Alive Magazine