Hello Yahoo Life readers! My name is Kaitlin, I'm here to give you the health and wellness tips you need to know this week.
According to a September YouGov/Yahoo News poll, Americans are more stressed about the election than ever before. If you're struggling to find peace in these uncertain times, experts recommend taking control of your environment. If necessary, distance yourself from the news and set boundaries with friends who may want to discuss election information that makes you more anxious. Also, replace doom scrolling with things like a 20-minute walk outside, which can help you feel less grounded before and after the election.
Before you go out, check the weather in your area and, if you're looking for guidance from the stars, your horoscope. Then dive into these wellness bites.
🌡️ Prevent heating illness
As the weather gets colder, you can turn up the heat, which can lead to cold symptoms, thanks to the dry air and dust and other allergens that build up in your heat ducts the rest of the year. You don't have to suffer just to stay warm, though: Experts tell Yahoo Life that choosing a pleated filter with a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values) rating of 11 can reduce these nasal congestion-causing particles. Another way to prevent heat illness is to install humidifiers in your home that can add moisture back to the air.
👀 Exercise regularly…this time in front of your eyes!
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic eye disease usually affecting older adults that affects the retina, leading to blurred vision and possible vision loss. One way to avoid this, ophthalmologist Dr. Sruthi Arepalli to Parade, is by staying physically active. That's because “exercise provides a host of good health benefits that are similar to antioxidants and can lower the risk of macular degeneration,” she explained. Be kind to your eyes by making sure you get the CDC's recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, which can be as simple as a 30-minute brisk walk on your lunch break.
📊 Prioritize your life with this platter hack
Hoda Kotb announced her departure from the “Today” show in September, and now she's opening up about how she had to reprioritize her life — thanks to the help of friend Maria Shriver. Kotb followed Shriver's suggestion to visually map her life on a serving platter, with each area represented by proportional pieces of paper. The exercise revealed that her time was heavily focused on work, leaving little room for either family time or self-care – prompting Kotb to reassess her commitments and cut back on non-essential work.
You don't have to pull out a literal bowl to try it yourself; Simply writing down how much time you spend in each area of your life will give you a visual representation of where your energy is going so you can reassess if necessary. Constantly in a state of go, go, go? Maybe instead, schedule some time to do nothing, which can help you feel more energized and inspired.
🔢 Play Sudoku
Some memory loss is a normal part of growing older, but there are ways to keep your brain sharp – and some of them can even be fun! Experts spoke to Yahoo Life about games you can play to promote neuroplasticity, which is our brain's ability to change and learn. Try Sudoku: According to a 2019 study, the math puzzle can help your brain function better as you get older. Additionally, Dakari Quimby, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at USC Keck School of Medicine, tells Yahoo Life that this activity hits the “sweet spot” in terms of difficulty, noting that if a brain game is “too simple, it will be boring.” become. and will not stimulate the neural circuits,” but “if it is too challenging, it will become frustrating.”
🥗 Go vegan (at least, sometimes)
November 1 is World Vegan Day, but you don't have to give up animal products completely to reap the many health benefits of a plant-based diet. Although previous research has shown that just two months of eating vegan can knock years off a person's biological age, even making simple plant-forward swaps has benefits by increasing your fiber intake (something many Americans don't get enough of) and the variety of minerals and vitamins. in your diet. The next time you're considering a burger for dinner, consider replacing it with a black bean-based burger.
🍽️ Eat family dinners
The pandemic may have kept us indoors for months, but there was one surprising benefit: an increase in family dinners. According to a study by the American Psychological Association, family dinners can promote family dynamics by creating greater feelings of connection and expressions of gratitude. Experts say you can still reap the connection benefits now by making time for a family chat over a meal each week. And: try cooking together! Children who sometimes or always help when their parents cook usually eat more fruit and vegetables than children who do not help in the kitchen.
🍇 Snack on frozen grapes
Do you want to snack less on stress? Go for frozen grapes — and let them melt in your mouth, said Virginia-based physician Dr. Jason Singh in a recent TikTok. The reason, he explained, is that the cold temperature activates certain receptors in the mouth, which in turn triggers the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward.Tbone37a
Frozen grapes also take longer to eat, so you may end up eating less of them than, say, M&Ms. Want something extra sweet, so it feels like you're eating candy? Go for cotton candy grapes, which Aldi sells already frozen; they really taste like the carnival treat.
🛀 Take a magnesium bath
Magnesium has benefits for muscle relaxation, but you don't have to take a supplement to reap the benefits, neuroscientist Tara Swart told Fortune. Swart recommends bathing with magnesium flakes, which allow the chemical to be absorbed through the skin. Although research is still inconclusive, the process can help soothe sore muscles (such as after a walk or lifting weights) and reduce inflammation and joint pain. Try it yourself by mixing one to three cups of magnesium flakes with bath water and soaking for 15 minutes.
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