With Spring here it's a great time to think about shifting toward a more healthy lifestyle. This past winter was particularly snowy and cold - it likely put a damper on any plans you had to make it to the gym regularly.
Fortunately, with spring comes earlier sunrises, warmer weather and some delicious seasonal fruits and vegetables to get you on the right track. These are just a few of the reasons why spring is an excellent time to really commit to a health regimen. Here are some simple and great tips for you to consider the spring to get started.
Stretch in the Morning
The earlier sunrises will make it a lot easier to get out of bed. Instead of sleeping in you should try a morning stretching routine. You can start with as little as five minutes. Stretching your legs, neck and back is a great way to wake up and start your day. You can gradually get up earlier and earlier, lengthening your routine.
Get Plenty of Sleep
If you feel yourself getting sleepy between 4pm and 6pm, it means that you aren't getting enough sleep at night. The average adult needs eight hours of good sleep to get the most out of their day. If you add in a morning stretch routine, it will actually help you fall asleep faster at night and get more restful sleep, so these two tips go hand-in-hand.
Eat Breakfast
The old saying about breakfast being the most important meal of the day still holds true. If you don't eat breakfast, you really should. Skipping breakfast will make you hungry before lunchtime and encourages snacking. Breakfast is particularly important if you want to lose weight, so grab something for breakfast after your morning stretches and enjoy the pleasant spring mornings. Grapefruit is in season during spring and makes a good breakfast food.
Snack Correctly
If you do snack, mind what you eat. Beets, carrots, cherries, kiwi fruit and strawberries all make fine snacks and are spring vegetables and fruits. Raw nuts are rich in nutrients and good as well.
A Daily Walk
If you can walk to work, then that's great. Exercise doesn't need to be overly rigorous nor intimidating. A short, brisk daily walk is a great place to start and spring is the best time for walks. Spring weather is great and not too cold or too hot. You can also try taking the stairs instead of the elevator when you have the chance.
Be Social
Make new friends or get in touch with old friends this spring. Use the pleasant spring weather as a reason to get together. Being social and making connections with other people is actually good for you both physically and mentally. Making small talk, even in the halls at work, provides you with mental stimulation and stress relief.
Try Tea
Replace one of your morning cups of coffee with a cup of herbal tea. There are so many varieties and tea has many health benefits. Coffee has plenty of antioxidants and so does tea, but teas also have a ton of vitamins and minerals. Some teas will help fight colds, combat seasonal allergies and also ease upset stomachs. With spring flowers in bloom, try a floral tea like rosehips. To give yourself an energy boost, try ginger.
Start a Garden
You do not have to have a yard to have a garden. You can try container gardening on a sunny patio or even a window sill garden - both require very little work. Tomatoes will grow as long as they get plenty of sunlight, and spring is a good time to grow greens like arugula and kale. Herbs and spices are easy to grow in a window sill garden. Having your own ingredients on hand will motivate you to cook and eat healthier and it is also very rewarding to cook using your own food.
Robert Vena
NJ Acupuncturist
Acupuncture-in-NJ.com
Millions suffer with insomnia, a sleep disorder that can affect the entire body. Patients may have difficulty falling and/or staying asleep, and this lack of sleep can lead to tiredness during the day, lethargy, and feeling under the weather. Insomnia takes a toll on the body, both physically and mentally.
There are three types of insomnia:
Insomnia can affect either sex at any age, but is most common in adult females. It can affect school grades and one's performance at work, and can even lead to further complications, such as anxiety, obesity, depression, poor concentration, irritability, loss of memory, lowered immune system, and delayed reaction time.
Studies have shown that people with and without major health issues can benefit from acupuncture, and it has been found to be very beneficial to those suffering with insomnia. Acupuncture can also help to relieve chronic pain, which is one common cause of insomnia.
A 2004 report stated that people suffering from anxiety use acupuncture to increase their melatonin production, thus increasing their sleep time. Those patients using acupuncture were falling asleep quicker, stayed asleep longer, and experienced less stress.
In other studies, it was found that acupuncture helped HIV patients who were experiencing insomnia. After five weeks of acupuncture treatments their sleep patterns improved.
Acupuncture is a holistic treatment with its beginnings in ancient China. Now widely practiced, it is growing in popularity as a natural remedy for insomnia and many other health issues. An acupuncturist insert hair-thin needles into specific points around the body, and the needling of these points can help induce a deep relaxation, thereby providing relief for many problems, including insomnia.
Symptoms of Insomnia
Insomnia can be experienced as infrequently as once a month, or last as long as several years in some cases. Insomnia has many distinct symptoms. Sufferers may not be able to fall asleep at night, and even avoidance of stimulants such as caffeine and establishing a routine bedtime don't help in severe cases. Some sufferers can go for several nights without rest, and still be unable to fall asleep.
Once an insomnia sufferer does fall asleep, he/she may not be able stay asleep. Many wake up often during the night, and even if it is only for a few moments, it interrupts the normal sleep pattern. Others may find themselves wide awake after only four to five hours of sleep.
Adults require seven to eight hours of sleep each night in order to remain healthy. This is why Acupuncture Remedies can be extremely beneficial. Not only can acupuncture help a patient get the rest they need, but it can also help prevent future health conditions related to lack of sleep.
Any one of these symptoms can leave a person feeling tired throughout the day, and untreated, insomnia can lead to both physical and mental conditions. There are many prescription drugs available to help patients get the sleep they need, but they may come with unwanted and dangerous side effects.
How Acupuncture Helps One Get the Sleep They Need
Acupuncture is one of the Natural Insomnia Remedies that has been proven to be effective in helping sufferers get enough sleep each night. This holistic practice works by relieving certain causes of insomnia which may be the root of the condition. It also helps to bring the body and mind back into alignment, and leaves the patient feeling calm and ready for a peaceful night's sleep.
Stress is one of the leading causes of insomnia. Modern lifestyles put us under a lot of pressure both at home and at work. In addition, modern technology can allow our jobs and responsibilities to follow us where ever we go, making it hard to get away from it all for a much needed break. Stress can rob us of our sleep. With regular acupuncture treatments, the effects of stress can be greatly reduced.
Depression and anxiety are also becoming more and more common, and both can keep us awake at night. The mind can race with thoughts that block the body from falling asleep. Treatments for anxiety, such as acupuncture, can help calm the body and mind, making falling asleep easier.
No matter what type of insomnia you suffer with, acupuncture can be a beneficial treatment without unwanted side effects. By treating the cause of this condition, you will soon be experiencing a peaceful night's sleep.
Robert Vena
NJ Acupuncturist
Acupuncture-in-NJ.com
