101 Ways to Feel Better Today – Page 4

April 4, 2020April 3, 2020

#71 Grab a Banana

The twin banana – even easier to take a couple with you!

Most people don’t get close to the recommended number of servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Optimal consumption is closer to 10-13 servings rather than the minimum recommendation of 5, which even at that low level few people achieve. Eating more servings provides a multitude of nutrients that can improve your health and keeps you from eating the stuff that isn’t so good.

One fruit that most people do consume is bananas. Bananas do contain vitamins and minerals and they can be an important part of a healthy diet. Other fruits are superior in terms of nutritional density, but if a banana is the only one that you will eat, at least do that every day.

April 3, 2020April 2, 2020

#70 Listen to Music

Nature has a rhythm, and music can relax you just like the sound of the ocean does

Music has the ability to dramatically change how we feel. We can be swept back to distant memories and our moods can shift instantly when a song we remember from long ago comes on the radio. Not many things have the power to change our mental and physical energy so drastically with no force.

Music has defined generations and continues to tell the story of our lives. With as many varieties as there are types of people, it portrays our personal tastes and is a unique expression of who we are. Music is used to soothe, to heal and to calm, and it is also used to rally, excite and motivate. The power of music to make you feel better, or worse, is undeniable.

April 2, 2020April 2, 2020

#69 An Apple a Day

Apples work well in salads or make a great snack on their own

While no one food can give you instant health, there are a lot that can contribute to your overall well-being. Not eating fruit is one of the biggest contributors to poor health and disease in modern times. As part of a healthy diet, fruit plays a big role, and apples are at the head of the class for the nutrition they provide.

If the only fruit you consume is fruit juice or a fruit rollup, you are missing out on the myriad of benefits that come from eating things like apples. Fruit is a perfect snack and can keep your sweet tooth satisfied so you can break the sugar addiction that is harming you and preventing you from optimal health. Apples are widely available as they transport and store easily, and they can be enjoyed in many ways.

April 1, 2020April 1, 2020

#68 Self-Acupressure

A common acupressure point good for relieving headaches

Many of us are familiar with the ancient practice of acupuncture. Dating back over 2000 years, it has stood the test of time as a way to reduce pain and to enable the body to heal by the stimulation of various meridians, or electrical points. Although it is more widely accepted in the East, there have been enough studies conducted in Western countries that have validated these claims.

One meta-analysis done found conclusive proof that acupuncture was effective in reducing chronic pain in the back and neck and from osteoarthritis, as well as chronic headache and shoulder pain.

March 31, 2020March 30, 2020

#67 Go Judge-Free

It’s raining. That’s it! It’s not good or bad, it’s just rain

We spend a great deal of time judging. It’s a necessary part of life in many ways, but it can also limit you from enjoying a peaceful mind. As a matter of survival, judging is useful. We evolved to where we are by judging what was harmful, what plants were edible, which people were friends or enemies, and whether we should stay or move to a new area. Survival judgments are necessary and helpful.

But now we judge far more than what we need for survival. We look at another person and decide within moments whether or not we like them. We judge others’ actions, the way they look, the way they talk and what they do for a living. We judge the weather and how it is going to affect our day and, often, our mood with it. Much of our internal turmoil is the result of judgments we have made as to how things outside of us could affect our position in life.

March 30, 2020March 29, 2020

#66 Clean Your Space

I wonder how they wash the windows on the outside? Some cleaning jobs are more challenging than others

Your space might be a huge house or a small room, but wherever you spend the majority of your time, start there. With more and more people working from home, a good place to clean is where you work. Start to minimize which physical objects you share the space with and have only those things that you use frequently near you,

Decluttering is a big part of cleaning, and you can read about that here. But it is more than just clearing off surfaces – this is about getting in there and really cleaning things up.

March 29, 2020March 28, 2020

#65 The Power of Sunlight

A little sun on the back always feels good, even if you are hairy

The sun is life. It is life to this planet, and it is life to all of us. We have come to fear the sun in some ways for its ability to cause skin cancer and wrinkles, but it is necessary not only for physical health but our mental health too. Being deprived of sunlight can definitely cause more harm than good.

Most of us know that sunlight is responsible for how much vitamin D our bodies are capable of producing. When sunlight hits our skin, vitamin D, which is actually a hormone, becomes active. Just 10 to 15 minutes of sun on the arms and face a few times a week is enough to activate as much vitamin D as you need.

March 28, 2020March 27, 2020

#64 Vitamin C

Focus on food first. It’s the best road to health

When you consume a diet based on whole, minimally-processed plant foods, most of your daily requirements of vitamins, minerals and protein are easily met. The only exceptions are vitamins B12 and vitamin D, and these are fortified in many plant milks and can be acquired with supplementation.

But what about vitamin C?

Vitamin C hasn’t been proven in studies to be the cure for the common cold, but it may prevent a cold or flu from turning into something more serious like pneumonia or lung infections. For this reason, there is tremendous interest in its use as a treatment for Covid-19. Until the research is done though, proceed with caution. Most studies will look at intravenous use of high doses and that comes with its own risks including infection or blood clots.

March 27, 2020March 26, 2020

#63 Focus on Fatty Acids

A tablespoon of ground flax seeds is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids

EFA’s, or essential fatty acids, are nutritional compounds that are necessary for our bodies to function properly. All fats have a role in our bodies, but EFA’s are unique because we can’t produce them and they must come from the foods we eat. There are two groups – the linoleic acid, or omega-6 group, and the alpha-linolenic acid, or omega-3 one.

We need both of these fatty acid groups to survive, but many people are deficient in them in the proper ratio. There is an imbalance towards the omega-6 group at the expense of omega-3, because vegetable oils provide a rich source of omega-6 acid. For many people, oil is the only source of fatty acid in the diet. Sunflower, corn, and soybean oil all contain a high percentage of omega-6 fatty acids and it would be prudent to minimize their use. Olive oil, high in oleic acid, and coconut oil, high in saturated fat, are very low in omega-6.

March 26, 2020March 25, 2020

#62 Eat Garlic

Garlic works well in a stir-fry, and adding mint tea is a good idea too

Garlic is one of those things – you either love it or you hate it. Most people do enjoy the taste of garlic though, and it can enhance the flavour of anything it accompanies. It has also been studied and shown to have a multitude of healthy properties.

Garlic is part of the onion family. Native to Central Asia and northeastern Iran, it has been consumed by people for thousands of years. Some are more sensitive to it than others though, and consuming fresh garlic can lead to heartburn, nausea or diarrhea. Lightly cooking it reduces these potential side effects and can render it more palatable.