The recipe is from Kristin Cavallari’s cookbook True Comfort.
I am so impressed with her cookbook, she covers every meal, snack, and smoothie. You don’t have to be living a Gluten-Free life to enjoy the recipes, they sound delicious. Several followers have made comments about how good the recipe was.
Ingredients
1/2 avocado
1 tbs raw honey
1 cup almond milk
2 tbs raw cacao nibs
1 cup frozen cauliflower florets
1 big handful of fresh spinach
1 tsp brain octane oil (she likes Bulletproof)
1 tbs bee pollen
1 tbs hemp seeds
1/4 cup chopped or sliced blueberries and blackberry
How to make
Place the avocado, honey, almond milk, cacao nibs, cauliflower florets, spinach, and brain octane oil (if using) in a high-powered blender and blend until well combined, about one minute.
Pour into glass and top with the bee pollen, hemp seeds, and berries.
The recipe is from Kristin Cavallari’s book True Comfort.
This smoothie sounds so good I’ll have to try it. I like how easy it is to make and you can double the recipe to make two lattes.
1 tbs. ground coffee or instant coffee granules
1 tbs. raw cacao powder
1 tbs. coconut cream
1 cup frozen cauliflower florets
1 1/2 cups almond milk
1 frozen banana
Serves 1
Place the coffee, cacao powder, coconut cream, cauliflower, almond milk, and a banana in a high-powered blender and blend until well combined, about 1 minute.
Personal budgeting is a powerful tool, but few know its value. You see, most people get upset when they hear that they have to make a budget for their expenses. It is associated with discomfort and headache. Just as it is linked to diet to hunger and limited food, this is because most people only resort to budgeting when things get tough and there are difficulties, just like with someone who, because he has gained a lot of weight, decides to lose weight. But this is not precisely the case. A personal budget is a necessary tool that we must learn to use in our lives. Its mission is not to make you limit your expenses but to help you set aside more money or spend it more efficiently.
Most people who do not have a budget end up spending more than they need each month. But this exaggeration has significant implications as it limits their future economic power. The result is that they have less money left, but also create more fixed costs if the purchases are made with installments and credit cards. But when you plan how much you will spend each month and know in advance where they will go, it is easier to restrain yourself and realize when you are overdoing it. For this reason, make your own personal budget so that you know where you are. If you have types of subscriptions, then look at reassessing them. If you have car costs, then look at honest car service to ensure that you are always keeping the necessities at a lower price.
Helps you achieve your goals
A personal budget is essentially a plan that helps you prioritize where you spend your money. This means that when you create an account, you are shifting your focus to the things that matter most to you. This can be repaying a loan, raising enough money to get a home, or starting your own business. The budget essentially creates the plan that you will follow and allows you to monitor your progress.
Helps you save
People who do not use budgets will not have as much money in savings. Also, planning how you will spend your money each month helps you to avoid infringing on your existing savings. By doing things this way, you can gradually increase the money you have set aside. And the more that you save, the more you will start to feel more comfortable with your finances and of course your future. This will assist you with your home too.
Helps you be flexible
Budget work is to help you be flexible. By recording the income and expenses in detail, you can see how you can transfer money from one expense category to another. It also helps you identify issues that may arise and make the necessary adjustments.
Helps you stay in control
If you feel that you do not have control over your finances and you are always wondering where your money and salary have disappeared, your budget will help you to recover it. By setting your financial priorities and seeing on paper how you spend your money during the month, you better understand habits and patterns that hurt you. This way, it is easier to know where to stop. Having a definite plan for the month, you know what to do and what not to do, and it is easier to think about the future. Make your plans and prepare. The budget is probably the most essential tool you need to change your financial future and gives you the power to make changes right away.
It’s simple
Personal budgeting is not difficult to set up. We are not talking about a budget drawn up by a multinational or a state, where the responsibilities are significant, and the variables are many. We are talking about the account that will help you maintain order in your finances.
So if you start using it regularly, you will see that it is something simple. You can make it even easier and instead of using pen and paper, take advantage of technological advances using a corresponding application. As with anything new, you may be skeptical or feel that you do not have to bother analyzing your finances. But try it for a few months. As you apply it, you will see that you will become more familiar and it will be easier for you to manage your money properly.
I’m so glad you’ve joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
This is my reality and it’s hard to swallow when I look at my life 20 years ago. No doubt many people with Chronic Illnesses face similar problems. It’s not that I miss my younger self, I miss being capable and independent.
In December, I was writing my 2024 goals, and my health and limits on driving make going to new places or getting a smoothie require my husband to be available to drive me. It sucks!
I’d love your feedback and any ideas you have.
My Life
I have no family except my husband
No friends
The only people I see are doctors and my hairdresser
My hobbies
Blog
Photography
Bird watching
Green Thumb
Ancestry
Reality
I can not drive anymore
Agoraphobia
Memory Impairment
Balance problems have returned
Severe Anemia
It’s difficult to bring joy to your life when you sit at home day after day. If you’re housebound, how do you add joy to your day?
Buying a gift is deeply personal and can get complicated when trying to buy for a friend with a chronic illness or for one who has chronic pain. I have a few chronic illnesses of my own and thought it would be nice to put together a list of year-round gift ideas.
Ideas
Silk pillowcase
Ultrasonic diffuser
Lavender essential oil
Weighted blanket
Scented candle with a pretty box of matches
Light Therapy Lamp
A handmade card or scrapbook
Audible subscription for a year
Footbath massager
Pack of foot masks
Luxurious foot cream
A wellness basket that includes body cleaning towelettes, dry shampoo, hand conditioning treatment, a box of Camomile tea bags
A journal with motivational sayings, or Scripture
Maid service for a deep clean
Car detail that comes to them
Walk their pet for a week
A gift certificate for a manicure/pedicure
A gift card to their favorite store
Lumbar pillow
Picture frame with a lovely photo you’ve taken
Insulated (non-sweating) water bottle with a flip-top
Assortment of coffees along with a mug
A pretty faux plant for the plant lover
Flowers in a pretty vase with a bow tied around it with a personal message
Singing Gram
Magazine subscription for one of their interest
A book that is special to you they may enjoy with an inscription in the front
Nice writing pen
A wreath and hanger for their front door
Bath and shower bombs
Assortment of food goodies like chocolates or gluten-free items
Pack of face masks
Homemade potpourri with or without scent
Pretty adjustable cane
A walker attachment bag
Subscription to Itunes
Subscription to streaming service
A Fire TV stick
An annual subscription to Amazon Prime
Wireless Earbuds
Cook dinner for them
Pay for a meal delivery service for a month
Walk in the park with a camera to capture the moments
Silk eyemask
Metro card
Scented hand wash with matching lotion
A luxurious assortment of soaps
Travel-size hand sanitizer
Travel-size hand lotion
A Silk mask with a place for a filter insert
Certificate for a back massage
Matching dish and hand soap in a dish
Electric toothbrush
An assortment of flavored toothpaste
Wool throw
Hand warmers
Heating pad
Sunrise clock
Reusable grocery bags
Alexa enabled lightbulb
Slip-resistant socks
I hope this sparks some ideas of your own. Shopping for someone who has a chronic illness isn’t as complicated as it feels, just think from a different perspective.
I know whatever you decide to give your friend or loved one, they will appreciate it and you very much.
As we age, everything that was once taken for granted will become more difficult. Often, friends and family will need to step in and care for you.
If a loved one of yours needs to be looked after, then it may seem like the right thing to do to take care of them. But before you do decide to take care of someone in this way, it is important that you consider everything that is involved in caring for elderly relatives. Elder-care is more than a full-time job, and it will be both emotionally and physically challenging.In many cases, it may be best to find a respite care provider, to ensure your relative gets the best care they can. However, if you have decided to take this role on yourself, educating yourself about how to help them best is essential.
Here is everything you should think about when taking care of an elderly relative.
One of the most important aspects of caring for an elderly relative is that you’ll need to make sure that they are taking any medication that they are on when they need to. They may be on several different medications for a variety of different conditions. Make sure you know about their medical conditions and understand what the medication is for. In addition, you should get to know more about the medication, including:
When the medication needs to be taken
What dosage do they require
When you can order repeat prescriptions
You may be required to administer their medication or to check each day to ensure it has been taken.
Carrying Out Housework
If the elderly relative that you are caring for has limited mobility, then you may need to help them with their housework. While this may mean carrying out major tasks such as cleaning the whole house, it may also involve smaller tasks such as washing the dishes.
Assisting With Mobility
Since mobility is a problem for many older people, there are risk factors that you should be aware of. You may need to supervise or provide mobility aids to help them get about their day without having any slips, trips, or falls.
Make sure that the home environment is safe for them. This could involve making sure that the house is free from clutter, that the walkways are clear, that there are handrails throughout the home, that there is a stairlift in place, that walkers or wheelchairs are available as needed.
This wheelchair guide will talk you through finding the right wheelchair for the relative that you are caring for.
You should go through the house and identify any potential risks and make the necessary changes.
You’ll Need a Bathing Routine
Personal hygiene and health go hand-in-hand. Wherever possible, you should ensure that the relative that you’re caring for has some sense of independence when it comes to bathing and washing. To achieve this, you could provide handrails in the bathroom, along with baths and showers that are easily accessible.
When someone is unable to clean themselves, you will need to help them. Creating a bathing and washing routine is essential. This will ensure your loved one will stay clean all of the time. This will be even more important if your relative is either bed-bound or incontinent, as sores may form if you don’t keep proper hygiene.
You’ll Need to Cook for Your Relative
Unless your elderly relative is able to cook themselves, you will very likely to do this on their behalf every day. Make sure that you provide a healthy balanced diet that is not only varied, but that is also interesting. Make sure that mealtimes are something to look forward to.
If you want to save yourself some time, you may want to batch cook some meals so that these can be quickly reheated another day.
You May Need To Lift Your Relative
If the person that you are caring for has mobility issues, then it will be essential that you help them to get around. To do this, you may need to lift them up. If this is something that you need to do, ensure you do it safely and consider your own body. Make sure that you are not putting yourself at risk at all.
There may be lifting equipment that you can buy that will help you to lift your loved one safely. There may also be courses that you can take that teach you safe lifting and handling.
You’ll Need To Help Your Relative To Exercise
It is essential that you help keep your elderly relative as active as possible. Even if your elderly relative has mobility problems, there will be some exercises that they can do. This may just mean doing simple movements with their arms and feet. Find some basic routines that they can complete. Join in with the exercises with them to make them feel more at ease while they’re doing them.
You Will Need To Run Errands
There will often be errands that need to be run. If your elderly relative is unable to do them, you will need to do them on their behalf. This may mean going to the shop, paying bills for them, returning their library books, and much more. Try to maintain a routine so that you can easily keep up with the required errands.
There May Be Hospital Procedures
If your relative needs to go into the hospital for a procedure, you’ll need to be there to help them out with their aftercare. Make sure that you’re there to speak with the doctor and find out what you’ll need to do in terms of caring for them after the procedure. You will also need to ensure they are able to attend any follow-up appointments.
Providing End of Life Care
One of the hardest things that you’ll need to deal with is the end of life care. It will be important that you know exactly when you should call a hospice.
With all the best intentions, there will be times when caring for someone that you are close to will get to be too much for you. Make sure that you take a break whenever possible, and build a support network around yourself.
Not all, but a lot of the older people in our lives are going to need some kind of help in getting the care they need. This has always been a concern of younger generations, but now there are more elderly than ever, so we need to take a closer look at the options available to us, their shortcomings, their benefits, and which are most likely for us. Here, we’re going to look at three primary options for the care of your elderly loved one, how to choose the option that best fits your needs, and how to make it work for you.
It’s an option that is becoming more common as fewer people can afford the kind of care they might need for a loved one. However, providing that care yourself is a big risk factor. Carer burnout is a real risk for those who don’t research how to provide adequate care for their loved ones. Respite care services can help you get a little break here and there so you have time to focus on your own needs, too. Don’t neglect to look at what kind of financial aid there is available for carers, either.
Care in the home
Perhaps the most widely sought-after option of all is to get a carer who can either spend time in the home with your loved one or even live with them on a full-time basis. This is the most financially demanding option, but it’s also one that should be chosen with care. It’s important to look for a home nurse that not only provides all of the physical assistance that your loved one needs but also provides companionship and conversation as best as possible. Isolation is one of the greatest health risks to the elderly, putting them more at risk of anxiety, dementia, and even premature death. As such, it’s important to choose services that offer them the company that they need, not just the practical needs.
Finding the right community
One of the options that probably sparks the most concern or at least second thoughts, is the notion of having your loved one live in a nursing home. However, there are plenty of different types of assisted living communities out there, including ones that offer access to holistic health care, such as art therapy, field trips, and the like. It is important to do research into the kind of community that your older loved one is joining and to be aware of the risks of neglect, doing your research into the care standards, and any past trouble of the operations that you might be taking a look at.
Most important of all is that, if you’re entrusting the care of your loved one to professionals, you still need to be present in their lives. First of all, they need someone who can provide contact and companionship on a more personal level. Second of all, they’re more vulnerable, so they need someone to watch out for their interests.
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series. I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight the blog of Ms. C. Loves.
In my world, where my life is ever so happening yet my memory is ever so fleeting, I have decided to dedicate some time weekly to preserve those precious moments for my future wrinkly self.
So here, I present to you: my valiant attempt to document all the big and small things in life that capture my heart (cheesy, I know!)—enjoy!
You have to stop by often to see what new is going on.
In this fast-paced social media world, it can be difficult to find the time to look within or back in time. I hope you find these quotes and questions interesting. So glad you stopped by today!
This post was written after I saw my first Lyme Literate Doctor. Quack! One day I’m reviewing the doctor’s notes again and realize I have another person’s file. I fired him because he said I had high lead levels and had to go through this horrible treatment, what else can I expect? The second doctor was a great success.
I have learned several lessons since the last journal entry. A word of caution. Please educate yourself on Lyme Disease for those who enjoy the outdoors anywhere in the US, Canada, Germany, and parts of England. If detected early doctors can usually treat with a short round of antibiotics. It is hard to think a tick the size of a period used in a sentence could do so much damage. I can’t imagine looking for a tick that size or a larger one the size of rice. The classic symptom doctors look for is called a Bulls Eye Rash. Up to 50% don’t get the rash, slipping through during the early phase.
The CDC acknowledges there are flaws with in Lyme Test. DEET and proper clothing are your only defenses against ticks. Other critters like mosquitos and flies carry the Lyme Virus. Protect yourself by using a spray or a sunscreen containing DEET. Read about extra precautions you can take.
Here are three resources recommended by my doctor, lymenet.org, lyme.org, and lymediseaseassociation.org (A great site for locating a Lyme Literate doctor)
* The doctor was right, when giving yourself a shot you have to go with gusto. I made the mistake of going slow, I had a little blood, a slight pain at the entry spot, and medication stained my shirt. You don’t have to stab yourself hard, pick your spot with enough stomach fat, and when you aim keep going.
* Managing the number of probiotics, pills requiring an empty stomach, pills with food, and working with my normal meds can cause a challenge. The key reason for the probiotics is to prepare your “gut” for the antibiotics. I’ve been told long-term use of high levels of antibiotics will take your stomach for a ride. I hate to throw up, it’s high on my list of things I dislike.
* Enjoy the good days remembering overexertion and lack of sleep can worsen symptoms. I was fooled last week, staying up till 1:00 or 2:00, one night at 4:40 AM. The past three days are a reminder, the lack of sleep catches up. If you wake up late it throws your med schedule off the next day if you sleep in. I’m the queen of sleeping in, there is no discipline to force myself to set an alarm to get out of my comfy bed to take meds.
* You could have several doctors on your support team. I can’t drive while drugged and jerking, my husband has to take the day off to shuttle me to appointments. I’ve had appointments one day every week for the past month.
* When you’re enjoying the good days, you don’t think about what day the symptoms will return. Upon return this time my symptoms are like an early Parkinson’s’. I’m herky jerky making typing difficult. I have to realize at this point the disease is in the front seat driving me. I have little control.
* As the virus invades my brain the neurological symptoms increase, last night I experienced 15-20 seizures before they let up. My memory is getting foggy. I picked a song for Throwback Thursday over the weekend. It’s Wednesday morning and I still can’t remember the name of the band. I see the singer on stage, some of the lyrics to songs yet the band name escapes me. It is hard to accept the disease is invading your body. I try to keep positive, looking at this as a growing experience. When you read my post or comments and I use the wrong word or make no sense at all please remember it’s the virus in me speaking.
* My doctor handed me a brochure for a Healing Center with a new state-of-the-art HYPERBARIC THERAPY. Maybe Michael Jackson can sleep in one, not me. The therapy is 1 1/2 hours long, lying in this weird chamber and receiving 100% oxygen. I am claustrophobic, not to the worst degree however put me in one of those and someone will not see the better side of me.
This morning, 8/6/14 is the first time I’ve cried, just losing it. I was reading the beautiful feedback from friends and followers and the level of support warmed my heart.
Warrior
In 2014, I went by Warrior and then decided my name was more personal.
The #Stop Hate campaign first started with #Stop Jew Hate but it has clearly expanded its reach to include everyone who is being persecuted for their religion, the color of their skin, or what country they lived in before moving to America.
Let’s make this a chance to heal. Only we can take the steps to heal, no steps forward leaves you among the chaos.
I’m so glad you’ve joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
One would think that freezing weather would cause ticks to hibernate or die, but you would have to think again. States that stay below freezing for most of the winter will not have a high risk but it is not impossible. Keep this in mind when raking the leaves and snow close to the ground.
The key is to know ticks are active and how to prevent tick bites. It’s easy to fend off these beasts by making a few changes. If you are walking in high grass, or have tree limbs brushing the trail, even dead leaves can be a host for ticks. Before you head out, spray exposed areas with DEET* making sure to spray the foot to above your ankles.
Put pant legs in socks so the tick can’t climb in. Wear a hikers hat with a trail that covers the back of the neck. No more falling off a tree limb right down the back of your shirt. They look for every chance they can get to attach to you, the host. The most critical step is to check your body, complete body, once home. Wash your clothes right away, don’t put them in the washing bin and let them move around your other clothes.
As someone who lives with Chronic Lyme Disease, I can say that preventing a tick bite is a hell of a lot better than getting Lyme.
Tick Expert with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station says:
If you’re enjoying the warmer-than-usual winter, so are ticks. The insects do not have to go into their usual hibernation on days when the temperature exceeds 40 degrees. It used to be the people who study ticks in Connecticut got pretty bored in the winter months. Not anymore.
“We used to call it tick activity season,” explained Dr. Goudarz Molaei, a tick expert with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. “We can no longer call it tick activity season as ticks are active year-round.”
When people get bit, they send their ticks to the Agricultural Experiment Station. It used to be they would get about 50 all winter long. Now they are getting around 800.
“We receive ticks daily, and some days we receive over ten tick specimens from the public,” Molaei said.
If Connecticut no longer has a non-active tick season, chances are the surrounding states are also seeing an increase in ticks during the winter. Be safe by preparing on the front end.
DEET* or no DEET, is based on your preference. There is plenty of information for your searches.
When life knocks you down, drains you of energy, and weakens your resolve, the last thing on your mind is gratitude. It’s hardly surprising; after all, gratitude is an emotional response of appreciation for what we have. When we feel depleted it can feel impossible to draw from an empty reservoir.
And yet, developing gratitude during hard times is precisely what fills the void. What’s more, gratitude is the key to preventing emotional and physical breakdowns during times of stress.
The difficult circumstances we find ourselves in are not the only challenge to practicing gratitude. While it’s certainly true that gratitude can be an automatic emotional response to many of our life events, it rarely is. Rather, what’s more true is that gratitude is an internal perspective—a lens we view the world through—and one that we in fact control. The struggle to find gratitude comes from expecting life to be a certain way (and being disappointed and angry when it is not).
Evaluate Your Perspective
Maybe you have not thought about this before—what do you expect life to be like? Take the year 2020, for example—were you expecting a global pandemic? Probably not!
But really, when have we ever known what is going to happen? Over this past year, many good people developed cancer; many kind souls lost a loved one to a drunk driver; many hopeful new parents had a child born with birth defects. They weren’t expecting these life-changing events to occur, but nevertheless, they did. When our perspective of life is limited by the belief that life “should” be a certain way, we will find gratitude difficult to express.
Gratitude is only possible when we realize that all that we have is a gift.
Having worked and traveled in many countries around the world, here is my impression about differing cultures—the more we have, the less we express gratitude for it. In other words, excess leads to a feeling of entitlement. However, the opposite is true for those who live in extreme poverty: people who live in the poorest countries in the world tend to express tremendous appreciation for what they have. Moreover, they are not dissatisfied, anxiously waiting for the next good thing to come their way.
Life as a Gift
There is nothing like sharing a simple meal of bread and tea in the home of a person of modest means; indeed, the experience is humbling.Instead of a sense of anger, bitterness, or irritation for what they lack, they express gratitude for the things they do have—the ability to walk and breathe, to survive; they take note of the beautiful sky at night and the richness that friends and family provide them. Even in their poverty they willingly give away what they have to others in need.
Here’s a simple exercise to try. The next time you are stuck in traffic, frustrated that you “should” be arriving at your destination on time, try to change your focus and see what it does for your mood. A simple yet startlingly effective way to do this? Follow your senses: feel the warmth of the sun coming through the window (or perhaps your car’s heater); smell the cup of coffee sitting at arm’s reach in your cup holder; take a sip, perhaps marveling at the insulated mug that keeps it warm long past the pot; listen to a favorite song on the radio; look at your fellow travelers and allow curiosity to fill in the blanks of where they all might be headed to. Like you, they are people with hopes, dreams, and disappointment. Taking a break from focusing on your current stress will allow a brief reprieve by shifting your perspective to these small gifts in life, (and maybe even seeing all of life as the gift that it is).
The Benefits of Gratitude
When we get a hold of the idea that everything we have is a gift—and we express appreciation for the gift of life itself—we shift our perspective away from what we don’t have to what we do have. In appreciating what we have, we invite important changes to take place in our brain and body. Indeed, expressing gratitude on a daily basis provides many benefits—here are five that might surprise you.
Reduction in physical and mental symptoms of distress. Based on a study of 200 chronic pain sufferers, those who expressed gratitude for the good things in their lives reported less depression, anxiety, fatigue, inflammation, and insomnia.
Creation of positive changes in your brain. When we feel—and express—gratitude, we can increase the volume of gray matter in the right inferior temporal gyrus of the brain; this helps us to regulate our emotions more effectively. It also enhances dopamine and serotonin and changes the hormones that regulate fear and anxiety.
Enhanced connection with others. When we express gratitude to others, we not only realize their importance to us, but we build stronger connections and feel more supported by those around us. And social support is a well-documented key factor in developing resilience in hard times.
When we keep a daily journal of our blessings, we are likely to experience less pain and be more willing to engage in physical activities that help us move toward health and away from dysfunction.
Regulation of stress. Gratitude helps us regulate the stress hormone cortisol. Keeping our cortisol levels in check in turn improves our cardiac function when we are under stress and increases our ability to stay balanced.
Plant the Seeds of Gratitude
Think of gratitude as a garden you plant. When you start incorporating gratitude practices into your activities of daily living, at first you won’t see any immediate change in your outlook on life. Lasting improvements in your emotional and physical health take time, but they will come if you are diligent. In fact, setting the intention to “plant a gratitude garden” in and of itself speaks to your capacity for hope and a more fulfilled life. And when the fruits of gratitude do show up? It will have been well worth the effort.
Have you ever noticed how bad you feel after eating something greasy? Sure, it tastes fantastic going down, but it doesn’t take long for the bloat and mental fog to kick in. If food is thy medicine, fatty, oily, and fried foods are a shot in the foot.
Of course, everything can be enjoyed in moderation. However, there’s no denying that some foods make you feel better than others. Plant-based diets have started gaining more traction in recent years as more people begin to realize the substantial physical and mental health effects that your diet can have on you.
Studies can back this up, too. A recent one in New Zealand discovered that people who incorporated more raw produce into their diet were at a lower risk of suffering from mental health disorders like anxiety and depression. Even though this study only showed a correlation and not a cause-and-effect relationship, it’s still quite promising; raw produce may have higher volumes of nutrients, which could, in turn, explain the participants’ improved mental health.
While it’s generally much better for you if the bulk of your diet is whole foods (think fruits, vegetables, grains, anything unprocessed, really), some whole foods have different effects on your health. Today, we’ll be focusing more on the mental health aspect of your diet, and what foods you can eat to preserve your health and peace of mind.
Fermented foods
Eating food that’s been sitting around for a while might strike you as counterintuitive, but in reality, it can have some incredible health benefits. If you’re not already aware, your digestive system is home to a booming metropolis of microfauna–a.k.a bacteria–that keeps things running smoothly in your gut. These microfaunae are the caregivers of the digestive system: they break the food down, help sort the nutrients from the waste, and fight off any potential infections. Fermented foods, luckily, are loaded with this helpful microfauna, which is also called probiotics. Just as a Kansasian would want a sickly loved one to be in the hands of the best home health care services in Wichita, KS, you too should want the best microfauna to take care of your gut; they could help preserve your sanity. Foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt, and kombucha are all chock full of these helpful bacteria that have a pretty significant influence on your mood. Researchers are finding that there’s a strong link between gut health and mental health, too, so next time you’re sad, hit your favorite Korean restaurant.
Fish
Have you ever heard of DHA? It’s a fatty acid found in oily fish like salmon, prawns, and trout that helps with memory improves your overall mood, and reduces anxiety. Fish is also packed with essential omega-3 acids that keep the serotonin and dopamine in your brain circulating smoothly. Not only can you improve your memory by incorporating fish into your diet, but you could also facilitate serotonin and dopamine circulation in your brain–all of which lead to a happier and healthier you.
Whole grains
If you’re like us, you’re a serious bread lover. Thankfully, you don’t have to ditch the carbs to feel better about yourself. However, you might have to switch up the kind you’re eating. A lot of whole grains, like quinoa, oats, barley, rye, corn, and brown rice, contain amino acids that boost your brain’s serotonin production. Serotonin has a massive effect on your mood and sleep cycle, so you could improve your general mood and sleeping patterns by merely eating more whole grains.
Consider a bowl of steel-cut oats with antioxidant-rich berries if you want to start your day off on a healthy, balanced foot. This amino acid-antioxidant combo will have you firing on all cylinders for the whole day.
Produce
When it comes to eating healthy, it’s hard to beat a rainbow of fresh produce. The unique health benefits of each fruit and vegetable are too many to list here but know that you can’t go wrong with a bowl of fresh fruit or veggies. Produce is a great mood regulator since it contains complex carbohydrates or carbs that slowly release their energy into our bodies throughout the day. This slow release translates to better-regulated moods, and therefore, a calmer you. If you want to focus on the most nutrient-dense produce, look for leafy greens like kale and spinach and antioxidant-rich fruits like berries. The vitamins and minerals in products will nourish your body the way it’s supposed to be nourished, leaving you feeling as healthy as you can feel.
In this fast-paced social media world, it can be difficult to find the time to look within or back in time. I hope you find these quotes and questions interesting. So glad you stopped by today!
Are you feeling depressed for no reason? Sleeping more? I think about the time of year it is and know when the days start to melt away. You also have to determine if it’s SAD or depression. If your depression gets worse go see a doctor.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons — seasonal affective disorder (SAD) begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you’re like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. These symptoms often resolve during the spring and summer months. Less often, SAD causes depression in the spring or early summer and resolves during the fall or winter months.
Treatment for SAD may include light therapy (phototherapy), psychotherapy and medications.
Don’t brush off that yearly feeling as simply a case of the “winter blues” or a seasonal funk that you have to tough out on your own. Take steps to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year.
Signs and symptoms of SAD may include:
Feeling listless, sad or down most of the day, nearly every day
Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
Having low energy and feeling sluggish
Having problems with sleeping too much
Experiencing carbohydrate cravings, overeating and weight gain
Having difficulty concentrating
Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty
Having thoughts of not wanting to live
Lift Your Mood
These “self-care” tips might help with seasonal depression. See a mental health professional if sadness doesn’t go away or interferes with your daily life:
Go to a movie, take a walk, go ice-skating or do other activities you normally enjoy.
Get out in the sunlight or brightly lit spaces, especially early in the day.
Try to spend time with other people and confide in a trusted friend or relative.
Eat nutritious foods, and avoid overloading on carbohydrates like cookies and candies.
Be patient. You won’t suddenly “snap out of” depression. Your mood will improve gradually.
If you have thoughts of suicide, get help right away. Call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
I use a medium light next to me while in my office during the day.
Here are a few products I’m loving with right now. I hope you find a product to add to your household or self-care routine. The list may also give you ideas for a surprise for friends, family, or co-workers. All products were found on Amazon.
Duerer Arthritis Compression Gloves
It was the first time I’ve found gloves that do not have too much elastic around the wrist. Mine were always too tight. These gloves are so soft and easy to put on. No elastic issues anywhere, I’m buying another one for downstairs.
Amazon Prime
I buy most of our products from Amazon even our groceries from there. The two-day delivery time is amazing. They even offer free shipping, actually most of the time. Last year, we started watching the series they offer. We have several that we hope they will come back. We’ve only had a few duds.
They now have a pharmacy, I haven’t tried the pharmacy but I know Amazon will deliver everything they commit to. When I can order our groceries and have them delivered the same day.
XL Medicine Caddy
I love that they had only two places and it is so easy to open and my knuckles love it. The arthritis in my hands is worse as I age so I had to make adjustments. It’s multi-colored but you can see through to your medication
Paparage Lined Notebooks
They look like Moleskin’s, even with the back pocket. They have a large selection of sizes and I bought the 252-page journal, which is 5.7 inches by 8 inches. This larger size is for my ancestry work.
What products have you added to your life that you love?
I was too young to remember Martin Luther King Jr. but I do know he advocated peacefully, no violence, and no violence encouraged. He raised his voice a bit like a preacher so he got the message across.
He is respected for his messages which many could tell you about. He advocated for peace and to end segregation He didn’t pretend to advocate, he believed and took action to the street.
He lived and dedicated his life to peace and to changing society. He will always be known as a great leader and how he changed lives.
Here’s what Time and Date said about Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King was an important civil rights activist. He was a leader in the movement to end racial segregation in the United States. His most famous address was the “I Have A Dream” speech. He was an advocate of non-violent protest and became the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was assassinated in 1968.
In 1968, shortly after Martin Luther King died, a campaign was started for his birthday to become a holiday to honor him. After the first bill was introduced, trade unions led the campaign for the federal holiday. It was endorsed in 1976. Following support from the musician Stevie Wonder with his single “Happy Birthday” and a petition with six million signatures, the bill became law in 1983. Martin Luther King Day was first observed in 1986, although it was not observed in all states until the year 2000. In 1990, the Wyoming legislature designated Martin Luther King Jr/Wyoming Equality Day as a legal holiday.
As we celebrate his legacy, what comes to my mind is his “I Have a Dream” speech How can we think of Martin Luther King Jr. without knowing the “I Have a Dream” speech.
Nowadays it’s violent protesters, mass shootings, and violence against other nationalities. I blame the violent protestors/cowards for encouraging this behavior. If you don’t know the person, how can you hate them?
Have a great celebration for a man who made a big impact in America.
I’m so glad you’ve joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
No matter how old we get, it’s always fun to experience something new for the first time. Maybe it’s a restaurant with a cuisine you are unfamiliar with.What’s something you recently experienced for the first time?
lookingforthelight.blog 