Archive for the ‘Wellbeing & Health’ Category

We all know that a good laugh makes us feel better, but did you know that it is scientifically proven to improve our health?

Here are a few benefits:

Having a good laugh works out our muscles causing them to contract and can be the equivalent of 10-15 minutes on a rowing machine or exercise bike.

It reduces you blood pressure by increasing the amount of oxygen in your blood and assisting natural healing processes.

Laughter increases the number of B-cells which destroy disease as well as balances the immune system.

It also reduces the level of stress hormones by providing a harmless way of releasing negative emotions such as anger, hostility and fear that arise from the “fight or flight” mode.

So get out into the sunshine and have a good laugh this summer.

If you are heading off on your holiday soon I’m sure you are hoping for some rest and recuperation. But before you go, do you find yourself being extra busy just before you go away?

You rush around trying to squeeze in as many jobs as possible to meet a self imposed deadline. As your final day in the office draws closer it may be frantic but you find yourself getting more and more focused.

You find yourself making better decisions about what is important and what isn’t.
You are prepared to delegate more or bat things away and not add more to your workload.
You decide to actually ditch a few jobs.
And you work more on the basis of getting things 80% right rather than aiming for perfection.

It’s amazing how much you can get done when you really do have to be away from the office.

So why do you work in this way when you know you won’t be around for a few weeks yet don’t do it the rest of the year?

If we allow it to, work will always expand to fill the time available. The only thing that changes is your perception and attitude.

So this time around have a good rest and come back with a changed attitude as well as a suntan.

With the World Cup here it is very easy to get into the habit of sitting in front of the television all evening with maybe a few drinks and some snacks to keep you going.

However, looking at the football professionals on your screens, why not take a leaf out of their books and take the opportunity to up your exercise regime, eat more healthily and increase your energy.

Whilst away in South Africa Fabio Capello has got his team all sitting down to dinner together with no one leaving before everyone is ready to go. So why not encourage your family to eat together (even if it is whilst watching the footie…well it’s a start!)

Think about the food you are putting into your body. Are you treating it as a high tuned engine and using the best fuel? Or are you filling it up with low grade fuel which will cause wear and tear and lead to poor performance? It is easy to find healthy alternatives to snack on and healthy food doesn’t have to be boring or take a long time to prepare.

By all means have a drink but just watch how much you are consuming. Try alternating an alcoholic drink with a glass of water or fresh juice.

Invite a few friends round. Social interaction lifts our spirits, increases our energy and helps build our immune system.

… and why not take advantage of the longer days and have kick about in the local park to burn off some of those calories and have some fun. All you need is a football and jumpers for goalposts!

As one of my “roles in life” is working with people to help them look after their health and wellbeing, I often find that younger and younger people are suffering from stiff or painful joints. Our western lifestyle of too much sitting, especially on chairs, stops us using our joints as they were designed to be used. Problems are now commonplace in hips, knees and shoulders.

The joints in our body both support us and help keep us moving but they can also start to creak and come under wear and tear. So it is important to give them some tender loving care to avoid injury and other problems such as arthritis, especially later on in life. So how can we look after them?

• Regular exercise will keep them in working order, strengthens the surrounding muscles that support the joint, and can relieve pain.
• Reducing weight will lower the pressure placed on joints, especially those of the knees, hips and ankles.
• Taking supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin can help to build cartilage and keep them strong and increasing your intake of omega 3 oils may keep them better lubricated.

Whether you are running a marathon, generally active or a couch potato you can still invest in your physical wellbeing. Start off by looking after your joints as they easily get forgotten.

I have recently been introduced to the benefits of the aloe vera plant – also known as the medicine plant due to its amazing healing properties. It has been reported as helping various skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, shingles, cold sores as well as burns; and also works well on digestive issues such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), hiatus hernia and much more.

I’ve been using it recently on a shoulder injury I’ve had and it has helped it enormously in such a very short time.

Although aloe is now included in many products, they are often used in too small quantities to be effective. It is also most effective when it has been stabilised in a way that it remains in its purest form.

If you would like to find out more about using aloe vera products and the associated benefits, please contact me on Karen@u-unlimited.com