Wellness Wednesday Week 12-Get a hobby/Learn a new skill
This is probably my most favorite topic out of all the last 12 weeks, because I feel like I set a good example of “you’re never too old to learn something new.” Learning is the best stimulation for the brain, reducing the risk of neurodegeneration, including dementia and cognitive decline. Getting a hobby or taking […]
Wellness Wednesday Week 11-Talk about/Journal ideas
Being able to express yourself is so important for mental health. Loneliness can contribute to depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders because the lack of socializing can cause you to suppress emotions, which can be stressful. Spending meaningful time with others gives you a chance to be heard. “Meaningful” is an important concept here, because you […]
Wellness Wednesday Week 10-Reduce Environmental Toxins
We discussed this a bit in the Sun Exposure and Nature blog. Indoor pollutants can have a significant impact health. However, toxin exposure goes far beyond that. Our bodies are flooded with toxins on a daily basis and it’s almost impossible to account for all of them. These toxic chemicals can cause endocrine disruption, immune […]
Wellness Wednesday Week 9- Increase Muscle Mass
Muscle is the “organ of longevity.” Loss of muscle mass is one of the leading causes of debilitation and dependency. As you get older, a conscious effort must be made to maintain or increase muscle mass. However, waiting until you’re an elderly person to worry about the condition of your muscles would be a big […]
Wellness Wednesday Week 8-Support Microbiome
Genome.gov defines a microbiome as “the community of microorganisms (such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses) that exist in a particular environment… These groups of microorganisms are dynamic and change in response to a host of environmental factors, such as exercise, diet, medication, and other exposures.” Most people are familiar with the gut microbiome, but microbiomes […]
Wellness Wednesday Week 7- Address Addictions (the less recognized ones)
Addictions come in all shapes and sizes. The first thing that comes to mind for most people is a heroin addict or alcoholic slumped over in a dark alley or a crackhead stealing out of his/hers grandmother’s purse to get his/her next fix. Addictions can be subtle sometimes. People can be quite clever at hiding […]
Wellness Wednesday Week 6-Laugh More.
“A day without laughter is like living in darkness; you try to find your way around, but you can’t see clearly.” Emily Mitchell, author. Laughter is certainly strong medicine, for the mind, body, and soul. I don’t think people realize how important a good laugh is until you haven’t had one in a while. Experiencing […]
Wellness Wednesday Week 5-Stress Management
Patients often ask me, “can _____ be caused by stress?” My answer is always yes. Stress may not be the only problem, but poorly manage stress is certainly a contributing factor to all ailments. The Cleveland Clinic defines stress as a “normal reaction the body has when changes occur, resulting in physical, emotional, and intellectual […]
Wellness Wednesday Week 4-Physical Activity
Physical activity is an important part of health and well-being. Unfortunately, many people associate it with suffering countless hours at the gym, doing exercises you don’t enjoy. Furthermore, people also mistakenly assume that physical activity is the most significant factor in weight loss, so they torture themselves in an attempt to lose weight, only to […]
Wellness Wednesday Week 3- Sun Exposure and Nature
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors, with pollutant concentrations 2 to 5 times higher than the outdoors. Pollutants from combustion, building materials, animal waste and dander, mold, cleaning and other household products, and pesticides are just a few that pose a significant risk to our health. […]
