Knitting is a great natural strategy to deal with anxiety, depression, and pain. The simplicity of rhythmic stitching can be very centering, and combines with eye movements, color, and texture to stimulate and focus the mind. Knitting can be picked up and stopped quickly, allowing it to provide precious calm in a whirlwind day. Relaxation activities with repetition have been shown to reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, and heart rate, and ease stress-caused illnesses and complications. Socially, the chance to get together with other knitters, sharing a bit of food and friendship and comparing notes can go a long way to remove isolation and loneliness. So often the knitting group can provide an invaluable haven and supportive community that looks after its own. Finally, knitting creates a comfortable (and wearable) beauty which can be kept or given to those who need. Not a bad side effect of this wonderful therapy!

It may be tempting to hold on, but here are three good reasons not to 1. Your brain will thank you for it. The sooner you start using hearing aids, the better chance you will give your brain to adapt and re-learn sounds you may not have been hearing for a while. 2. Life’s better when you hear better. Research from the National Council on Aging shows that when people begin to use hearing aids, they experience improvements in their lives, including their mental health, sense of independence, social life and, yes, even their sex lives. 3. Hearing loss is linked to dementia. Seniors with untreated hearing loss are significantly more likely to develop dementia over time than those who retain their hearing, according to a recent study by Johns Hopkins University and the National Institute on Aging. Precise reasons aren’t yet known, but auditory deprivation may be an underlying cause.

We can agree that mental health and hearing health are both important, yet it wasn’t until the results of recent studies were released that a strong correlation between the two was confirmed. Depression in particular has been linked to hearing loss and unfortunately both conditions, being “invisible” conditions, often go unacknowledged, unrecognized or untreated. Along with depression, clients with untreated hearing loss are known to experience anxiety, paranoia, relationship problems, low self-esteem, stress and other negative emotions. Those with hearing loss can find communication difficult. Difficulty communicating can lead to stress, fatigue, and social isolation. And social isolation leads to depression, especially in older adults. But it wasn’t until recently that researchers were able to show that is was more of a problem than previously thought. If you are experiencing age-related hearing loss, don’t delay talking with a hearing aid practitioner, as well as a trusted mental health professional.

Green tea extract is a powerful fat burner loaded with beneficial antioxidants called catechins that help support immune function, cardiovascular health, and fat loss. Studies show that regular consumption of green tea extract has a positive effect on overall health and to your dietary habits. It also contains 2% to 4% caffeine, which affects thinking and alertness, increases urine output and may improve the function of brain messengers. The addition of caffeine to the potent mix of catechins revs up your production of noradrenaline, pumping you with feel good confidence, stimulating the nervous system, heart, and muscles by increasing the release of certain chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. To safely incorporate green tea extract into your weight loss regimen, consider drinking plenty of water. One of the active ingredients in SlimROAST weight loss coffee from Valentus – The Healthiest Coffee on the Planet!

In architectural terms, the keystone is a wedge-shaped stone at the crown of an arch that helps keep all of the other stones in place, allowing it to maintain the proper shape. In behavioural terms, a keystone habit is the habit that helps keep all of your other habits in place, allowing you to maintain consistent wellness practices. The keystone habit will differ for each individual. For some, it may be habitual exercise. For others, daily meditation or prayer is essential. It could be a consistent bedtime routine. Whatever your habit, you will experience balanced energy levels, clarity of mind, and reduced stress, which in turn allows you to act in a more purposeful manner in other areas of your life. When life becomes chaotic, focusing on your keystone habit gives you the best chance of maintaining your health and vitality.

Stress triggers adrenaline production in the body allowing you to react to the stressful situation. Heart rate, body temperature, endocrine response and anxiety all increase. Productivity increases for a short time, but fatigue and exhaustion can follow, and if the stress is prolonged, health issues can occur. Adaptogenic herbs like Ashwagandha can enhance one’s ability to deal with stress. They contain medicinal components that can help normalize the body’s functions during periods of mental and physical stress to rebalance and rejuvenate. Not only does it decrease stress-induced damage, but it is also safe and beneficial even at higher than normal doses. Ashwagandha is also free from adverse effects such as withdrawal and avoids impacting normal body functions more than necessary. Ashwagandha can be used safely by both males and females and also helps to rebalance hormones which are negatively impacted by high cortisol levels.

Your pelvic floor is a broad sling of muscles, ligaments and sheet-like tissues that stretch from your pubic bone at the front of your body, to the base of your spine at the back. The pelvic floor is sometimes compared to a trampoline, as it can stretch in response to weight, and bounce up again. Unlike a trampoline, however, if it bears weight for a long time, as it does during pregnancy, the muscles or tissues can become overstretched and weak. This stretching occurs as early as 12 weeks into your pregnancy. If you do your pelvic floor exercises correctly and often, it can help to protect you while you’re pregnant and after your baby is born. It will also help to prevent a prolapse and leakage. If you have not been shown how to do pelvic floor exercises, see your Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist.