In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel is not an option, but don’t let that stop you from dreaming big. Travel is beneficial to our mental health, helping to enhance creativity, improve mental stability, provide stress relief, broaden perspective, strengthen relationships, and boost mood. Some ways you can continue to incorporate travel into your life while social distancing include planning your next trip, taking virtual tours online of various destinations and attractions, researching festivals and other events you’d like to attend, and watching travel videos online. After the pandemic ends, the world will be yours to explore once again!
Community News
Hearing Loss & Cognitive Decline
Researchers have found that even the earliest stage of hearing loss – when hearing is still considered normal (0-25dB) – is linked to cognitive decline. Most people with hearing loss believe they can go about their lives just fine without treatment, and maybe some can, but hearing loss is not benign. It has been linked to social isolation, depression, cognitive decline, diabetes, dementia, and other health problems. Hearing loss should be treated, and the earlier, the better. Studies show hearing aids can slow cognitive decline in older people with age-related hearing loss.
Words to Live By
“Every ceiling, when reached, becomes a floor, upon which one walks as a matter of course and prescriptive right.” Aldous Huxley
Smoking and Wearing Dentures?
We know that smoking can have a variety of negative effects on our health, but do you know how smoking can affect denture wearers or those with dental implants specifically? If you have dental implants and are also a smoker, your risk of dental implant failure increases. Smoking can also put you at greater risk for infection when having dental implants fitted. Healing time after any type of dental surgery is increased in smokers, since nicotine constricts your arteries and reduces blood flow to your gums. Finally, smoking can accelerate the bone loss that normally comes with losing your teeth.
Addressing Perfectionistic Behaviours
Perfectionism, or striving to achieve excessively high standards of excellence, can contribute to higher levels of motivation, goal-achievement, and performance. But it can also contribute to self-judgment, comparison, and other self-defeating behaviours, as well as more anxiety and stress. Questions to ask yourself related to perfectionism include: 1) Is this goal something that brings me joy and satisfaction? 2) What is the underlying motivation for my goal? If it’s not that it will bring you personal joy and satisfaction, reconsider the goal. If it is, think of ways you can break this goal up into smaller, more manageable tasks.
Blocking Blue Light
Blue light emitted from the sun is essential to your body. However, exposing your eyes to the artificial blue light from computers, smartphones and other digital devices may keep you awake at night and causing eyes strain. Blocking UV and HEV (high-energy visible) light is critical for your eyes against cataract and age-related macular degeneration. Ask your trusted eye care professional about blue light blocking lenses available to you. Our tip: If you are working on your laptop, tablet or smartphone long hours, we recommend giving your eyes frequent breaks by looking into the distance often.
Using Essential Oils
Refresh and Renew for Spring!
Spring brings about rebirth and new beginnings, making it a great time to get your home looking, feeling, and smelling more refreshed. Using essential oils can make your spring cleaning experience even better! Besides smelling fantastic, essential oils have many other important qualities. Lemon, grapefruit, and orange oils offer great spring scents, and with their acidic properties, provide antiseptic and antibacterial cleansing. Lavender oil is also antibacterial and helps deter pests like moths, while providing a relaxing scent. Eucalyptus and tea tree oils can be used as air and surface sanitizers and are great for treating mold and mildew!
Keeping Your Immune System Strong
The good news about Covid-19 is that we’re getting through it day by day. The bad news is that we will be exposed to more viruses in the future, whether it’s a second wave of Covid-19 this fall, or another viral threat all together. The issue isn’t how strong is the virus, it’s how strong is your immune system? Now is the time to focus on strengthening your immune system so your body is ready, willing and able to deal with the next viral exposure. Experts such as Dr. Alex Vasquez DO, DC, ND, FACN recommends anti-viral formulas that contain a combination of hesperidin, zinc, vitamin D, C, A, curcumin and rutin, to name a few. Strengthening your immune system not only helps to protect you, it helps to protect your loved ones and the community.
Travelling Boosts Mental Health
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel is not an option, but don’t let that stop you from dreaming big. Travel is beneficial to our mental health, helping to enhance creativity, improve mental stability, provide stress relief, broaden perspective, strengthen relationships, and boost mood. Some ways you can continue to incorporate travel into your life while social distancing include planning your next trip, taking virtual tours online of various destinations and attractions, researching festivals and other events you’d like to attend, and watching travel videos online. After the pandemic ends, the world will be yours to explore once again! Megan Reimer, Cruise Vacations.
Stay Active While Working from Home
Self-isolation means fewer opportunities to be physically active if you are used to going to the gym or playing sports. Equally worryingly, the home environment also offers abundant opportunity to be sedentary. Exercise can help keep our immune system strong, and our bodies less susceptible to infections. So, what should we do? Alternate periods of sitting with standing by creating your own stand-up desk area. Try a yoga class on YouTube to stretch and relieve tension from your muscles. Get some work done in the garden or yard or play with your dog. It’s also a great time to try an online work out! Ask if your local gym offers this service.
Wellness Tea of the Month
IMMUNE BOOSTER Rooibos Tea. Our Immune booster rooibos tea is packed full of vitamin C and infection-fighting properties. Enjoy this antioxidant-rich tea blend of delicious orange fruit and peels combined with the anti-microbial properties of rosemary. We design this blend with three simple ingredients that will protect your body from oxidative damage and inflammation. Rooibos tea is free from caffeine, which may make it a good option for pregnant people, children, and those who are sensitive to caffeine. Makes for a healthy and healing quarantine companion.
