Month: November 2019

The temperatures are dropping, and the dreaded time of cold and flu season is here. That means it’s time to increase your vitamin intake and catch a few more z’s. Follow these four tips to stay well this season:

1. Focus on your diet. Start pumping your body full of foods that are rich in vitamin C and E, as they are believed to support a healthy immune system. Incorporating foods like oranges, broccoli, sunflower seeds and green pepper can help strengthen not only your immune system, but your overall health as well.
2. Catch up on your sleep. Getting less than the recommended 7+ hours of sleep can inhibit your immune system. Catch a few more hours of sleep and you’re sure to start seeing improvements in other parts of your life, such as your mood, productivity and alertness.
3. Prioritize exercise. Taking time to exercise can stimulate your immune system and positively impact your quality of sleep. By incorporating exercise into your daily life, not only will you be improving your immune system, but you will also experience improved mood and lowered stress levels.
4. Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water benefits every function of the body, which includes keeping your immune system strong to fight off germs. Ginger tea is another great liquid to incorporate into your drink choices, as it is full of anti-inflammatory properties to help ward off and combat colds and the flu.

November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. Here are five ways to keep your mind flexible and engaged!

1. Get active. Get your heart rate up with some cardiovascular exercises that can increase blood flow to the brain and body.
2. Open a book. Keep your brain working by learning new things, which is said to decrease chances of dementia. Join a book club, take a class at the local community center, research something of interest online.
3. Fuel your mind. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can help lower the risks of cognitive decline. Diets that are lower in fat, higher in vegetables and incorporate more fish – which has omega-3 fatty acids that are crucial to brain function – will provide many benefits for your mind and body.
4. Challenge your mind. Activate your mind with activities like putting together a puzzle or card games that will force your mind to think strategically.
5. Focus on your mental health. Be aware of the stress in your life and learn how you can best manage it.