When we think about making changes for a healthier lifestyle, most of us probably consider diet and exercise. That was my focus for most of my adult life. I was all about burning calories and increasing muscle strength. Total transparency? My only concern was maintaining my weight—or losing weight. I grew up with an unhealthy body image (as many women do), and I had tunnel vision.
My weight gain was getting out of control. Yes, I was in menopause—and that is definitely an excuse I could use. But I had been in menopause for several years, and it was only when I turned sixty-two that the weight stuck to me like super glue.
In January on this blog, Linda Carter shared an excellent article, “Nature Therapy for a Healthy Lifestyle.” She gives suggestions for a variety of ways to add nature to our daily lives. This article will focus on one of the methods—Forest Bathing.
There is a lot of talk these days about detoxing our bodies. This makes sense considering how many toxins we are exposed to every day; from the environment and the foods we eat. Stress alone can cause a buildup of toxins in our body, as it affects gut health and inflammation levels.
For decades health professionals have been warning that increased mortality is associated with sedentary lifestyles. According to Healthy People 2020, 36% of adults did not pursue any physical activity during leisure time. A study discussed in a recent Harvard Heart Letter revealed that the average participant’s day consisted of 7.7 hours sleep and 10.4 hours sitting— presumably much of that at work.