Do you have an underlying health condition that stops your immune system from protecting you the way it should? In today’s world, you need a healthy body and immune system to protect yourself. Now is the perfect time to strengthen your immune system and increase your body’s ability to fight off infection. Your body needs to stock up on the immune-boosting essentials it requires to fight colds, flus, and viruses. Specific nutrients for the adrenals, spleen, lungs, and lymph nodes are vital to boost your immunity. Now is the time to give your body what it needs to prepare for the months ahead.
Community News
Wellness Trivia Questions
1. Humans share 98.8% of their DNA with which animal? 2. Which muscle of the human body can exert the most pressure? 3. More than half of your bones are located in which two parts of the body? 4. Which cetacean has the largest brain of any mammal?
Clean Eating: Healthy Peach Crumble
10 ripe peaches; 2 Tbsp arrowroot powder; 1 tsp vanilla; 1 Tbsp lemon juice; 3 Tbsp coconut sugar; 1/4 tsp nutmeg; 1 cup rolled oats; 1 cup almond flour; 1/3 cup coconut sugar; 1/4 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp cinnamon; 1/3 cup almond butter; 1/2 cup melted coconut oil; 1 tsp vanilla. Preheat oven to 350F and prepare baking dish with nonstick spray. In a bowl, combine sliced peaches, arrowroot powder, vanilla, lemon, coconut sugar, and nutmeg until coated. While peaches sit, prepare crumble topping by combining oats, almond flour, coconut sugar, salt. and cinnamon. Add in almond butter, coconut oil, and vanilla and mix well. Pour peaches into dish and sprinkle crumble topping over top. Pat down. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
Wellness Trivia Answers
1. Chimpanzee. 2. The Jaw. 3. Hands and Feet. 4. Sperm Whale
Avocado Smoothie Bowl
Fresh avocados and tender baby kale add a healthy spin to this delicious smoothie bowl, packed with fruit for a sweet treat. 9 ounces oat milk. ¾ cup. baby kale. 1 ½ Tbsp. honey. ¾ cup avocado pieces. 1 ½ cup frozen mango chunks. 1 ½ cup frozen pineapple chunks. 1 cup frozen banana. Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure the lid. Start on its lowest speed, then quickly increase to its highest speed. Blend for 30-40 seconds. Serve immediately with your choice of garnish – crunchy granola, fresh fruit, and a sprinkling of chia seeds.
Denture Fit and Health
Improperly fitting dentures can cause mouth damage, including blisters, sores, cuts, and scrapes. These injuries lead to inflammation, bleeding, and increased risk of infection. Ill-fitting dentures may also hinder chewing, resulting in poor nutrition and health problems. Jaw pain caused by poorly fitting dentures can lead to headaches and earaches due to inflammation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). A misaligned bite affects facial muscles, leading to TMJ pain and temporomandibular disorder (TMD). TMD limits mouth opening, impacting eating, speaking, and oral health. Book your yearly exam to make sure your dentures still fit you perfectly.
Acupuncture & Cognitive Decline
Acupuncture has shown promising potential in addressing cognitive decline. By improving cerebral blood flow, it enhances oxygen delivery and reduces stress hormones like cortisol while increasing serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine—specifically linked to memory. Acupuncture also promotes cholinergic and dopaminergic neural transmission, facilitates neurotrophin signaling and nerve growth factor, and protects cerebral neurons from apoptosis and oxidative damage. Furthermore, it regulates glucose metabolism, suppresses acetylcholinesterase, and decreases levels of amyloid beta proteins in the brain regions associated with cognitive decline. Research suggests that combining acupuncture with drug therapy may be more beneficial for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease than drug therapy alone, highlighting its complementary role in Western medicine.
Avoid Summer Food Poisoning
Foodborne illness peaks in the summer, as more people are cooking outside without the safety controls of a kitchen. Symptoms of food poisoning typically include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. The severity and duration of symptoms vary depending on the type and amount of contaminated food ingested. Common causes of food poisoning include improper food handling, inadequate cooking, cross-contamination, and consuming expired or spoiled food. It is essential to practice good hygiene, proper food storage, thorough cooking, and regular handwashing to prevent foodborne illnesses. If food poisoning is suspected, seeking medical attention, staying hydrated, and resting are crucial for recovery and avoiding complications.
Supporting Your Quitter
If your friend or loved one is trying to quit smoking, there are many ways in which you can support them on their journey. Familiarize yourself with the reasons quitting can be so difficult by reading articles, brochures, and other information. Understand your own relationship with smoking and ensure you are celebrating their successes, being supportive, and avoiding being too critical. Be positive when the person you know who is quitting wants to talk about their goals, setbacks, and other aspects of the process. Helping to distract your friend or loved one, or helping them to de-stress, can also be a great way to offer support.
7 Days of Self-Care
Self-care refers to any activity we do purposefully to take care of ourselves mentally, physically, and emotionally. On July 24 each year, people celebrate Self-Care Day – but any time is a great time to start practicing self-care. Why not try seven days of self-care to create new, healthy habits? Day 1: Unplug from technology for the day. Day 2: Declutter your physical space and mind. Day 3: Nourish yourself with food, water, sleep, and exercise. Day 4: Create something with your hands. Day 5: Listen to your feelings. Day 6: Express yourself to others. Day 7: Explore something new!
Consistency and Caregiving
Consistency is important when it comes to caregiving for a variety of reasons, including: 1) Developing trust – Your loved one will see the same face each time and get to know their caregiver. 2) Facilitating communication – Good communication between family and caregivers is essential to doing what’s best for your loved one. 3) Reducing accidents – Avoiding medication mishaps, etc. 4) Being aware of health changes – Recognizing what’s normal and not normal for your loved one. 5) Preventing scheduling conflicts – Knowing you won’t have to step in unexpectedly. 6) Providing peace of mind – Helping everyone feel good about home care.
