Finally, spring has arrived, days are longer and warmer and it’s time to walk off the “winter wearies” and welcome a re-invigorated sense of well-being. Opportunities for organized walks abound at this time of year through local charitable organizations: The Heart Walk; the Susan B. Komen 3-Day Walk; and many, many more. Check your local paper for details. Read more
By now, you’ve already read about eating more fruits and veggies, avoiding processed foods, trans fats and saturated fats, and the benefits of moving your body more often. No doubt you’ve also gotten the news about the healing power of antioxidants and phytonutrients, the benefits of fiber, and the dangers of too many calories and too little nutrition, especially when combined with a sedentary yet stressful lifestyle. Read more
February is National Heart Month – a time when the American Heart Association asks us to pay particular attention to our heart health. It is also a time when the initial enthusiasm with which we approached New Year’s resolutions begins to wane. Goals set for more consistent physical activity and including more heart-friendly foods like vegetables and fruits in the diet have been challenged by conflicting priorities such as work and family demands. The “winter blues” are casting a shadow over the hopes we had for positive changes in 2010. Take heart. Read more
The start of the New Year brings renewed resolutions, often related to diet, exercise, weight management, and improved health and fitness. However, with so much often conflicting information out there, it is difficult to discern the difference between accurate data and misinformation. So, we will begin issue with a review of news you can apply to your lifestyle choices to support improved well-being. Remember to set realistic goals and to arrange to get support for yourself in meeting them. (Contact us here at (linda.healingbridges@gmail.com.) Read more
With Thanksgiving just over, and the holiday season entering full swing, it is easy to be swept into the culture of consumerism and mindless over-indulgence. This, combined with time pressure, to-do lists, and financial strain can leave you rushing through the season propelled by stress hormones, and collapsing into exhaustion on New Year’s Day. Besides taking joy from the holiday season, and depleting both your energy and your pocketbook, the immune system and mood can both end up depressed. Read more
As autumn settles in, and with winter just around the corner, public service announcements send reminders about getting a flu shot in an effort to prevent the spread of disease. Our culture reflects a philosophy that emphasizes the avoidance of sickness. However, many people who are not sick would not describe themselves as being optimally well. Read more
So many health issues have chosen October as their time to promote awareness, we decided to list a number of them and give you contact information about where and how to learn more:
1) Brain Injury Awareness: a brain injury occurs every 21 seconds as a result of bicycle and car crashes, sporting accidents, violence, and falls. Prevention is the only cure. For more information and a free resource kit, log onto www.biausa.org. Read more
While students are returning to school, for consumers interested in learning new developments in the health and wellness field, there is a lot to discover! As the days grow shorter and the sun-drenched days of summer begin to fade, it is important to check your skin for any signs of change, especially if you have accumulated years of sun exposure: a total body skin exam by a dermatologist beginning at age 50 or earlier in people with risk factors such as a personal history of skin cancer or with excessive sun exposure, then annually. Read more
National Kids’ Week occurs this month. Providing a safe, healthy environment in which children can flourish is the focus of this event. Unintentional childhood injury is the number one killer of children ages 14 and under. The National Safe Kids Campaign sponsors a nationwide celebration of child safety and addresses such issues as bicycle safety, drowning, fires and burns, suffocation, poisoning, choking, and falls. For more info contac www.safekids.org.
Swimsuit season has arrived. While many anticipate the mood elevating effects of sunny days, many persons, especially girls and women, dread shopping for and wearing a swimsuit. Even females who are at or below a healthy body weight, often perceive themselves as “too fat” and focus on perceived physical flaws which make swimsuit shopping an anxiety- producing experience. Comparisons with actresses and models whose photos have been electronically altered and who receive the services of a team of “beauty and fitness” specialists, lead to widespread body dissatisfaction. Read more